Horizon Structures Ltd. specialises in fabricating to the customer's needs .  We are an organisation that is connected with various other certified companies to provide the best building possible for our customer's needs and focused on solving customer’s  needs by delivering highest quality Fabric Cover Buildings that can be adjusted to be fitted with a 8', 12', 14' and 16' high walled leg. 

All of our buildings are engineered and backed by proven experience and customer service that is unmatched in the Cover Building industry. 

A Cover Building is a rigid framework with a fabric cover, most commonly made from polyethelyene.  While these buildings all look similar from a distance, there are signifiant differences in the quality and engineering between manufacturers.

Horizon Structures manufactures fully-engineered buildings with the best possible materials and covering systems working together with such companies as GT Metals, Sturgeon Fabrications, and many others . 

Craftsmanship

The attention to detail and years of experience the dedicated employees of Horizon Structures Cover Buildings bring to each of their duties is the driving force behind the best Fabric Covered Building available at any price plus the the experience of our associate companies with experiencegoing as far back as 1938.

Conservative Design Principles

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings design and manufacture every Fabric Covered Building to the highest engineering standard: human occupancy.  There are NO engineering reductions taken for building purpose or profile.  This means there is more steel in your building to defend against the elements.
 
Best Overall Value

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings  has led the industry in terms of overall value for some time.  We use better materials and use better corrosion protection than most other options.  We use up to a 14 oz/yd² fabric and attach it using the our own Keder Cover Attachment System.  Our Keder track on every truss allows for independent keder covers in each building bay for ground level maintenance, effortless expansion options, and simple, individual bay cover replacement.  Horizon Structures Cover Building’s steel products are Hot Dip Galvanized after manufacturing to provide a continuous coating of protective zinc on both the inside and outside of the truss.  Horizon Structures Cover Building’s 20-year Warranty is available upfront and includes both the Fabric Cover and Truss System.  Horizon Structures's warranty does not exclude corrosive materials.

Unlike metal buildings, an Horizon Structures Cover Building allows a multitude of natural light to trasmit thorugh the roof even on cloudy days.  There is hardly any condensation in a fabric building and the massive volume capacity of an Arch Design provides for excellent air quality.  Sharp sounds are deadened in a fabric building as well.

A fabric building will provide an excellent source of shade during the warm months and will capture a bit of heat in colder times.  With adequate insulation and a proper heating source, you can be very comfortable working in a Cover Building even in the coldest climates.  Horizon Structures's manufactures buildings in a Cover Building year round in a Canadian winter where below zero temperatures are common.

The inside of an Horizon Structures Building is bright, quiet and dry.

A licensed engineer using the International Building Code (IBC) designs Horizon Structures Cover Buildings for human occupancy with an importance factor 1.0.  The other design criteria are wind and snow loading or seismic activity per your location and application loading such as conveyors or other material handling equipment. 

A second locally licensed, INDEPENDENT engineer,  provides the Engineering Seal on Horizon Structures Cover Building Prints. This engineer provides proof that the correct loading for the building location and purpose were used to calculate the base plate reactions at the foundation.  This procedure is necessary to ensure proper foundation design and to obtain building permits and insurance on the cover building.  

Because of the quality of our engineering many customers have reported that they were able to issue warehouse receipts for their building.  Check local regulations for your area if this is something you wish to obtain.

Do NOT purchase any building until you have determined the building was designed by a licensed engineer and the building supplier can provide the sealed set of building plans needed to obtain a building permit, foundation design, and future insurance. Many other companies have only one rafter design that somehow magically always meet the customer’s design requirements.  In most cases the competition must take engineering reductions in loading based on use or the shape of the building to meet code requirements.  Beware of photocopied engineering seals from one building that is not designed specifically for your location.  These drawings may not provide loading reactions or location information for your design.  This lack of information and detail can lead to delayed permitting, increased costs for engineering seals after the fact, inefficient foundation designs, inability to insure the structure or contents once installed, and most importantly structural failures.

No, there are two primary types of galvanizing.  In-line (some manufactures have branded this as a "Shielded" product) and Batch Hot Dip Galvanizing.

Hot Dip Galvanizing is a better coating than the competitor’s pre-galvanized or “shielded” products because Hot Dip Galvanizing provides 300% more zinc that is uniformly applied to all steel surfaces.  Hot Dip Galvanizing provides 3.9 mils of zinc on all surfaces, inside and outside, compared to the competitor’s pre-galvanized or “shielded” products that have less than 1 mil of zinc on the outside only and no protection on the inside of the product.  When other manufacturers weld to pre-galvanized or “shielded” products, the welding damages or burns the outside zinc while creating a weld burn on the unprotected inside of the product.  Competitors sometimes choose to replace the outside zinc, but have no way to protect the inside weld area from corrosion.  Zinc protects steel by reacting with the environment instead of the steel.  The more zinc available to protect the product, the longer the product will last, especially in a corrosive environment.   

