FAQ / BEFORE YOU BUY
Frequently asked
Ordered the way buyers actually ask. Technology, selection, procurement, compliance and maintenance — with hard numbers wherever hard numbers exist.
TechnologySelectionProcurementComplianceMaintenance
This page covers the 22 questions most often asked when buying inflatable membrane buildings. In summary: TANDA uses drop-stitch wall construction rather than air-beam or air-supported, so the structure is self-supporting once inflated and needs no continuous blower; wall thickness comes in five grades from 15 to 75 cm with a U-value of 0.5–0.85 W/m²·K; wind rating exceeds Beaufort 8 with gusts to 10; the operating range is −45 to 60 °C (TPU membrane −41 to 65 °C, PVC −15 to 65 °C); a 24 m² unit is built by one or two people in ten minutes, and a 6 × 8 m unit deploys and strikes in under 15 minutes packing to about 1 m³; OEM / ODM and non-standard tooling are supported; defense use is reviewed case by case against destination and end user.
01
Technology
- How is this different from an ordinary inflatable tent?
- Different structural principle. An ordinary inflatable tent is an air-beam design: a few inflated tubes hold up a single skin, load concentrates in the beams, one deflating takes the structure, and there is effectively no insulation. We use drop-stitch double-wall fabric (DWF), where tens of thousands of internal threads tie two fabric layers together so each inflated wall is a rigid panel with real thickness — up to 75 cm — rated above Beaufort 8 with gusts to 10. This is the same construction family used by Western defense-grade inflatable buildings such as Losberger DST, Nordic Deployment's D-Dome and i2k Defense.
- Is it the same as an inflatable sports dome?
- No. Sports halls and coal stores generally use air-supported domes, where internal overpressure holds the whole envelope up: the blower runs twenty-four hours, the building collapses if it stops, and entry is through an airlock. Our drop-stitch construction is self-supporting once inflated — bring it to working pressure, disconnect the air source, and people and vehicles pass freely. Air-supported suits fixed-location very large spans; drop-stitch suits anything that must move, stand on its own and hold heat.
- Does a blower have to run continuously? Will it collapse in a power cut?
- No, and no. Once at working pressure the structure is self-supporting and the air source can be disconnected. This is the fundamental difference from air-supported construction and the main reason emergency and defense buyers choose it — those sites rarely have reliable power.
- How can 15 cm of fabric insulate at all?
- The insulation is not the fabric; it is the still air held in place inside the wall by the drop-stitch threads. A 15 cm wall gives a U-value of 0.5–0.64 W/m²·K, the same order as conventional masonry. Thicker walls insulate better in general, but note that wide-span products at 75 cm come in above 0.8 W/m²·K because their form and material configuration differ — worth checking during selection.
- If one part is punctured, does the whole thing come down?
- No. The structure is compartmented with each cell pressurised independently, so local damage does not cause total failure and the structure holds long enough to repair. That is fundamentally different from an air beam, where one beam deflating ends it, and from an air-supported dome, where a breach leads to rapid collapse. A repair kit ships with each unit.
02
Selection & customisation
- How do I choose wall thickness?
- By span and use. 15–20 cm for occupied units (accommodation series, emergency shelter and command series); 20–30 cm for mid-span venues; 50 cm around the 20 × 30 × H10 m class; 75 cm for 30 × 40 × H15 m halls and the 32 × 36 × H13 m hangar. Put simply: the greater the span and clear height, the thicker the wall.
- TPU or PVC membrane?
- It comes down to your winter minimum. TPU runs −41 to 65 °C, PVC −15 to 65 °C. Any project where winter drops below −15 °C must take TPU, or the membrane loses flexibility in the cold. TPU also stands up better to repeated folding and stowage, which matters for emergency and defense use. For tropical and subtropical projects PVC is the more economical choice.
- Can sizes be customised?
- Yes, tooled to specification. The existing range spans 8.42 m² to 32 × 36 m; anything outside that, or an unusual geometry, needs project assessment. Tooling carries a one-off cost that amortises with volume, so please indicate expected quantity with the enquiry.
- Can colours be customised?
- Yes. Standard colours are orange, ice-blue, olive, grey, ice-grey and sand, and beyond those we produce to a nominated reference. Camouflage and low-visibility finishes are standard options. Hospitality projects usually match camp identity, and we can produce a colour sample for approval before batch production.
- Can several units be joined into a complex?
