Launched TensoDiaRoof, a lightweight structural membrane roof.

Roofing needs are expanding to cope with extreme heat and heavy rain, and this retrofit type, which does not require scaffolding, is ideal for installing roofs on parking lots, parks and sports fields.

A manufacturer of large membrane structures (tent structures), civil engineering and logistics materials, and other products, has developed the “TensoDiaRoof” (Tension x Diagrid x Roof), a lightweight structural membrane roof ideal for parking lots, parks, sports grounds, and other facilities, in collaboration with space structure manufacturer Kyushu Daiichi Industry Co. (Head Office: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; President: Toshiaki Kuroki), a manufacturer of space structures, will launch TensoDiaRoof (Tension x Diagrid x Roof), a lightweight structural membrane roof ideal for parking lots, parks, sports fields, etc., from November 2025.

In recent years, frequent heat waves and torrential rains have increased demand for roofs to protect public spaces such as playgrounds and parks from the sun and rain, where roofs had not previously been installed. In response to these needs, the two companies have developed a new type of membrane roof that can be retrofitted to existing spaces without the need for scaffolding.

The TensoDiaRoof is a lightweight roof structure consisting of a steel purlin covered with a soft, light-transparent membrane material. The lattice purlin is made of square steel tubes rigidly joined in a lattice pattern, increasing the rigidity of the entire roof and ensuring structural strength while reducing the amount of steel used by about 10% compared to a typical structure. In addition, the construction method does not require scaffolding, contributing to a reduction in total construction costs. This lattice main building was developed based on the steel frame technology that Kyushu Daiichi Kogyo has cultivated over many years, and has received a rating from the Building Center of Japan (BCJ).

Taiyo Kogyo devised a design to match the newly developed membrane anchorage hardware to the lattice purlin. The hardware was made larger than before to increase allowable stress and rigidity, and the distance between the fulcrums was extended to 3,000 mm. This allows for flexible adjustment of the support points with the lattice purlin, and the design effect brings variety and design to the steel frame of the membrane base, which tends to be monotonous.

TensoDiaRoof is a new type of membrane roof that combines design, structural rationality and workability while achieving high precision and low cost through unit production at a factory. TensoDiaRoof can be used not only for parking lots, but also for public spaces such as playgrounds and parks, and can be used for a wide variety of applications.