Questions and Answers about Industrial Domes

1- Can the dome support external loads such as conveyors, dust collectors, head houses, etc..?

Yes. Our engineers will design the dome to support all equipment loads. It is extremely important to address these issues in the early planning stages of the project. We will need to know the total weight of any equipment, how many points the weight will be distributed to the dome, and the relative locations of all equipment. This will allow us to produce drawings in a timely fashion so as not to delay the project.

2- How are the attachments made for this type of equipment?

Typically, items such as dust collectors and head houses are placed onto concrete curbs which are poured directly on top of the dome. This allows their massive weights to be distributed to the dome shell more uniformly. Other items such as stairs, catwalks and conveyors have support plates anchored directly to the dome. Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2.

3- Can penetrations be made through the dome to support installation of air piping or other equipment?

Yes. Again, it is imperative that these details be worked out in the early stages of the project so that the drawings will not be delayed. There have been several types of openings used in the past. Obviously the number of penetrations should be minimized in order to lessen the chance of leaks in the outer membrane.

4- How are penetrations through the dome waterproofed?

The key to a good waterproofing is finding one that bonds to the airform®. We have found very few waterproofing agents which will bond to the airform®. We have, however, found some primers which will bond to both the airform® and the waterproofing agent. Please contact us for your specific waterproofing needs.

5- How can light or other equipment be attached to the interior surface of the dome?

The easiest way to mount anything to the interior surface is to drill and epoxy anchor bolts directly into the shotcrete. A ½" steel plate can be anchored to into the surface to facilitate welding if needed.

6- How can I prefab the steel for the conveyors and other equipment that attach to the top of the dome if the height of the dome can vary +/- 18".

As stated above, equipment placed on top of the dome is typically placed on a concrete curb. These curbs are designed to be at a set elevation so that even if the dome height varies, the top of curb elevation stays the same. For tower and conveyor supports that attach directly to the dome, it is best to manufacture them to worst case conditions (dome is lower than expected) and have them field modified..

7- What types of bulkhead doors are available that are big enough to drive equipment through and strong enough to hold the product?

Dome Technology manufactures various types of doors to suit the customers specific needs. When choosing the style of door a few simple questions will need to be answered.

A- How often will the dome need to be accessed? B- How will the product be reclaimed? C- Does the door need to be inside a covered entryway? D- What size of equipment will need to be moved through the door? E- How much will it cost?

Once these questions have been answered you can then begin to choose the door that would best suit your needs.

8- Is it more economical to use a buried dome instead of a conventional bunker in our tunnel system?

Yes. The photos below demonstrate a tunnel system that we built incorporating a cylindrical dome as a bunker. The through tunnel can be accessed from the top of the dome. This particular design saved our customer thousands of dollars over a conventional square bunker.

9- How much maintenance is involved with an airform®?

Like all exterior coverings, airforms® will degrade over time. It is extremely important to set up a scheduled inspection and maintenance program for the airform®. The coatings page gives good guidance on how to inspect and set-up this program. If you need further assistance please feel free to contact us.

10- At what point in the dome construction can other contractors start their interface work?

We know that a tight schedule means that everyone must work together in order to finish the project safely, on time, and within the allotted budget. Dome Technology will sit down with you in the initial planning phases of the project and give you approximate target dates that other contractors may use to start their work on the outside of the dome. For example on the week of ____ the pre-shell should be sprayed in to an elevation of 24'. The mechanical contractor can then start making up his air-piping around the perimeter only he can't penetrate the dome until the week of _____.