Aluminium framed temporary buildings are still quite a new concept and one that brings with it some ambiguity and misconceptions.

The structures themselves are modular aluminium frames that come in 5m bays and heights from 4m through to 6m. Various cladding options are available for walls and roofs depending on the level of insulation required. A range of access doors and ancillary options are also available to tailor solutions and structures can be hired or purchased.

The word ‘temporary’ in itself leads to ideas of poor quality or something akin to a marquee. This could not be further from the truth as a temporary building is more in-line with a permanent building when it comes to quality standards. Most aluminium framed temporary buildings are engineered to meet the same British Standards for snow and wind loadings as a permanent building. This means, they can be in continual use for up to ten years in full compliance with UK Building Regulations.

How the buildings became known as ‘temporary’ is probably down to the fact they can be hired and the installation technique. Temporary buildings are anchored down to available hard-standing. No ground works are required unless the ground is unlevel in which case a concrete pad may be required.

This unique build process, that takes literally days, is what makes them vastly different to a permanent building and creates such huge advantages for temporary building users. Permanent buildings and steel structures need ground works – a process that can be timely, expensive and disruptive. There is significant financial commitment there as well - once ground works are laid and a building erected, your pretty much stuck with it. If you business needs change or demand falls away, you will probably have spare capacity eating into valuable budget and other resource.

Temporary building users have total flexibility as buildings can easily be installed, dismantled, returned to the supplier or even relocated to another site – with practically no evidence of their existence.

Getting over the message of quality versus flexibility is a difficult one for temporary building providers, but it’s one that needs to be made. The ability to create and remove high quality buildings so quickly, easily and cost-effectively is something that could help UK industry prosper during this current economic uncertainty.