Which tarpaulin
is best for my
container shelter?

19 July 24
IMG_0098

Are you looking to quickly acquire a covered workshop or storage space that is affordable and portable? Then a container shelter might be a good option for you. Kroftman container shelters are quick to install, provide protection against rain, and can be easily disassembled and relocated if needed. Especially when using the fastening clamps developed by Kroftman, you can assemble the shelter much faster without damaging the containers. In addition to various attachment options and sizes, you can also choose from two types of tarpaulins, PVC or (HD)PE tarpaulin.

Do you want to know which tarpaulin is most suitable for your container shelter? In this blog, we compare the two tarpaulins on the following points:

  • The strength and warranty period of the two tarpaulins for our container shelters
  • The difference between the 'warp' and 'weft' of a tarpaulin
  • The appearance of the two tarpaulins for our container shelters
  • The fire resistance of the two tarpaulins for our container shelters
  • Weather and temperature resistance of our tarpaulins
  • Wind and snow load of the PVC or PE tarpaulin
  • The possible colors of the tarpaulins
  • The tarpaulin for the front and back walls including roll-up door
  • Repair kits for our tarpaulins
  • Summary: When do you choose which tarpaulin for your container shelter?

 

The strength and warranty period of the two tarpaulins for our container shelters

For all our container shelters, you can choose between a tarpaulin of PVC with a thickness of 610 g/m² or a tarpaulin of PE (also called polyester or HDPE) with a thickness of 300 g/m². The only exception to this is our budget model and also our smallest container shelter, the TC403. The TC403 comes standard with a PE tarpaulin. If you fill in our quotation tool, you will also see that you have fewer choices with the CT403.

The PVC tarpaulin is stronger than PE and is therefore better resistant to weather influences. The lifespan of PVC is longer. If you move your container shelter a lot, this will take its toll on both tarps. The building and dismantling, which causes the tarp to be pulled and tensioned over the structure each time, affects the quality. A more vulnerable tarp such as PE will tear earlier. We offer a warranty period of 10 years on PVC and 3 years on PE.

In the table below, you can see the properties of both tarps side by side.

Properties  (HD)PE tarpaulin PVC tarpaulin
Gram per m² 300 g/m² 610 g/m²
Tensile strength* warp 1.351 N 2965 N
Tensile strength weft 1.195 N 2.282 N
Tear resistance* warp 167 N 456 N
Tear resistance weft 137 N 314 N
Flame retardancy Tested according to standard
CPAI-84:1995		 Tested according to standard
DIN 4102-1 klasse B2
Temperature resistance -30- +70℃ -30- +70℃

 

* The tensile strength shows how hard you can pull on the tarp before it breaks. Tear resistance is essentially tear resistance. It calculates how much force the tarp can withstand before it tears further, if there is already a tear in the tarp.

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The difference between the 'warp' and 'weft' of a tarpaulin

In the table above, the tensile and tear strength of the warp and weft of a tarpaulin are mentioned. Perhaps unfamiliar terms to you. It has to do with the woven threads that form the basis of both PVC and PE tarpaulins. PVC has a base consisting of polyester yarn. That is a strong thread that, even when there is no tension, does not shrink. The base for PE is a flatter thread made of PE material. The threads are woven for both tarps, just like with ordinary fabrics for, for example, clothing. Vertical threads (the warp) are tensioned, and horizontal threads (the weft) are woven through them. This drawing illustrates this well.

A layer of PVC or PE is applied on top of this base of woven fibers until the desired thickness is reached. This layer also contains the substances that give the tarp its color and the plasticizers that keep the tarp supple and protect it from weather influences.

The photo below shows where the warp and weft are located in the tarp of a container shelter. The yellow arrow indicates the direction of the warp and the red arrow indicates the direction of the weft. The warp hardly stretches, which is why this direction is also the direction of tension when you pull and tension the tarp over the arches.

 

The appearance of the two tarpaulins for our container shelter

As for the appearance of the two tarpaulins, PVC tarpaulin is much smoother than PE tarpaulin. You can clearly see the fiber structure of the base fabric on PE tarpaulin. Below we have placed two photos of the tarps next to each other. The advantage of a smoother tarp is that it will absorb less dirt and, depending on the shape of the roof, snow will slide off more easily.

The fire resistance of the two tarps for our container shelters

Our PE tarpaulin complies with the CPAI-84-1995 standard, the PVC tarpaulin complies with the DIN 4102-1 class B2 standard. The PVC tarpaulin is classified as 'normally combustible, non-dripping or non-flowing'. Our PE tarpaulin will not drip or melt in case of fire. Because a container shelter is easy to evacuate in case of fire and usually few people are in it, the fire safety requirements are low. More information about fire safety tests and standards can be found on our website, on the download page.

Weather and temperature resistance of our tarps

Both PVC and PE tarpaulins have a temperature resistance ranging from -30 to +70°C. This means that there is no change in the material at temperatures between -30 and +70°C. That may seem like a lot, +70°C, but on a hot summer day, with the sun shining directly on the tarp, the tarp can get quite hot. Where the tarp lies on the curvature of the frame, the heat from the sun cannot escape. If the sun shines continuously on the tarp on hot summer days, the tarp will endure a lot in those places. The tarp wears out faster there, with the risk of tearing. This will happen more quickly with the thinner PE tarpaulin than with the thicker PVC tarpaulin, just as it will happen earlier with a dark colored tarpaulin than with a white tarpaulin (see paragraph 'the possible colors of the tarpaulins').

