• What is Tensotherm™?

    As the world's first and only translucent and insulated tensile fabric roofing material, Tensotherm™ (a patent pending product of Birdair, Inc.) is unlike anything you've ever experienced.

    Tensotherm is a composite material comprised of three component materials:

    • PTFE fiberglass fabric membrane exterior skin
    • Translucent blanket, embedded with revolutionary Lumira™ aerogel thermal and acoustic insulation
    • PTFE fiberglass acoustic or vapor barrier interior liner

    Use the links at the left to learn more about Tensotherm.

  • Lumira™ aerogel

    Lumira™ aerogel, created by Cabot Corporation, is the world's most effective thermal insulation. It is also the world's lightest solid material. Lumira™ aerogel has earned Cradle to CradleCM Silver certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry. Most importantly, Lumira™ aerogel is highly translucent, just like PTFE fiberglass.

    Lumira™ aerogel is unlike any other thermal insulating material because its insulating capability never deteriorates. In fact, under compression, where most insulations lose insulating abilities, its insulating value actually increases. Lumira™ aerogel is also responsible for providing Tensotherm with its excellent acoustic attenuation capability. And, being a hydrophobic material, Lumira™ aerogel cannot hold or be affected by moisture. The net result is an insulation which has similar efficacy as the PTFE fiberglass membranes that sandwich it.

    * Cradle to CradleCM is a certification mark of MBDC.

  • PTFE Fiberglass

    Outer Layer

    PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, is a Teflon®-coated woven fiberglass membrane that is extremely durable and weather resistant. Lightweight and translucent, PTFE fiberglass is completely immune to UV radiation. Also, Tensotherm's outer PTFE fiberglass membrane is Energy Star and Cool Roof Rating Council certified.

    Inner Layer

    Tensotherm's PTFE fiberglass interior liner can provide a continuous vapor barrier or effective acoustical barrier depending on climate conditions and mechanical requirements.

  • History

    The world's first PTFE fiberglass fabric membrane roof was built by Birdair in 1973. More than 35 years later, this roof continues to look and function as good as it did then. PTFE roofs are now found throughout the world.

    In 2007, Birdair, Cabot Corporation and Geiger Engineers combined the exceptional insulating characteristics of Lumira™ aerogel with the durable properties of PTFE fiberglass fabric membrane to create the world's first insulated fabric roofing system.

    The world's first facility to benefit from a Tensotherm roof is Dedmon Center on the campus of Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Tensotherm was retrofitted over the Center's gymnasium and natatorium using a truss system. The project was completed in January 2009.

    Cabot-Nanogel