tensile

Structures
The perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics
Page Contents “Through the economical use of high-quality materials and by exploiting the structural properties of spatial
systems, light, portable buildings can be created without significant dead weight. The construction is limited

2 Table of contents to the absolute necessities.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frei Otto

3 Fascination in membrane construction

4 - 9 Translucent construction with technical textiles

10 - 15 Transparent construction with ETFE foils

16 - 17 Full Service – from design to construction

18 Ceno Tec expertise

fascination T e n s i l e Structures

Tensile Structures – the perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics

Modern technology with proven materials

Visual simplicity, fascinating spatial
and light effects, unconventional, cur-
ved shapes and expressiveness – all
these characterise constructions fea-
turing technical textiles. Virtually no
other form of construction offers such
individuality and design opportunities.
Textile roofs allow large areas to be co-
vered without the need for supporting
columns or large spaces to be enclosed.
No other architecture creates such wide
spans with such a minimal use of mate-
rials and energy.
In addition to the use of form, the selection of the right material
is of essential importance to the success of the project. Irre-
spective of whether its technical textiles (coated or uncoated
fabric) or technical plastics (ETFE foils) – when choosing the
material, the planned use, service life of the construction as
well as later maintenance costs should all be considered. Buil-
ding regulations, structural requirements and illumination of the
covered area are also to be taken into account.
Whatever your requirements, the team from CENO TEC will pro-
vide you with the perfect solution from one source.

02 03
fascination Tensile Structures
Thanks to their high tensile strength (five times greater
than steel), coated fabrics can be used to create support-
free constructions with wide spans. Polyester fabrics are
available with either a plastic coating or glass fibre with
PTFE (Teflon®) or silicon coating.
Translucent construction with technical textiles Due to their high material flexibility, both plastic-coated
polyester fabric or high-quality PTFE fabric with a flexible
fluoropolymer coating are ideally suited for creating conver-
Technical textiles are characterised by
tible or temporary constructions.
high transparency and flexibility as well
Glass-fibre fabric with a PTFE (Teflon®) coating is particu-
as a low surface weight combined with
larly noted for its durability, non-combustibility and the fact
extremely high tensile strength. They
that it is virtually self-cleaning.
are not only a crucial design element,
but are a structurally indispensable part
The differences are illustrated in the table on page 7.
of the overall construction thanks to the
pre-tensioning applied. When combined
with reinforcing features such as cab-
le structures and steel constructions,
membranes can be used to create an
almost unlimited number of surface
shapes.

04 05 Translucent construction with technical textiles

fascination tensile Structures
A comparison of technical textiles

PTFE fabric with

Polyester fabric PTFE – coated class fibre fabric PTFE - glass mesh fabric
fluoropolymer coating

Basic fabric Polyester Glas Glas PTFE

Coating material and Plastic Acrylic, fluoropolymer and

Translucent construction with technical textiles surface finish PVDF coating
PTFE PTFE/ETFE foil Fluoropolymer

Gesamtgewicht (g/qm) von 800 – 1450 ca. 800 - 1550 ca. 680 – 1050 1080

Tensile strength (N/5 cm) 3000/3000 – 9800/8300 4200/4000 – 8000/7000 Approx. 4000-5000 4000

Flex resistance Good Adequate Adequate Very good

UV resistance Good Very good Very good Very good

Stain resistance Good Very good Good Very good

All advantages at a glance: Translucence Approx. 5-15% Approx. 8-15% Approx. 20-65% 19-38%

After bleaching:
Standard white, After bleaching: white – limited
Colour White White
• Individual shape and colour colour selection possible colour selection on request

• Low material costs DIN 4102 B1

DIN 4102 A2
flame retardant DIN 4102 B1 EN 13501
Fire classification Non-combustible
• Short planning, manufacturing and EN 13501-1
(with reservations)
flame retardan B – s1,d0
B – s2, d0
assembly time

