INFLATE ACCESSORIES
BRANDING AND VISUALISATION
As a design company Inflate understands the language of design and is able to listen and distil this information into our studio design and visualization process. No one offers a better visualization service than Inflate when it comes to realistically pushing the boundaries of inflatable structures and project constraints.
This service is based on many years of experience interpreting, distilling and capturing the essence of the look of structures required by our clients. The resulting designs
will be presented as realistic computer visualizations, which upon approval can be translated through to patterning and production without losing any of the essence of the design intent from the initial meetings or maybe blue sky sessions.
For Inflate the early design and visualization process is the opportunity to drive the project in the right direction and it is also the time to ensure that any budget constraints are embraced to ensure the designs and visuals can be produced to the budget.
We do not want to create illusions that are not possible to make. The visuals are intended as the start of the process and we expect the final structure to out perform this initial look though its own presence in reality.
Inflate can brand structures with pattering, imagery, logos and signage as required. These can be temporary or permanent. This branding process can be incorporated as per of the visualization process to ensure the right look of the structure is achieved.
For the best results the images / branding type and process needs to be considered as early as possible with in the project. Last minute details on branding can delay shipping and compromise other aspects of the project.
BRANDING & VISUALISATION
Our range of original Inflate SuperCube and Cubes offer clean-lined and architecturally stimulating buildings which have been engineered to deliver the ultimate in fast architecture. These structures come with a range of enhancements to develop your event to any level from dry-hire to a turnkey serviced tour.
The Inflate Dome family offers a fully modular event system with futuristic lines subtly suggesting they could have come from outer space. These structures come with a range of enhancements to develop your event to any level from dry-hire to a turnkey serviced tour. The domes are ideal for all over temporary branding and black out spaces for inside projections.
We have the first range of award-winning AirClad structures for hire. These structures are the future of mobile modularity in building. They are perfect for building high-end events with contemporary fast architecture. These structures are engineered beyond the normal, offering the ability to be set up fast for events, but also being able to be installed for months or years with little maintenance.
We offer a comprehensive range of highly effective, lightweight, portable interior structures that appear to ‘pop-up’ from nowhere. Whether it be for ‘chill-out’ zones, additional meeting space, creating an inviting contemporary bar, or offering simple clear span coverage of stunning exhibition environments, our Pop Up range offers a solution to most needs.
We have a range of accessories to help develop your event, from flooring to furniture. This section gives an overview of the key elements we offer. If you have a specific interior need, we will develop a full package proposal to encompass that.
Inflate-designed one-off and samples available for hire. You will not find these anywhere else, so if you are looking for something out of the ordinary, please check us out. Please note this section is fluid and it is always worth asking what’s new and on the horizon if you’re looking for the extraordinary.
In 1995 Nick Crosbie founded a design and production company called Inflate. This brand became the vehicle of an evolution of his ideas over the next 21 years which saw him initially designing and producing small household products, then developing trade shows and ultimately large outdoor event structures. The common thread through all these designs was inflatable technology. By the end of the 1990’s, there was a clear vision to create Inflate buildings.
LIGHTING
Pneumatic structures respond to lighting with great effect. The simplest, most cost effective option for ambient lighting is to place fluorescent strip lights in the walls of the structures.
LED lighting can also be used in the same way but with the added advantage of easily programmable colour and lighting effects. With DMX control units anything is possible. Fibre optic lighting and electroluminescent wire can even be woven
Light projections can be utilised to transform the interior or exterior of the structures into an animated arena of light, and together with our collaborators LM productions we can offer complete 3d cinema and gaming experiences.
Laser projections can work very well as a temporary branding solution, and a wide range of Internal task lighting can be truss mounted or freestanding
to provide appropriate light for any situation.
Inflate provide all of the above options, however for more complex lighting and programming we have a range of highly talented lighting designers to call upon to deliver exactly what you need.
LIGHTING
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DOOR SYSTEMS
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DOOR SYSTEMS
The interface between an inflatable structure and a rigid item such as aluminum door frame is always going to test the level of detailing to the look and the functionality of use of the structures.
At Inflate we have worked hard to develop ways of constantly improving this to the degree that we have seamless solutions that look like the door and the structure were always meant to be together.
