Wind helps create jobs and has an annual economic impact of around $20 billion on the economy, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So, it’s no surprise wind farm construction has increased nationwide year over year, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Farmland is ideal for construction sites but tends to be isolated from city amenities. Companies must be self-sufficient and plan ahead to maintain efficiency. This includes setting up temporary storage warehouses to facilitate progress.
A global renewable energy company embarking on a new wind farm construction project needed to set up a temporary warehouse for supplies and equipment. They’d developed and constructed wind farms in other states using temporary warehouse structures for storage, and it had worked well for them.
They needed a vendor who could offer turnkey service and expertise in the industry.
They called Sunbelt Rentals. Our team had installed temporary structures on other projects for them and were awarded the wind farm warehouse based on successful outcomes in the past.
The Challenge
The challenge for the energy company was maintaining their preplanned schedule. Construction projects are planned well in advance, and each step is mapped out to bring the project to completion on time and on budget. The company needed the warehouse on site before construction began, and it needed to remain on site for five months. The company requested that the engineered structure include personnel doors and overhead doors large enough to allow equipment to pass through.
The client’s needs included a structure that:
- Could handle heavy wind loads
- Had a total of 12,000 sq. feet of space
- Included personnel doors and roll-up doors
- Incorporated LED lighting
The Solution
Sunbelt Rentals considered the project specifications and the location of the project. The wind load code for the area was focused on wind gusts and did not mention sustained winds as a concern. However, our team had experience in the region and knew that sustained winds were the real culprit behind damage to temporary structures in the area. Sunbelt Rentals' MegaStructure™ was ideal for this project.
The MegaStructure™ is made of industrial fabric, is engineered to withstand winds up to 130 mph and is ideal for semi-permanent applications. It was an excellent choice for the wind farm construction site.
The final proposal included MegaStructure™ on 16-foot legs, with roll-up doors, personnel doors, an LED lighting package, and Sunbelt Rentals expert installation team.
Sunbelt Rentals' Solution included the following features:
- 12, 000 sq. foot MegaStructure™ industrial engineered fabric structure
- 16 foot leg height
- Roll-up doors
- Personnel doors
- LED lighting package
- Expert project managers, designers, and an expert installation team
The Result
The Sunbelt Rentals installation team arrived on-site at the appointed time to begin work.
Unforeseen challenges with rainy weather and equipment failure made it impossible for the construction site employees to prepare the ground for the installation of the MegaStructure™. The Sunbelt Rentals team remained flexible and undeterred. When the weather cleared, the construction team prepared the site for installation, and our team moved ahead with the process.
The structure was installed on-site in seven days, allowing plenty of time for construction work to begin on the wind farm as scheduled.
Sunbelt Rentals' ability to stay on point and handle the task at hand is well-known in the industry. We finished the project on time in spite of delays, and our customer was pleased with the result.
Project CAD Drawings
The Takeaways
When you have a big project to do, it’s important to team up with a vendor that looks at the job from every possible angle to make the best recommendation for you. Sunbelt Rentals has years of expertise setting up structures in every region across the United States.
Sunbelt Rentals is more than a structure vendor—we are a true partner in your next project. Ready to work with us? Contact one of our project managers today.
