Military Buildings: PVC-Clad Structures for Defense Operations

Defense facility planners face multiple constraints: tight procurement timelines, strict structural requirements, coastal or remote installation sites, and pressure to stretch infrastructure budgets. A building solution has to perform from day one—and keep performing for decades.

Here is what PVC-clad structures with solid steel I-beam frames bring to these challenges.

Strength

Solid steel I-beam frames are the structural foundation of every Legacy building. That means:

• Proven engineering
• Durability to stand up to wind, snow and seismic zones
• Compliance with local building codes
• Clear spans up to 300 feet wide without support columns
• Support for cranes, hoists, and mechanical systems from the roof beams

Leadership

Three engineering developments stand out for military applications: Legacy's patented tensioning system, ExxoTec™ PVC cladding, and EpoxxiShield™ corrosion protection. Together, they address the durability, maintenance, and environmental demands that defense installations place on permanent structures.

• First, a patented, properly-tensioned system eliminates re-tensioning over the building's life, a maintenance liability at remote or forward operating locations. That happens with a lot of other PVC-clad buildings.
• Second, ExxoTec™ PVC cladding, available as a 28-ounce variant, is flame-retardant, self-extinguishing under fire test conditions, and rated for extreme weather, including heavy snow, hurricane-force winds, and derecho-level events.
• Lastly, to help limit corrosion, EpoxxiShield™ epoxy coatings are applied directly to the steel frame for long-term protection with minimal maintenance. Many of the military jobs we have done are near coastal areas where corrosion is a significant factor, so our epoxy coatings are a benefit for the long-term durability of those structures.

Applications

For military applications, PVC-clad structures are well-suited to various defense facility types:

• Aircraft Hangars
• Storage Buildings
• Billeting & Mess Halls
• Maintenance Shops
• Fitness Facilities
• Overhead Sunshades
• Vehicle Maintenance Shops

Military Aviation: Hangar Engineering for Defense Use

Aircraft hangars are among the most demanding military building types, requiring clear span interiors, large door systems, overhead crane capacity, and corrosion resistance in coastal environments.

When the U.S. Navy stood up a new helicopter squadron in Europe, Legacy designed and installed two 10,000-square-foot aviation maintenance hangars at Naval Air Station Rota, Spain.

The two-step building profile kept the structures outside the airfield's clearance zone. Each hangar included bi-parting bottom-rolling doors, a 5-ton overhead crane, and full lighting and ventilation (all supported from the steel frame) and was engineered for 114 mph wind speeds and seismic zone D conditions.

Procurement Pathway: The DLA-TLS Contract

On the contracting side, these buildings can be purchased as semi-permanent structures using the DLA-TLS Tents Contract—even though they are designed as permanent structures with a 25 Year warranty on ExxoTec™ PVC cladding.

That classification allows contracting officers to purchase through the DLA-TLS contract vehicle, rather than through the MilCon funding process, which can take years to work through the budget cycle. The relocatable classification also reflects a genuine structural characteristic. Legacy PVC-clad buildings can be demounted and moved without loss of quality if an installation's mission changes.

All components are manufactured in-house and shipped to site. If a project needs international installation, remote site logistics, or coordination with in-country contractors, the structure is built to engineering specifications regardless of location.

When you're ready to move a project forward, request a quote and a Legacy representative will follow up.