- Yes. Modular shape assembly, multi-unit complexes and turnkey camp development are all supported. Medical and command projects commonly link units into zoned flows; hospitality projects usually want elevation and circulation designed as a whole rather than a row of identical pods.
- Can it be deployed on water?
- On-water deployment is an option that must be specified at order, because it changes the buoyancy and anchoring design. Smaller units such as the UMI Pod also suit non-standard positions like decks and slopes.
- Can anything be hung from the roof?
- Yes. Standard units carry a uniformly distributed roof load of at least 300 kg with a 100 kg mid-span point load; wide-span units carry at least 400 kg UDL and 150 kg point load. Light fittings, soft furnishing and light equipment can be suspended. The UMI Pod and YX Rooftop are not rated for roof loading.
03
Procurement & delivery
- What is the MOQ?
- 【TO FILL: MOQ】Minimum order quantities differ by series, and custom-tooled models differ considerably from standard ones. Send us the model and quantity and we will come back with the specific terms.
- What is the lead time?
- 【TO FILL: standard and custom lead times】Lead time depends on model, quantity, whether tooling is required and membrane stock. Please state your target date with the enquiry and we will confirm a workable date against actual scheduling — we do not quote dates we cannot meet.
- What do you need in order to quote?
- Four things: size or model, quantity, destination port and intended use. That is enough for an FOB price. If sizes are not settled, describe the use case, headcount or area and we will propose a selection first. We also recommend supplying local winter and summer extremes, as those directly affect membrane choice and price.
- Do you accept OEM / ODM?
- Yes — it is one of our main modes of work. We tool to your specification, deliver in your colour and marking, and use your packaging, nameplates and accompanying documentation. Our brand does not appear on the product. Exclusivity agreements by territory and model are available.
- Can we arrange third-party inspection?
- Please do. SGS, BV, TÜV or your own QC may attend at in-process or complete-unit stage and we will schedule time and space. We recommend inspecting at the pressure-hold point, which is where real build quality shows.
- Do you handle shipping and customs?
- We support export customs and prepare accompanying documents, test reports and packing lists to the destination market's requirements. Deflated units are compact, so both LCL and FCL work; the specific plan follows quantity and destination port.
04
Export & compliance
- What certifications do you hold?
- 【TO FILL: current certifications】Different markets require different files: emergency and government procurement generally calls for flammability (EN or NFPA family), wind-load and material physical-property reports, and EU markets may involve CE-EN conformity documentation. We can test to the standard your market nominates. Please state destination country and applicable standard with the enquiry — testing to the wrong family means paying twice.
- Can defense-use products be exported?
- They are reviewed case by case against destination country and end user, and some markets require an export licence before shipment. Please state end user, end use and destination country with the enquiry; we confirm whether we can accept it before discussing specification and price. We do not accept orders that fall outside export-control requirements.
- Are there restrictions on civil products?
- Civil accommodation and hospitality products are ordinary commercial goods with no special export controls. Emergency-response products generally ship as ordinary goods too, but where the end user is a military or police agency they follow the defense case-by-case process.
05
Installation & maintenance
- How many people and what equipment does installation need?
- A 24 m² unit takes one or two people and under ten minutes, with no machinery at all. Siting takes 1–3 people, no crane and no hardstanding. Wide-span products assemble in modules, so labour and time scale with module count.
- How long does it last?
- 【TO FILL: warranty period and expected service life】Membrane service life depends directly on local UV intensity, diurnal temperature swing, deployment frequency and maintenance; degradation in high-UV desert regions is markedly faster than in temperate zones. We state the corresponding warranty period with the quotation and supply maintenance guidance.
- What maintenance does it need?
- Three things mainly: check pressure periodically and top up as needed; keep the surface clean, particularly in high-UV regions where accumulated dust accelerates ageing; and make sure it is fully dry before stowage, as prolonged folded storage while damp will damage the membrane. Maintenance instructions and a repair kit ship with each unit.
- Can damage be repaired?
- Yes, in the field. A repair kit ships with each unit and small punctures can be handled on site. Larger damage or seam problems are better returned to the factory; we supply spares and technical support.
- Is supplementary heating needed in winter?
- It depends on local temperature and how the space is used. A 15–20 cm wall has a U-value on par with conventional masonry and provides real insulation, but long-term occupancy in severe cold still warrants heating or air conditioning. Portable air conditioning is an option: no installation, fast heating and cooling, independent dehumidification.
Not answered here?
Send the specific question with your project background to the sales address, or use the RFQ form. Technical questions are answered by engineering staff directly, not by a support script.
Page updated 2026-08-26