Membrane Fabric Types and How to Choose

"Membrane fabric" is really an umbrella term for several materials with different characters and prices. This guide covers the types commonly used in Indonesia, the brands in the market, and how to read a spec sheet so you're not just taking a salesman's word for it.

The four main types

1. PVC polyester. Polyester cloth coated with PVC, the most common type in Indonesia. Strong, flexible, available in many colours, easy to fabricate. Quality is largely set by the outer protective layer: bare, acrylic, or PVDF. Service life runs 10 to 20 years.

2. PTFE fiberglass. Glass fibre coated with PTFE (teflon). The top class for structural fabric: 25+ year life, non-combustible, and almost immune to UV. Used on airports and stadiums. More detail in our PTFE vs PVC guide.

3. ETFE. Not actually a fabric but a transparent foil, usually installed as air-filled cushions. It's the roof material of Munich's Allianz Arena. Extremely light and glass-clear, but it needs specialised systems and remains rare in Indonesia.

4. HDPE shade net. A knitted mesh that shades but doesn't keep rain out, used for shade sails over gardens or open parking. The most economical option, but a different class entirely: it's shading, not roofing.

Brands in the Indonesian market

The premium European class includes Serge Ferrari (France) plus Mehler and Heytex (Germany). In the mid range, brands like Agtex appear on many commercial projects. Below that sit assorted generic membranes with attractive prices but often unclear UV track records.

Our practical advice: always ask for the brand, type, and weight of the fabric in any contractor's quotation, whoever the contractor is. A quote that just says "imported membrane" with no brand name is a question mark.

How to read a fabric spec

Weight (gsm). Fabric weight per square metre, typically 700 to 1,500 gsm for structural PVC. Heavier usually means stronger.

Type I to V. The tensile classification for PVC membranes. Type I suits small spans like carports; Type III and up handle wide spans and high loads.

Tensile strength. Pull strength in warp and weft, measured in N/5cm. This is the number engineers use to check the fabric can carry the design tension.

Protective layer. PVDF lasts longest, acrylic is middling, no coating means early dulling. In a tropical climate, this is the spec you'll feel most after five years.

What matters more than the brand

Even the best fabric fails if the pattern is cut wrong or the tension is uneven. In membrane structures, fabrication and installation quality matter as much as material quality. That's why we do patterning, cutting, and welding in our own workshop, and install with our own crew.

Frequently asked questions

Does AeroSpan work with all of these fabrics?

We deliver projects in PVC membrane from standard to premium PVDF grades, and PTFE for special requirements. We match the material to your project function, planned lifespan, and budget.

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