To learn more about Galvanizing, please click here.
 

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings sales team will work with you to determine the best foundation option based on the use and location of the building.  The Horizon Structures Bar Truss Series 42’-76’ is pre-engineered to be placed on portable pre-cast concrete.  This material is the most versatile and cost effective foundation option offered by Horizon Structures Cover Buildings.  Certain Horizon Structures Cover Buildings can be placed on Pre-Cast Concrete “L” or “T” Panels, please contact us to discuss your foundation options. 

Should you wish to design your own foundation, Horizon Structures Cover Buildings will supply the building reactions at the base plates to your engineer to design a foundation to meet the needs of your particular project and location.  Other Horizon Structures Cover Building Foundation options are Cast in Place Concrete, Ground Anchors, and Steel “W” Beam Posts.  Horizon Structures Cover Buildings that store bulk material like grain or fertilizer can utilize building liners that increase the storage capacity without adding additional height or cost to the foundation.

Yes you can expand or relocate an Horizon Structures Cover Building.  Our exclusive Keder Cover Attachment System permits easy expansion by installing the number of rafters for the new required length and simply pulling new individual covers to extend your Horizon Structures Cover Building.  The versatility of an Horizon Structures Cover Building allows for both fast installations and easy relocation.  If a portable pre-cast concrete foundation was chosen, simply reverse the building process and your engineered Cover Building is on the move in no time without having to leave costly foundations behind.  This is a great asset when working on temporary projects, dealing with leased property or if your plant layout changes. 

Horizon Structures manufactures and distributes all of our Cover Buildings in Edmonton, AB . We outsource production of certain items to third parties as we can keep tight quality control on the processes. We also are Canadian distrubutors for Accu-Steel Covered Buildings.  Regardless of what series, Horizon or Accu-Steel, both buildings are of equal value and they both have their unique differences but are both equal quality manufactured buildings. Horizon Structures Cover Buildings has been successful because our experienced and dedicated employees and associates understand the proper manufacturing techniques and engineering behind the quality you are seeking. 

Yes, Horizon Structures Cover Buildings are an environmentally responsible choice.

100% of the material that makes up an Horizon Structures Cover Building can be recycled. 

• The steel is produced from recycled scrap iron.
• Our standard fabric is a virgin polyethelyene.  We use this because it is much more environmentally friendly than PVC fabrics.  Polyethelyene is readily recycled when the cover needs to be replaced.
• The foundations can be reused or re-ground for another life as well.

Compared to an asphalt shingle roof, a Cover Building will take substantially less labor, less material cost, and nothing needs to be landfilled. 

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings are designed to be permanent structures that have the flexibility to economically perform temporary  or relocatable storage needs also.  The Horizon Structures Plate Truss Series 42’-76’ is pre-engineered to be placed on portable Pre-Cast Concrete Blocks or Highway Barriers.  This is the most versatile, portable and cost effective foundation option for temporary storage offered by Horizon Structures Cover Buildings.  Our Cover Buildings meet the requirements for obtaining a conventional or temporary building permit. 
 

Horizon Structures’s field service personnel can repair a majority of damage that may occur to the covers.  If the damage cannot be repaired, Horizon Structures Cover Buildings are designed with the Keder Track Attachment Systems with an individual cover in each rafter bay so that only the cover with the damage must be replaced.  This system significantly reduces your replacement cost by only replacing the damaged section, not the entire cover like on a traditional monolithic cover.

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings has several locations that can be pointed out at request.  Please call us at 1-866-923-3829 or click here to find the Horizon Structures Cover Building nearest you. 

Depending on the design and type of the foundation, the foundation is typically installed by a qualified contractor near the building site.  Once the foundation is completed and any critical dimensions are confirmed, the customer has three options. 

• Have an authorized Horizon Structures Cover Building Installation Crew install it.
• Have Horizon Structures send an Installation Representative to work with the customer’s contractor to complete the building.
• Do it yourself by using our comprehensive installation plans and customer service to support the install process.  

