Top 5 Reasons to Choose PVC Cladding for an Aviation Hangar

Aircraft hangars don't get much flexibility in size, timeline, or fire code. The building has to fit the aircraft, go up on schedule, and meet the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Hangers made with PVC cladding panels check those boxes, and in some cases, more cost-effectively than steel.

What are the main advantages of PVC cladding over steel in a hangar?

PVC cladding panels on aviation hangars go up faster than on a steel building. They need little maintenance, no paint, no siding, no shingles.

Their material classification puts them in NFPA 409 Group IV, which can mean no sprinkler system is required for hangars under 12,000 square feet of fire area. They can span over 300 feet with no interior columns, and if your operation moves, the building can move with it.

The type of building you choose affects how quickly you can open, what fire code compliance costs, and what you'll spend to keep the structure in good shape over time. PVC cladding on hangars hold up well on all three.

PVC-Clad Hangars Go Up Faster

For a cargo carrier, MRO, or FBO, an unfinished building costs you money. Legacy's installation crews stay in close contact with the manufacturing team, so when something unexpected comes up on-site, it gets sorted out without stopping the job.

Design, fabrication, and installation all happen through the same team, which means fewer delays waiting on approvals or coordinating between contractors.

The DHL Express expansion at CVG Airport — two buildings totaling 237,800 square feet — and the Ontario Airport cargo logistics facility at 126,320 square feet are both examples of that process in practice.

PVC-Clad Buildings Can Move With You

PVC-clad hangars are built and permitted as permanent structures, but they can be moved if necessary. If your lease ends, your operation shifts, or you need to consolidate facilities, the panels slide out of the frame, roll up, and ship to the new location. They go back up without any loss of quality.

For anyone operating on leased airport land, that's a real advantage — you're not leaving a building behind.

PVC-Clad Buildings Don't Need Much Upkeep

Steel buildings need to be repainted, have panels replaced, and have fasteners checked regularly to keep corrosion from becoming a structural issue. PVC-clad buildings skip most of that. If a panel gets damaged, you patch or replace it on its own, the rest of the building isn't affected. That adds up to a real cost difference over time.

NFPA 409 Group IV Classification: What It Means and Why It Matters

PVC-clad structures are classified as Group IV buildings by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

NFPA 409 is the fire protection standard that applies to aircraft hangars. It sorts buildings into four groups based on how they're built. The group your hangar falls into determines what fire suppression equipment you’ll need to install.

NFPA 409 Group Classification Comparison

ExxoTec™ PVC Cladding Qualifications

ExxoTec™ PVC cladding meets NFPA 701, California State Fire Marshal, and ASTM E-84 standards. When it hits direct flame, it doesn't burn — it pulls back. That opens up the building naturally, letting heat and smoke out before they can do serious damage to the structure.

ExxoTec™ also has a low smoke development index under ASTM E-84. In a hangar where aircraft, fuel systems, and people are all in the same building, that matters.

For larger hangars that do need a suppression system, ExxoTec™ and a water deluge system work well together — the panel vents the heat while the suppression system handles the fire.

Built Around Your Aircraft and Site

PVC-clad hangars are built to fit the aircraft going inside: exact length, width, and height, plus the room needed to move, open doors, and do maintenance. A 737 variant has a wingspan up to 117 feet and a body up to 138 feet long. Wide-body freighters and large executive jets are bigger than that. A PVC-clad hangar can be designed for any of them.

The steel frame can carry whatever the building needs. Hangar doors up to 90 feet high, heating and ventilation, aviation lighting, and suppression systems where required. Jack beams can open up significant clearance between supports, which helps with cargo access or moving aircraft between connected buildings.

Solar Ship's 40,597-square-foot assembly hangar in Brantford, ON was built around a solar power system mounted above the roof, and reused an existing concrete pad to cut construction time and cost. The Naval Air Base in Rota, Spain needed two 10,000-square-foot military hangars rated for 195 mph winds, built at a site far outside Legacy's home region.

Whatever the aircraft or the site, the approach is the same: custom design, in-house engineering, manufacturing, and installation by crews who are used to working through problems on-site.