The door systems and can all be designed bespoke to any form or we have our own off the shelf developed system of flat packed glazed doors to accompany our standard structures, or we can design new structures to suit these door systems.
All our doors systems are easy to pack down and transport and fast and easy to install with 1 or 2 men. Doors and entrances can be used to enhance the structure’s architectural merit as well as providing functional solutions for the buildings.
FLOORING
Inflate offer a core range of flooring based on its experience with events and temporary structures. The flooring detail can be used to enhance the overall product and complete the design.
Snap Lock flooring is a light, quick and easy way to install plastic tile flooring (10mm
– 45mm thick) which can be placed directly onto grass, gravel and concrete, in fact pretty much any surface. Snap Lock flooring can be left as a finished surface or covered with carpet, fake grass or rubber and so on. Cables can be run under the floor allowing for a clean hazard free finish.
100-200mm raised ply decking is great solution for a solid quality floor finish. The flooring can be cut and tailored to fit any structure perfectly. Ideal for putting onto grass, concrete and most other semi level surfaces, This type of flooring is then covered with exhibition carpet, fake grass, rubber tiles or any other surface required.
It is ideal for medium to larger outdoor events where a solid level floor is required. This flooring can be used where the flooring is very un even but there will be increased time for installation and equipment used. We have this system engineered to 5kpa up to 1.5m run off from the ground.
Steel deck and Ali deck flooring is ideal for larger outdoor events where sophisticated AV equipment, air-con, and other ME will be used. These floors are primarily constructed from 300mm high staging and can be built on site with to cope with huge variances in levels. These systems have the ability to assist with the structural integrity of the finished design. The panels are primarily square or rectangular and bespoke shapes – steps – ramps would all need to be designed project specific.
This system can be used for making organic shapes, but these elements would all be retro fitted on site. This system is ideal for rectangular or square structures.
TRUSSING
Trussing can be structural or decorative for supporting lighting, speakers and drapes. The trusses are primarily constructed from Aluminum, or as laser cut steel plate that can be welded together and powder coated in any colour to create very specific details of interior quality.
The trusses can be designed as modular systems for easy transportation or as single pieces for ease of erection. Structural trusses are primarily required with the airflow systems where large spans over 25m are required, high wind or snow loads need to be calculated for. The installation and method statements for construction will often require lifting equipment for structural trusses.
Trussing will also allow for less airflow fans to be used during the running of the event. The trussing will also support the structure in the unlikely event of a power failure.
AIR MANAGEMENT
Not all the structures require fans to be used all the time, but all the outdoor air inflated structures will require some sort of fan air management system at least. The air management systems primarily run periodically and draw very little energy. The AirFlow structures require the fans to run all the time during the event and any other times the structure needs to remain up right.
Inflate has developed a new fan for the airflow structures which now uses 70% less power, has much lower running acoustic levels, in fact less than the voice of a human talking, and finally these fans are now concealed in the walls of the structure negating the needs for ugly exterior fan boxes.
A separate data sheet is available on all the standard fans used by Inflate.
The choice of fan or blower will depend on the size of the structure, type of structure and he system of construction
ACI: 0.125kw / .6amp fans are used for indoor and outdoor use structures of up to 40 sqm. This type of fan we typically use on the indoor OIAB and Luna products. These fans are quiet with good back pressure and high air flow allowing the structures to be inflated quick and to good pressure.
CORE 160 : 0.11kw / .48 amp fans for indoor and outdoor structures between 25m and 120sqm. This type of blower is typically for small out door buildings such as the Luna.
CORE 315 : 0.32kw / 1.39 amp fans are used primarily for outdoor structures from 50sqm and such as the 14m dome. These fans are used on most outdoor temporary structures. They run against a constant back pressure and are required to run for the duration of the use of the structure. Subject to the size of the building the fans may be used in multiples. The fans also have back draft flaps to prevent loss of air through the mechanism in a shutdown. An optional self start generator is available as a backup in the event of a power cut.
POWER
The power consumption varies according to the number of fans used. The OIAB fans consume similar power to a standard light bulb. While the larger outdoor fans run similar to the use of 2 light bulbs.
