Just putting it out there. A friend and colleague of mine is considering importing these to sell in Australia.
Could i get a show of hands, who thinks these would sell well here.
I'm in favour but others are against.
Why am I asking here?? because i figure alot of you have spent money on nice toys that need protecting. Bikes boats campervans etc. and i don't have any real friends to ask.
there's a range of sizes and colours. check the manufacturers website for more detail.
www.hiqualproducts.com/view-all-products.php?parentCat=1&subCat=15&pg=5
Ok sign me up!! I could live in that! Actually I think it's bigger than my house 
I guess it depends on how much they cost. They would have to be considerably cheaper than sheds built in more convential ways.
Thanks for the feedback guys
Sorry Gypsy, not quite ready to take orders yet
(almost)
This one shown is about 30 x 45'
it would cost about $16,5000. So it's about the same as a shed, but no $$$ foundations required ( you screw it into the ground with over a dozen 3' anchors, one for each rib) and you can build it yourself saving upto $5-6k (or much more for bigger ones requiring a crane). you would just have to have a few mates around and a couple of cartons.
Cyclone; Yeah it's not cat 5 rated but a cyclone would make any comparable building messy.
However, i'm told these are rated to 90 kts and have survived 15+ years in canada's windiest spots regularly blowing 190km. The anchors that hold it down can be ordered upto 12' long so it WILL NOT blow the frame away. A new tarp would be about $5,000. In some parts of the cyclone affected world these guys are preffered as there is less debris and sheets of iron being hurled around, ...That said, i wouldn't shelter in one
(BUT, fellow wind junkies, don't get excited because that's during a blizzard.)
Friends of mine use something very similar for their snail farm. Might be the same brand.
I have a 75 sq metre high clearance steel shed which is valued around $17,500 so that one at over 100 sq metres is very competitively priced at $16,500.
On the down side, everything inside must be free standing ie it is not possible to attach say shelving to the walls etc.
The building code and construction approvals could be a major hurdle. On a rural property it would probably be OK but suburbia will be a whole different thing.
Good idea though.
Looks very much like what farmers do with 3 - 4 inch blck poly pipe in semi circles for the ribs to make greenhouses, chook sheds etc.
I think it would need to be a lot cheaper - not just $1K cheaper - before people would consider buying them as the disadvantages may outweigh the advantages as I can see it. The main one being that you can't affix anything to the walls and I wonder if power is do-able - are you allowed to wire up powerpoints and lights in a sort of kinda not rigid structure?
Not a bad idea, your just about 5 years too late, the concept is well and truly entrenched over here in WA. Major mining contractors along with a few rural area's use these extensively. Built and serviced by a select group who are very strict on a particular religious slant. Head office is East of Northam and on Great Eastern Highway
Good points, true enough about the power and shelving and building permits. I hadn't given those things much thought, mainly because we originally concentrated on the rural market for machinery and hay storage and were just now considering the possibilty of urban markets. light inside during the day is excellent, night time....not so good.
The 'igloo' concept isn't new as Mark,mineral and sausage pointed out. Farmers have long made similar things made of poly or 1" steel pipe and they last 3-5 years. The ribs and the whole frame is made of 3" powder coated steel tube and edit:(rumoured / claimed / may ) lasts 70-80 years, as much as a rural steel shed. Lifespan of the cover is 20-25 years.
We were hoping these ones would be better than existing australian ones. Thicker covering, versitile design blah blah blah. Are the WA ones by 'Bird'? or another crew
The ones over here are Aluminum frame, and welded seam hard wearing poli type material. Couple of points they use in sales pitch. Easy to erect, and can be moved if need be, unlike fabricates steel type sheds that can cost as much as a new structure to dismantle, transport and re-assemble. They are fabricated and assembled all local produce.
Cyclone advantage, the cover can be removed in a big blow, then refitted. Much safer than the old system of one-two seatainers locked together and a fabricated roof in-between. The group selling are secular religious group, great to deal with, but breaking into inner circle for a sandy on a hot day
Yeah moved if need be but I'd not like to have to move one!
Wonder if it rolls up in the same box it came in as "easy" as my tent
If your looking for one of these , Try Poppanning Engineering in Poppanning in WA
Ive got a custom made 8m x5m( rather small for them) one that is simply brilliant. after 7 years the roof blew out and was replaced within a week. as an earlier post said mining companies use them for HD workshops. They make them to fit seacontainers on either side as the anchors and storage areas. I dont think youll have much luck getting building approval in an urban area though, good luck with that
......I dunno, maybe they meant in storage??
