Luckily for our client, our team of engineers at Sunbelt Rentals had already come up with our proprietary large-scale Max 756 structure that was designed to handle the complexities of the API RP 756 compliance while providing comfort and efficiency.

The Essentials

Our client had a clear and precise mandate: construct a massive semi-permanent blast-resistant building capable of accommodating its sizable workforce of 1,200 workers with a tendency to expand while adhering to the American Petroleum Institute (API RP756) blast regulation for managing risks on hazardous worksites.

One important factor for this project was that the temporary structure must be situated within close proximity to the expansion worksite.

The engineering and architectural challenge lay in ensuring safety while minimizing the commute time between break areas and work zones for maximum productivity.

The client's requirements included:

1. Capacity: House 1,200 employees comfortably
2. Amenities: Come equipped with essential amenities, including HVAC systems for improved comfort.
3. Safety: A non-negotiable compliance with API RP 756 regulations that guarantees employee safety within and around the structure.
4. Efficiency: Ensure the gap between work time and break time is kept at the barest minimum.
5. Durability: The structure is incomplete without wind-blast resistance. The structure needed to withstand wind loads of up to 136 mph gusts while ensuring structural rigidity over multiple years of usage in a break-neck environment.

Crafting the Art of the Solution

At Sunbelt Rentals, our team of experts were no strangers to building hazardous-weather-resistant temporary structures using innovative designs and turnkey solutions. 

Once we carried out a full analysis of the client's needs and requirements, it was clear that the Max 756 blast resistant design was the answer.

Our team engineered the Max 756 blast tent structure to meet API blast regulation guidelines while offering a compact footprint and accommodating massive crews.

Every structural pillar point was anchored with stakes to eliminate the need for ancillary straps or cabling. This ensured it prioritized safety and minimized potential slips, trips, or spills in the break area.

We never stop at safety as we believe that temporary dining and break areas like the Max 756 blast-resistant structure should offer more than functionality, structural integrity, and safety. They should be comfortable to use as well.

We include several HVAC systems, multiple functional doors, and strategic interior and exterior lighting to ensure comfort, safety, and functionality while satisfying all the technical requirements of our client.

Key features of the Max 756 blast-resistant structure include:

• A 68' x 312' tent structure meticulously engineered for blast resistance
• An LED lighting package to ensure well-lit interiors
• Nine HVAC units to maintain a comfortable environment
• Seven doors for easy access and egress
• Anchoring solutions tailored to meet required uplift standards

To ensure that we adhered to the strict facility requirements, our engineering team acquired the certifications and site-specific credentials, as well as the training required to ensure the safety of our team and our client's workforce during and after execution.

The Finished Functional Piece of Art

The Max 756 blast resistant design was a resounding success for the client, and our engineers were satisfied with the final result. We were able to significantly enhance the wrench time for the 1,200 temporary employees, boosting overall efficiency with the close proximity of the break tent to the work site.

We are proud to say our standout feature that perfectly aligned with the client's need was the scalability of the Max 756 blast resistant module. The modular design ensured that it catered to projects with as few as 50 craftsmen or as many as 1,200 recommended by the client.

The completed massive blast-resistant building sat on an asphalt pad designed by the expert project management team and exhibited 20,500 square feet of climate-controlled break area conveniently located near the work site.

An Invaluable Lesson

The triumph was a result of the combined effort of a dedicated design & engineering, safety, and project management team, and it serves as a testament to the efficacy of contingency solutions like temporary or semi-permanent structures.

In a world where technical challenges abound, the Max 756 blast-resistant structure exemplifies how innovative solutions, when carried out by the right team, can transform safety and productivity to new heights. This ensures the continuity of a business even in the face of outstanding odds.

Temporary custom structures like the one made by the team at Sunbelt Rentals can be engineered to meet the most demanding requirements and optimized for your company's operational efficiency and effectiveness.