Modular Buildings

Shrink Wrap is becoming an increasingly popular product for modular building protection. Be it modular homes, modular bathroom pods or modular offices, shrink wrap is more and more being used to protect modules for transportation and storage. Thanks to its ruggedness and tight fit, shrink wrap will not detach or flap even at high wind speeds, allowing for peace of mind that your modules will be kept safe at all times.

Module Shrink Wrapping – Case Studies

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Modular Building Transport Bags – Shropshire

Modular Building Covers

Better than traditional covers?

Traditionally, where modular buildings need to be protected for road transport there are two solutions; The first method is to use general plastic sheeting which is battened around the edges of the module. This is a low cost option but it is difficult to fit this sheeting tightly so it tends to balloon at high speed and failure is not uncommon.

As the consequences of sheeting blowing off a module on the motorway can be serious an alternative method is to use a re-usable cover. These tend to work better than general plastic sheet but can be expensive to purchase, required periodic maintenance and need careful monitoring to ensure they are returned from site after each use.

What are the benefits of a shrink wrap cover for modular / offsite applications?

Tough - ‘shrink tight’ fit means covers will not blow off, even at motorway wind speeds.

Smart & professional appearance.

No maintenance, the covers do not need to be returned, easy to remove covering at site and recycle.

Security - wrapped items deter opportunistic thieves and keep the item underneath hidden from view.

The module shrink wrap process – Open sides only

Where it is required that the open sides only of modules require sheeting the key challenge is to find a way to anchor the shrink wrap sheeting to the modular building so that when it is heat shrunk, the sheeting pulls ‘drum tight’.

The most common technique is to secure a picture frame of batten around the module edge. Once the wooden batten has been installed the shrink wrap sheeting is hung using a second run of batten which sandwiches the film tightly. The entire sheet can then be shrunk ‘drum tight’.

The module shrink wrap process – Complete encapsulation

Using this technique, the entire module is completely encapsulated in an industrial shrink wrap film.

The usual method is before to ensure that any very sharp edges or corners have been padded with foam or similar.

A ‘footprint’ of shrink wrap film is laid out on the ground. This footprint is cut up to 1m larger than the footprint of the module which is to be shrink wrapped.
The module is then lifted and placed on the footprint and the shrink wrap is pulled up and taped temporarily around the module sides.
Shrink wrap sheeting is then unrolled over the roof of the module, cut from the roll and unfolded down each side.
Using a hot air gun, the top sheet is heat welded to the ‘footprint’ along each side and the shrink wrap film is folded and heat welded at each end (in exactly the same way that you might wrap a large present!).
Finally the entire module is heat shrunk ‘drum tight’. Generally speaking, it is not required that the roof be accessed for heat shrinking as a good quality shrink wrap film with a powerful and bi-axial shrink ratio will pull the roof tight once the sides have been shrunk.

Buying Guide

Powerful and balanced shrinkage to ensure the cover fits ‘drum tight’ after heat shrinking.
Strong welds – Welds need to stay bonded, even at motorway wind speeds.
Flame retardant – EN13501. Some sites will only allow packaging that is approved to LPS1207 and 1215.

Want to find out more? Why not read our guide to buying industrial shrink wrap film

What would you like to do next?

Buy Shrink Wrap Materials

If you want to shrink wrap your own scaffolding projects.

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Get Installation Services

If you would like us to provide a full supply & fix service.

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Learn about Shrink Wrapping

If you want to find out how scaffolding shrink wrapping works.

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Module Shrink Wrapping – Frequently Asked Questions

Can you supply a non flame retardant film for shrink wrapping modules?

Yes we can supply our Rhino Shrink Wrap 300 micron film in either a flame retardant or standard version.

Have an upcoming project requiring shrink wrapping?

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Modular Buildings