Horizon-Fabric is Woven Polyethylene material that is produced from two sheets of low-density polyethylene extruded over a layer of high-density woven polyethylene.  All three layers have been treated with the latest in Ultra-Violet (UV) stabilizers and can be combined with a Fire Resistance (FR) treatment to provide excellent protection and longevity for your Horizon Structures Cover Building.  Since Horizon-Fabric is unique to Horizon Structures Cover Building the colors choices are unique also.  Choices include: White, Desert Tan, Barn Red, Forest Green, and Navy Blue.  Colours are listed in descending order of greatest light translucency and all colors have a bright white inside finish.

The covers on an Horizon Structures Cover Building will last approximately 15 to 20 years, depending on a few factors.  There are 3 main reasons why  covers may need replaced. 

1. The Cover Building was not maintained properly and the cover never maintained and the cover became loose: This is why the Keder Cover Attachment System was developed.  The Keder allows for maintenance at ground level, not up in the building where most customers cannot easily or safely reach.  And each bay has a smaller independent cover, not one large single piece of fabric that is more difficult to maintain.
    
2. Ultra Violet (UV) radiation breaks down the Woven Polyethylene material: This is why Horizon-Fabrics are manufactured with 14 oz/yd² material instead of the industry standard 12 oz/yd² .  The heavier the material, the longer it takes the UV to break it down.  The amount of UV radiation depends on two main factors: the latitude and the elevation of the Cover Building.  The nearer to the equator and the more above sea level a building is located the greater the UV radiation. Depending on maintenance and location of the Cover Building, an Horizon-Fabric Cover should last 15 to 20 years and a Fire Resistant (FR) Horizon-Fabric should last 10 to15 years.
    
3. Certain roof designs can lead to degradation as well.  While Horizon Structures uses an arch system which is ideal for constant tension over the entire length of the fabric, others use a different system that can lead to premature wear and degredation.  Roofs are designed with long unsupported flat sections with three radius corners; the cover is over tightened over the three radius corners to keep the cover tight in the flat roof section.  When the cover is over tightened above 35 pounds per square inch (psi), the fabric is subject to early UV degradation due to openings in the high-density polyethylene weave.  The Horizon Structures Keder Cover Attachment System is designed to maintain constant tension in the Cover Building to provide the longest fabric life cycles possible.

All buildings, not just Cover Buildings, require basic maintenance.  Horizon Structures has made it easy for you as we have designed all maintenance at ground level.  The primary maintenance function is to make sure the fabric does not have any wrinkles.   Since all manufactured steel components are Hot Dip Galvanized, we have all but eliminated corrosion or maintenance on the framework.  Horizon Structures publishes comprehensive preventive maintenance recommendations that must be followed for warranty coverage. 

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings is one of the leaders in de-icing material and road salt storage because we were not satisfied delivering Cover Buildings like everyone else; we build specially design buildings for the customer's needs .  Horizon Structures recognised opportunities in product design that would increase the productivity for Public Safety officials.  Horizon Structures Cover Buildings will not deviate from quality standards to attempt to win a bid.  Experience has shown once a customer has owned an Horizon Structures Cover Building, the customer is motivated to ensure all their future Cover Building projects match the quality of an Horizon Structures Cover Building.  Some of the reasons, customers have put Horizon Structures in a leadership position include:

• The Hot Dip Galvanized Finish provides a continuous uniform coating of zinc that protects the steel components from oxidation in the corrosive environment.  Hot Dip Galvanizing on manufactured steel components increases longevity and lowers operating costs for the public sectors. 
• Horizon-Fabrics with the Keder Track Attachment System allow for simple ground level maintenance, relocation of the structure if a yard location changes, and an individual up to 14 oz/yd² cover in each bay.
• Our Buildings provide the inside clearance required for liner panels (which increase storage capacities) and also allow room for an end dump trailer to unload product inside, while keeping the center height low enough to meet code and not create a focus point in the urban landscape. 

Horizon Structures provides a Specification for bidding a generic Cover Building.  These specifications are not unique to an Horizon Structures Cover Building; any competitor with a desire to produce a quality product can meet these requirements.  Please click here for the generic specification builder.

The differences between an Horizon Structures Cattle Building and the competition are significant and numerous. 

First, an Horizon Structures Cattle Building is a 46’ or 60' wide Cover Building designed specifically for Cattle production, this in not a cheap hog hoop building with two extra side boards and a narrow opening over a wood bunk. 

Size:

The 46' Horizon Structures Cattle Building is 44’ inside the Beam or Pre-cast foundation; Some competitors have less than 36’ wide on the inside of their "40 foot" building.  The Horizon Structures Cattle Building’s extra width allows for a true 40 sq. ft.  plus animal space per foot of building. 