• Support-free roofing for large areas

• Temporary and portable constructions

possible

• Enclosed structures possible using

thermally insulated and soundproofed,

• multilayer membrane constructions

• Savings on lighting

• Long lifespan

• Excellent heat protection – high reflec-

tivity

• Excellent resistance to earthquakes

06 07 Translucent construction with technical textiles
project examples

Translucent construction with technical textiles

08 09 Translucent construction with technical textiles

fascination tensile Structures
Transparent construction with ETFE foils
In modern architecture, transparent
constructions utilising ETFE foils are
gaining in importance due to their high
translucence and UV resistance. They
are used in membrane construction in
thicknesses of 0.05 to 0.25 mm. Ideal
applications include sectors where the
conventional approach would often be to
use glass (swimming pools, water parks,
atriums, skylights, zoos, greenhouses
and palm houses etc.). In addition to op-
timal daylight conditions, they can also
promote plant growth and facilitate na-
tural tanning in enclosed spaces. By par-
tially coating the foils, it is also possible
to produce a shading effect.
10 11
An overview of the properties and advantages of
ETFE structures:
• Especially high light transmitting capacity of approx. 90% in
the visible wavelength range
• (from 400 – 700 nm/UV)
• High UV transmissibility, depending on the material thick-
ness
• Good thermal insulation: U values, depending on the number
of foil layers
• G value between 0.10 and 0.85 depending on the design and
alignment of the ‘tyres’
• Low weight of foil cushions, thereby facilitating light, intrica-
te substructures
• Very good mechanical properties: High tensile strength/tear
resistance and hail resistance
• Flame retardant – ETFE foils burn off without dripping
• Low maintenance costs due to anti-adhesive surface with
self-cleaning effect
• Interesting design options offered by printing, e.g. shading
without additional construction
• Long service life of at least 25 - 35 years
• Cost savings in comparison with conventional transparent
roof constructions
• High recyclability
Transparent construction with ETFE foils
fascination tensile Structures
Structures using multi-layer ETFE foils ETFE
(Ethylen-Tetrafluor-Ethylen)

As the foils are not fabric-reinforced, ETFE is primarily created Base material Fluorpolymer
in the form of pneumatic cushions in a two or multi-layer design – Total weight (g/m²) 175 (bei 100 μm)
depending on the desired insulation value. These ‘tyres’ maintain Longitudinal direction 51-58
Transparent construction with ETFE foils their form with permanent air support. The span of the individual
Tensile strength (N/mm²)
Lateral direction 53
cushions can be up to 4.5 metres without requiring any additional UV-resistance very good
supporting structure. However, additional cable net reinforce- Stain resistance very good
ment allows for considerably larger spans. The air support and
ETFE foil roofs are individually designed Translucence approx. 90 %
controls can be largely automated.
to meet the structural requirements of highly transparent,
Individual concepts enable the optimal design to be developed for Colour
the building. To achieve a thermal insu- printing and dyeing possible
every project.
lation effect, foil cushions with multi- DIN 4102 B1
Fire classification flame retardant
chamber systems are used.
EN 13501-1 / B-s1,d0
U values :
• 1.51 W/(m²K)
• 0.78 W/(m²K)

Project-specific verification by a
hygrothermal analysis for Düsseldorf/
Duisburg.

12 13 Transparent construction with ETFE foils

project examples

Transparent construction with ETFE foils

14 15 Transparent construction with ETFE foils

fascination tensile Structures

Full-service membrane structures

Scope

• Expert advice and support in the plan-

ning phase
• Provision of the testable statistical cal-
culation
• Creating the design plans
• Prefabrication of the entire structure,
the membrane and all accessories whi-
le maintaining the highest quality stan-
dards
• Delivery free to the construction site
• Complete installation from the top edge
of the foundations
• Service and maintenance
In all phases of the membrane construction, from the initial draft
to assembly, the experienced Ceno team of architects, engineers
and project managers will provide you with advice and practical
support.
You will benefit from our comprehensive experience in planning,
execution and installation, thereby ensuring that the realisation of
your idea doesn’t become an adventure but is a superior, aesthetic
structure.

16 17 Full service membrane construction

fascination tensil e Structures

With Ceno Tec as a prominent partner for success

Quality guarantee

Together the Ceno clothing operation in Greven and the Sattler clothing
operation in Rudersdorf form a multi-site organisational unit. An expe-
CENO TEC has a global reputation for
rienced and qualified team of approximately 200 employees, state-
creating membrane structures of all sizes
of-the-art manufacturing and processing technologies in a production
and is one of the pioneers in this sector.
facility greater than 14,000 m2 in area as well as efficient project and
The origins of the company can be traced
quality management guarantee consistently high quality standards.
back to Carl Nolte, a traditional compa-
Since 2004, the entire Group has been certified in accordance with DIN
ny that was processing textile fabrics as
ISO 9001:2000 and DIN ISO 14001:2004.
long ago as 1875. Since 1996, Ceno
Tec has been an independent subsidia-
ry of the international company Sattler
Other product areas
AG which had its headquarters in Graz,
Austria. Sattler AG is one of the major
In addition to textile architecture, Ceno Tec enjoys great success
heavy-duty textile producers and coating
with membrane constructions in many other areas including:
operations in Europe. The Sattler Group
• Flood protection systems
is not only a European market leader in
• Mobile noise protection barriers
sun protection fabrics but also manufac-
• Hall cladding
tures high-strength coated textiles for a
• Biogas storage tanks
wide range of applications (including tex-
• Membrane structures for booth construction and interior architec-
tile architecture).
ture (illuminated ceilings, room dividers etc.)

18 19
 Ceno Membrane Technology GmbH
Am Eggenkamp 14
48268 Greven, Germany
Tel +49 2571 969 0
Fax +49 2571 3300
info@ceno-tec.de
www.ceno-tec.de

the sattler group