Chile

About 

To protect the vehicles essential to its mining operations, Codelco called on Belgian company Veldeman to design a custom-made fabric hangar for its Andina site in Chile. Equipped with Serge Ferrari Group’s Flexlight 702 S2 composite membrane, this lightweight structure combines protection, natural light and rapid installation.

Building in one of the world’s most demanding environments

Located northeast of Santiago, the capital of Chile, the Andina mining site has been operated since 1970 by Codelco, the world’s leading copper producer. The mine is located at an altitude of more than 3,700 meters, in the heart of the Andes.

In this particularly harsh environment, infrastructure is exposed to extreme conditions: high winds, heavy snowfall, intense solar radiation, significant temperature variations and logistical constraints due to the site’s remote location. Every structure must therefore meet stringent requirements in terms of strength, durability and reliability. Against this backdrop, the mining company needed a hangar to shelter and provide a maintenance area for its service trucks.

To meet this challenge, Veldeman, a specialist in tensile and modular structures, was commissioned to design a solution capable of withstanding the site’s demanding climatic conditions while allowing for rapid installation in a difficult-to-access location.

A textile solution designed for the demands of a high-altitude mining site

For this project, Veldeman developed a tensile fabric structure specifically engineered to meet the site’s requirements. The completed structure measures 22 meters wide, 32 meters long and 11 meters high. Designed in accordance with Chilean building standards, it can withstand winds exceeding 150 km/h, while its roof can support a snow load of 270 kg per square meter. The curved shape of the roof also promotes natural snow shedding, limiting accumulation that could affect the building’s performance.

The structure combines a white opaque membrane with a translucent membrane of the same color integrated along the ridge. The translucent section acts as a natural skylight, providing even illumination throughout the day and reducing the need for artificial lighting.

The result is a large covered space dedicated to vehicle maintenance and preparation operations, equipped with six electric doors providing access for industrial vehicles. Thanks to the lightweight components, the entire structure was installed in just four weeks—a significant advantage in such a remote environment.

Flexlight 702 S2: composite membrane performance for extreme environments

A key component of the project, Serge Ferrari Group’s Flexlight 702 S2 membrane was selected for its ability to meet the particularly demanding conditions of the Andina site. Used in both opaque and translucent versions, it combines a wide range of benefits:

• very high mechanical strength;
• excellent dimensional stability;
• low maintenance requirements;
• resistance to harsh weather conditions;
• lightweight construction, making it possible to cover large volumes with a minimum amount of material;
• suitability for use across a temperature range of -30°C to +70°C;
• compliance with international fire safety standards, ensuring a high level of safety.

In addition, while the translucent version provides excellent natural light transmission into the building, the opaque version acts as a highly effective thermal barrier against solar radiation. This combination provides an optimal balance between protection, visual comfort and energy efficiency.

Manufactured using Serge Ferrari’s exclusive Précontraint technology, the membrane offers excellent dimensional stability and retains its mechanical properties over time, even when exposed to severe climatic conditions.

Flexlight 702 S2 also stands out for its low environmental impact, with a carbon footprint of 3.8 kg CO₂ eq./m² for the translucent version and 4.19 kg CO₂ eq./m² for the opaque version (EN 15804).

With this fabric hangar designed for industrial vehicles, Flexlight 702 S2 perfectly demonstrates the ability of composite membranes to address challenges traditionally associated with heavy construction. Lighter, faster to install and capable of withstanding extreme climatic conditions, the membrane goes beyond its role as a building envelope to become an integral part of the building’s performance. This approach fully reflects the philosophy of the 7TH MATERIAL, where composite membranes open up new possibilities for construction, and where lightness, intelligent use of materials and performance become key advantages, replacing mass as the default approach.

Project contributors:

Client: Codelco
Structure design and installation: Veldeman
Copyright: Veldeman