Foundation:

An Horizon Structures Cattle Building is designed on a steel H beam foundation that can be installed on existing bunk lines or new feedlot construction.   The steel H beam foundation can be adjusted to the existing ground slope of the customer’s feed yard location.  The steel H beam foundation is fully engineered to meet the requirements for NRCS and USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program (E.Q.I.P.) The steel H beam has an excellent “pocket” between the posts to pour a concrete wall or attach fencing and gating. 

Pre-Cast Concrete Foundations are also available.

Horizon Structures does not offer a wood foundation option as they are not pre-engineered for E.Q.I.P.  Wood sidewalls are inferior because they can rot, break and reduce the airflow and air quality for the cattle.  While wood sidewalls are initially less expensive to supply, they require more labor to install and cost more for a fully engineered building.

Cover Fabric:

Horizon Structures Cattle Buildings utilize up to 14 oz/yd² Horizon-Fabric in an individual keder cover per building bay, this allows for easy ground level maintenance or replacement if damage occurs.  Others use a lighter weight 10 or 12 oz/yd² fabric that is a one-piece cover that needs maintained up in the building and if there is a problem the competition’s one piece cover is jeopardized. 

Cover Attachment:

The Horizon Structures Keder Cover Attachment System terminates the cover on the eave so water does not flow around the eave and back into the bunks or building.  There are two eaves standard on an Horizon Structures Cattle Building; the bunk eave is over 5’ wide to protection the bunk and 11’ tall to provide clearance when feeding.  The curtain eave is over 2’ wide and 11’ tall and is opposite the bunk eave; this eave provides an attachment area for a curtain and pushes water away from the Cover Building. 

Design:

The Horizon Structures Cattle Building is an Engineered, Hot Dip Galvanized Truss, not an un-engineered painted single pipe hoop.   Horizon Structures has designed the H Beam Post to be easily installed by the customer or the customer’s contractor, and then an authorized Horizon Structures Cover Building Installation Crew will construct the Cover Building.  This process with the customer installing the H Beam Posts and Horizon Structures installing the cover building insures proper concrete curing on the posts and a properly installed cover building that meets all of the warranty requirements.

Choice of other materials:

Horizon Structures concentrates on delivering highest quality Cover Buildings that meets the customer’s demands for cattle feeding.  There are other high quality suppliers and installers of fencing, bunks, waterers, gates, and curtains.  Horizon Structures Cover Buildings does not bundle complete packages because we want you to use whatever bunks, gates, waterers, etc... that you wish to use.   

Horizon Structures Cattle Buildings will keep cattle cool in the summer, dry year around, manage the cattle’s environment from manure to air quality, increase daily gains, and generate more dollars on the bottom line.

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings are engineered with time tested compressive arch design technology. This arch design is the most efficient design to transfer building loads to the foundation and maintain equal cover tension while requiring the least amount of material. The main downfall of the flat roof and gable peak cover building design appears when a fabric is stretched over a flat plane without a curve or other support for the fabric; the fabric will wrinkle or move in the wind. This type of movement can lead to premature cover failure.

Try this experiment:  Take a piece of paper outside in the wind and try to stretch it flat between your hands,  then try to stretch it over your leg.   You will notice when the paper is pulled around your leg (or stretched in a supportive arch) it has equal tension and the paper does not wrinkle or move in the wind.  Keeping proper tension on a flat surface is very challenging regardless of what a salesperson tells you. 

The other advantage to an arch design is that the cover building has excellent inside sidewall clearance without excessive center peak heights. This is important to maintain usable inside clearance while minimizing a visual impact on the environment. 

Rafter Truss Depth

Horizon Structures Cover Buildings are wider between truss cords compared to other buildings because we do not take engineering reductions in snow loading for the slick surface of the cover material, since uncer certain conditions snow will stick to the cover material.   Typically the type of snow that will accumulate on the cover is the heavy wet snow.  While it will not typically be there once the wether improves, there can be significant loads places on the building.

The other main reason Horizon Structures Cover Buildings have a deeper Truss is because no design reduction is applied on the cover building’s roof peak angle. To use this reduction, a building’s roofline must meet a single point. The competition’s roofline meets at a radiuses corner that is flatter than the Horizon Structures Cover Building’s peak. The flatter the Cover Building peak, the more snow loading the building will receive. Horizon Structures Cover Buildings are designed with the correct snow loading that represents actual conditions and allows Horizon Structures Cover Buildings to outperform any building on the market today.