| Is it possible to create a building with | | | | since the entire occupied space of the |
| walls and a roof made from 99.5% fresh air? | | | | building is pressurised. |
| Would it then be possible for this building | | | | |
| to withstand anything the weather could throw | | | | An inflatable building only requires |
| at it - from gale force winds to heavy snow | | | | pressurised air within the cavities of the |
| fall? | | | | walls and so does not require airlocks since |
| | | | the occupied interior of the building is at |
| The surprising answer to these questions is | | | | normal atmospheric pressure. Since a much |
| yes! Not only is it possible but it is | | | | lower volume of air is pressurised, |
| already being done in many countries around | | | | inflatable buildings require a lot less power |
| the world. The buildings in question are in | | | | for continuous operation. |
| fact inflatable buildings. | | | | |
| | | | The air contained within the walls of an |
| It's important at this point to make a | | | | inflatable building become a true structural |
| distinction between air-supported buildings | | | | part of the building. The membranes used in |
| and inflatable buildings. A traditional | | | | the construction of such buildings are |
| air-supported building is one which is | | | | typically less than 1mm thick and so the |
| comprised of a single layer membrane attached | | | | amount of membrane used compared to the |
| to the ground around its perimeter. Air is | | | | volume of air contained within the walls is |
| blown under the membrane to lift it off the | | | | incredibly low (typically less than 0.5%). |
| ground and form the shape of the building. | | | | |
| | | | A major benefit of this style of construction |
| An inflatable building on the other hand, | | | | is that air is available just about |
| uses two layers of membrane connected | | | | everywhere on the planet. When a building |
| together typically using spars made from the | | | | needs to be moved, the air can simply be |
| same material. The cavity formed between the | | | | allowed to escape enabling an entire building |
| layers is pressurised with air producing a | | | | to be packed in to a very small volume |
| rigid structural element which allows large | | | | compared to its inflated size. The building |
| span structures to be achieved. | | | | can then be transported easily to its new |
| | | | location and inflated using the one building |
| The key difference between the two styles of | | | | material which is readily available |
| building is that air-supported buildings | | | | everywhere - air! Better still, this building |
| require airlocks at all the access points to | | | | material is absolutely free. |
| prevent air being lost when doors are opened | | | | |