M&T Laihorinne

Changes in the security environment, NATO membership and growing defence investments have raised one practical question: where should equipment, materiel and maintenance operations be housed – quickly, cost-effectively and, when needed, relocatably?

Traditional permanent hall construction is slow and expensive. PVC halls – also known as fabric buildings or tarpaulin halls – offer national defence and security of supply a solution that can be erected in weeks, engineered for demanding weather conditions and, if required, dismantled and relocated to a new site. It is no surprise that the Finnish Defence Forces are among the customers of M&T Laihorinne Oy.

In this article, we look at how PVC halls and fabric canopies are used in national defence – and what to consider when procuring one.

Why Is a PVC Hall the Right Fit for Defence Needs?

1. Fast Delivery and Installation

The needs of the defence sector change rapidly: exercises, refresher training, equipment redeployment and visits by international troops often require additional space at short notice. While building a permanent hall easily takes over a year including permit processes, the delivery time of a PVC hall starts from approximately six weeks. Installation takes days, not months.

2. Relocatability – Facilities Where They Are Needed

The steel frame and PVC fabric cover of the hall can be dismantled and re-erected at another location. From a defence perspective, this is a major advantage: facilities do not tie operations to a single site, and capacity can be moved as needed – for example, from a garrison to a training area. Decentralised storage is also a core principle of security of supply – critical materiel should not be concentrated in a single location.

3. Cost-Effectiveness and Flexible Procurement Models

A PVC hall is cost-effective per square metre. In addition, the hall can be purchased, rented or acquired through a leasing agreement – which suits public sector and defence budgeting, where capital and operating expenditure are treated differently. For fixed-term needs, a rental hall is often the most sensible solution.

4. Engineered for Demanding Conditions

Defence facilities must perform year-round – including under heavy snow loads and coastal winds. The frame of a high-quality PVC hall is always engineered according to the snow and wind loads of the construction site, and the steel structures must be CE-certified. The production of M&T Laihorinne Oy is supervised by Kiwa Inspecta, which ensures structural compliance even in demanding public procurement.

Applications of PVC Halls in National Defence

Equipment Shelters and Vehicle Halls

A PVC hall or an open fabric canopy protects equipment from snow, ice and UV radiation, reduces maintenance costs and speeds up deployment – clearing snow off vehicles becomes a thing of the past. High door openings and a column-free interior allow even large equipment to be moved with ease.

Materiel and Ammunition Storage and Security of Supply Warehouses

Security of supply is built on storage: spare parts, equipment, food supplies, fuels and other critical materiel require dry and well-ventilated facilities. The natural light transmission of a PVC hall reduces the need for lighting, and the hall can be fitted with shelving, additional doors and ventilation solutions. For a decentralised storage network, a relocatable lightweight hall is an ideal solution.

Maintenance and Repair Halls

Field maintenance and repair operations require a weather-protected, well-lit and sufficiently high space. A PVC hall serves as a maintenance hall both in permanent use at depot areas and as a temporary solution during exercises. The hall can be equipped with heating for year-round work.

Training and Exercise Facilities

Indoor sports facilities, training canopies, equipment displays and base structures for training areas are typical applications of lightweight halls. A large clear span without centre columns makes the space highly versatile.

National Defence Organisations and Reservist Activities

National defence is not only a matter for the Defence Forces. Reservist associations, shooting clubs and voluntary defence organisations need cost-effective facilities for equipment storage, shooting range canopies and event use. A fabric canopy is often the most affordable and fastest solution.

Industrial Preparedness and Dual Use

The domestic defence industry and its subcontracting chains are ramping up production, creating demand for rapidly deployable production and warehouse facilities. Many companies also prepare for emergency conditions as part of contract-based security of supply cooperation – a PVC hall serves the company's own operations under normal conditions and can be repurposed for preparedness use when needed.

PVC Hall vs. Permanent Hall in Defence Use

Permanent construction has its place in projects designed to last for decades. But when speed, flexibility and cost-effectiveness are required, a PVC hall is usually the superior choice.

What to Consider When Procuring a Hall for the Defence Sector?

1. CE-certified steel structures and supervised production. In public procurement, structural compliance is an absolute requirement. Ensure that the manufacturer's production is supervised by a third party (e.g. Kiwa Inspecta).

2. Snow and wind load engineering per construction site. The same hall does not work in every location – the frame is always engineered site-specifically.

3. Building permit. A fabric hall almost always requires a building permit. An experienced supplier handles the permit process and provides the necessary documentation on your behalf.

4. Domestic manufacturing and delivery reliability. In procurement critical to security of supply, a domestic manufacturer means short supply chains, fast service and spare part availability even in emergency conditions.

5. Fittings according to intended use. Overhead doors, personnel doors, heating, ventilation, lighting and anchoring solutions are planned according to the intended use already at the procurement stage.

6. Foundation solution. Asphalt or a concrete plinth.

   
   

M&T Laihorinne Oy – the Domestic Hall Supplier Trusted by the Finnish Defence Forces

M&T Laihorinne Oy is a hall construction professional from South Ostrobothnia, Finland, that has designed and manufactured fabric halls, fabric canopies and PVC halls for over 17 years. Our customers include the Finnish Defence Forces, municipalities and cities, as well as small, medium-sized and large companies.

• Our production is supervised by Kiwa Inspecta and our steel structures are CE-certified

• Halls are always engineered according to the snow and wind loads of the construction site

• We handle the building permit application process on your behalf

• Halls available for purchase, rental or leasing

• Fast deliveries: rental halls in as little as three weeks

Explore our solutions: PVC halls · Fabric halls · Fabric canopies

Planning an equipment shelter, warehouse hall or maintenance facility? Contact us – we will assess your needs and offer a solution built to withstand Nordic conditions.

Keywords: PVC hall, fabric building, tarpaulin hall, fabric structure, national defence, Finnish Defence Forces, security of supply, equipment shelter, warehouse hall, maintenance hall, lightweight hall, relocatable building, temporary warehouse, rental hall, NATO, preparedness, military shelter