Large outdoor structures will require a secured back up power source this can be provided by on site mains power or Bio Diesel Generators. Solar wind and other renewable energy can be used with the AirClad system and some smaller outdoor structures.
Inflate is always willing to look at new ways to power their structures and is currently testing an inflate fuel cell car to test new mechanisms for stand alone off grid power options for the future of their fast architecture.
CLIMATE CONTROL
Inflate structures are used at all times of the year in every region of the world and subsequently experience extreme variations in temperature and humidity. The double skin construction of both Airflow and Airclad structures gives them significantly enhanced thermal properties compared to single skin designs.
The thermal performance of the structures is very much dependent on the locations they are being used and time of year. Inflate has specialist data on the UV values of the different fabrics to support this document.
Structures with silver reflective outer or white/black out PVC offer the greatest insulation against heat gain or loss. Please note Air-conditioning or heating will only be effective where doors close to hold the cool or warm air in. If the structure has large open sides AC will not work and fan assisted airflow would be the best option. These specialist facilities will not necessarily be required where ambient temperatures are in the range 7°C to 26°C . Natural airflow and fans can be used to create a less obtrusive solution.
Once the temperature rises to 30°C and over some sort of cooling will improve the internal quality of the spaces. If at the design stage you are aware this is going to be a factor then this must be built into the design program. Warming the structures in colder weather can be easier and especially where doors are used to hold the warmth in. The twin wall nature of the structures acts as a good insulator for warm air.
Larger structures such as the AirClad buildings which are erected for longer periods events will require heating and cooling to be available and used as and when needed. Inflate buildings all come with services and fixings for taking heating and air-conditioning units. Specialist M&E requirements should form part of the initial brief in a new design and build project. Heating and cooling has no long term effect to the fabrics used in the structure.
For all new structures spanning from 15m there will be an independent engineering report supplied confirming all load data and guidance notes on use.
Standard Inflate structures from 100m2 of internal usable space have engineering calculations and full LOG books supplied on the safe use and ways to ensure your structure remains in good safe operation condition for normal use.
Our consultant engineers, www.webbyates.co.uk, have worked with Inflate for over 8 years developing buildings and producing independent calculations to support the designs of inflate.
The primary concern of the engineering is to determine the safe working parameters of the structures. For outdoor structures, this is determined by the likely weather conditions, particularly wind speeds that they will need to withstand. The actual likely windspeeds in a particular location will be determined by location, for example stronger winds are more likely in coastal areas or on high ground; the time of year they are installed and the length of time they are up.
The weather will affect the structures in terms of how the skin of the buildings may deflect and by how much wind loads will increase the requirement for secure fixing as the wind levels rise. Please also note that the interior fit out needs to be considered for accurate calculations to determine the safe working parameters of an event. Inflate AirFlow structures have usable wind ratings of approximately 30mph subject to span and design. Hybrid and sealed pressure structures have usable wind ratings from 40-65mph. Single skin structures will have a higher rating and, as with the sealed systems, can be pressure regulated to increase performance in higher winds. Please note this increased performance will require higher levels of ground fixings as the structures will be taking more forces.
TRUSSING
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FLOORING
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To tell us about your commercial application and branding needs, please fill out the contact form below & we will reply within an hour to your specific project requirements.
SERVICING & CARE
Inflate Structures
Guidance Notes on Cleaning
and Repairs
SALE ITEMS
Sample & Pre-owned items
for sale
GALLERY
Our Gallery of Inflate structures
SNOOZY
Snozzy is a portable hotel structure
As well as creating effective space solutions for large indoor and outdoor events, Inflate offers a comprehensive range of highly effective lightweight, portable interior structures that appear to ‘pop-up’ from nowhere. Whether it be for ‘chill-out’ zones, additional meeting space, creating an inviting contemporary bar, or offering simple clear span coverage of stunning exhibition environments, our Lite range always offers a solution. I
At Inflate Works we take great pride in our crew and invest considerable time in training them. All crew undergo detailed, specialised training on not only the structures we work with butthe expectations of our clients and the demanding environment that is the event industry. We understand our clients needs and we ensure our crew do too.