 

Wind and snow load of the PVC or PE tarpaulin

On our website, you can see the specifications of each container shelter. The maximum permissible wind and snow load is also stated here. However, this load concerns the construction of the container shelter and not the tarpaulin. We advise keeping both the PE tarpaulin and the PVC tarpaulin as snow-free as possible. Because of the mostly round shape of our container shelter, snow often slides off it. If this is not the case, push against the tarp from the inside, for example with a soft broom. You want to prevent the tarp from tearing. Snow that accumulates on the containers and presses against the side of the tarp is not a problem.

If you see that the tarp is sagging and forming a sag, tighten the tarp again so that it is taut again. A loose tarp will flap in the wind, causing wear and tear more quickly. The walls of a container shelter have an updraft protection in the form of an opening with mesh and a flap that can be opened a little, to let wind through. If it storms or is windy, we advise keeping the roll-up doors closed to prevent the wind from getting under the roof tarp.

 

Width Length Max. snow load Max. Wind load
4,0 m 3,0 m 0,30 kN/m² 0,30 kN/m² (10-11 Bft)
6,0 m 6,1 m

12,2 m 0,30 kN/m²

0,30 kN/m² 0,30 kN/m² (10 Bft)

0,30 kN/m² (10 Bft) 7,9 m 6,1 m

12,2 m

  0,30 kN/m²

0,30 kN/m² 0,50 kN/m² (10-11 Bft)

0,50 kN/m² (10-11 Bft) 10 m 12,2 m 0,30 kN/m² 0,50 kN/m² (10-11 Bft)

 

* According to Euro standard EN13782, temporary construction.

If desired, you can set up our container shelters in areas with a higher snow load. Please note that the limit of 30 kg/m² is not exceeded in winter by keeping the shelter snow-free.

The possible colors of the tarpaulins

By default, both the PVC and PE tarpaulins of our container shelters are delivered in white or dark green. The only exception to this is our budget container shelter TC403. This is standard equipped with a white PE tarpaulin. Both the dark green and white tarpaulins contain plasticizers to keep the tarp supple. Under the influence of the sun, this plasticizer decreases. The tarp becomes stiffer and harder over the years with the risk of tearing. Because a dark green tarp absorbs sunlight and a white tarp reflects sunlight, the tarp will become stiffer earlier with a green tarp. Our advice is to choose a white tarp for a longer lifespan. In any case, never choose a transparent tarp. These contain fewer substances that dampen the effect of the sun, causing the tarp to discolor and harden more quickly and then break. If you would like a different color for the other container shelters than white, gray or dark green, please contact us. We can see what is possible for you. Please note that:

  • this is only possible for PVC tarpaulin,
  • we have to order this tarpaulin specially, so there will be a longer delivery time,
  • it is difficult to specify an exact color of the tarpaulin since they are not made in standard RAL colors.
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The tarp for the front and back walls including roll-up door

The front and back walls of a container canopy are the same, both have a roll-up door. However, there is a difference between the inside and outside of the walls, do not reverse them. The reason for this is that the tarp cannot be tensioned against the construction and the roll-up door cannot be opened from the outside. There is a sticker on the inside of the main tarp to mark the inside. Note, the outside of the tarp on the front and back walls is marked with a sticker. If you choose a PVC or PE tarpaulin for the container canopy, then the tarp for the front and back walls including the roll-up door is of the same type of tarpaulin. You can never combine two different types of tarpaulin. It does not matter for the rolling system of the roll-up doors whether PVC or PE tarpaulin is used. Our rolling system can handle the weight of PVC fine. Rolling up the PVC roll-up door is just as easy as a roll-up door made of the lighter PE tarpaulin.

 

Repair kits for our tarpaulins

If your PVC tarpaulin shows tears, we offer you the possibility to order a repair kit from us. This repair kit consists of a piece of PVC and specially developed glue by Kroftman. Burn holes can also be repaired in this way. A burn hole will not get bigger, but it does make your tarpaulin no longer waterproof. Such a repair is not possible for PE tarpaulin. In case of damage to a PE tarpaulin, we advise you to order a new tarpaulin. We advise against "repairing" tears and holes by, for example, sticking duct tape over them. This will not stay in place for long.

 

Summary: When do you choose which tarpaulin for your container shelter?

Which tarpaulin is best for your situation largely depends on two aspects:

  • How long you want to use the container shelter?
  • How often you will set up and dismantle the container shelter?

If it is only for one-time use in a short period, the lifespan is less important, and you will not want to pay too much. PE tarpaulin is the best choice for you. If you want to use your container shelter for several years and will move it regularly, a strong tarpaulin is worth the extra investment, and PVC is most suitable.

 

We hope the above information helps you make an informed choice. If you want to know exactly what the container shelter of your choice costs, please feel free to fill in our quotation tool without obligation. This will result in a quotation that we will send you by email, showing at a glance what the transport costs are for your container shelter. You can create multiple quotations and check different options. This way, you can compare them well.

Do you still have questions? We are happy to assist you.

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