How Anchoring Building Foundations Support Temporary Structures

An anchoring building foundation is a powerful component of a temporary structure. They provide a sturdy frame for semi-permanent and temporary buildings for short and long-term projects. They ensure that a structure is consistently robust and stable throughout changes in the climate, rain, wind, and snow.

Anchor bolts can be fixed onto various surfaces, including gravel, soil, asphalt, and concrete foundations. They can handle rough terrain and remain stable on any type of surface, including slopes and uneven ground. While anchoring is essential to install a temporary structure, finding the right wall anchor system and foundation for your specific location is important.

Which Anchoring System Is Best: Earth Anchorage or Ballasts?

A ground anchor or earth anchoring is one of the more traditional options for a temporary structure. They are ideal for structures that can penetrate through soil or soft ground.

If this isn’t an option, ballasts are excellent when a surface isn’t penetrable. Earth anchors are stakes stabilized in the ground, providing a foundation for a tent or fabric structure.

Ballasts are great for building a temporary unit on a concrete slab, concrete block, and solid surfaces.

How Does an Anchoring System Attach to a Structure?

Installing earth anchors begins with steel footplates, which are anchored to the surface with pins or stakes that are set into this footplate. This process is done by drilling holes into the frame to secure the anchorage. Bolts are then attached to the footplate, which is how the earth anchors are installed to create a stable structure or frame for a fabric building.

If you need to add more support to this anchor system, you can add stake bars. These are made of steel and have drilled holes that provide additional room for more stakes, as needed.

Overall, this has the effect of increasing the number of stakes installed, which provides greater stability. During an installation, you must gauge how many stakes you’ll need to achieve the desired stability with a strong connection.

Ballasts work similarly, only they are not set into the ground but stacked on a larger footplate. This footplate is more prominent in size than what’s used for earth anchors, and it’s stacked and attached to tent legs equipped with industrial straps, which secure the frame and anchoring. This effective system provides a stable structure without the need for drilling into the ground.

How Does Anchoring Work on a Clearspan Fabric Structure on Asphalt?

It’s common for temporary structures to leave behind areas needing repair. It’s common for temporary structures to leave behind areas needing repair. You’ll notice metal building foundations and particular footings on asphalt or similar semi-solid surfaces. Asphalt plugs can help restore a surface to its original state.

Ballasts are highly effective and often heavy concrete slab foundations weighing up to three thousand pounds. While these monolith slabs are extremely heavy, they are evenly distributed and do not damage surfaces, and they are also ideal for roof construction and metal building systems.

How Do I Decide Which Anchoring System to Install?

Sunbelt Rentals consultants can provide options that best fit your application or project. Our experts will assess the condition of the ground, the specifications, the size, and the type of materials you’ll need to construct the building.

You’ll want to review your foundation options, whether the surface you’re working with is versatile or limited for more than one anchoring system. When you plan the construction of your temporary structure based on the information about your site, the anchoring system you choose will function well for the duration of your project.

Is a Soil Test Required Before Setting Up Anchors?

The type of soil you use anchors on can vary considerably based on various factors. For this reason, it’s essential to conduct soil tests to determine if standard anchors are suitable or if another technique or support system is needed. The soil quality can determine how much load or weight can be sustained.

Is the soil loose, without offering any resistance or stability? Standard anchor stakes won’t secure your structure efficiently when your soil is in this condition. Ballasts may work, in some cases, though if the soil is in poor shape, the weight of the ballasts may sink into the ground and compromise the temporary structure or fabric building.

Helical anchors are a great option when working with rugged terrain or poor-quality surfaces. These anchor systems are ideal, especially in regions prone to heavy flooding, and have been used to construct temporary housing, shelters, and buildings.

Ideally, this would be preferred if you can source an area on your site with good-quality soil or gravel. However, it’s not always an option, based on the availability of land and the importance of placing a structure in a specific spot.

What Steps Should Be Taken to Choose the Right Anchoring?

Getting familiar with various anchoring systems is a good idea, as you’ll better understand how they work and which method is best for your temporary structure. Sunbelt Rental experts can provide all the choices you’ll need to install a strong, stable temporary building with the best anchor system for your site.

Before you get started, consult one of our rental experts at Sunbelt Rentals to review your options and find the best solution for your construction site needs. When you select the appropriate anchoring option, you’ll benefit from a long-lasting fabric structure and the protection they offer for workers and equipment.

Are you ready to find suitable anchors and temporary structures for your work site? Contact us at Sunbelt Rentals to discuss the solutions available and custom needs. We offer various products and services for any application or development project.