On October 17, 2025, the kick-off meeting for the compilation of the CSCS standard “Technical Standard for Closed Air-Supported Membrane Structures in Foundation Pit Engineering Construction” of the China Steel Construction Association was successfully held in Beijing. As a new type of green construction technology that has emerged in the past two years, the formulation of the industry’s first technical standard for foundation pit air-supported membrane technology will provide a unified and standardized technical basis for the promotion and application of this new technology.
Foundation pit air-supported membrane, essentially, is an inflatable membrane structure constructed with high-strength membrane materials. It can cover the entire foundation pit, thus forming a closed working surface in a large space. So, why has this technology been able to be promoted and applied nationwide in the past two years?
Can this technology be promoted and applied nationwide?
In the practice of engineering projects mainly focusing on urban renewal, the foundation pit air-supported membrane technology has effectively overcome the thorny problems such as the wanton spread of dust and noise interference with the normal life of surrounding residents during the construction process. This technology efficiently treats the dust generated during construction by means of a dust removal system, and at the same time regulates the air circulation in the operation area through a supply and exhaust air system. It significantly improves the harsh construction environment under the traditional open-air operation mode and effectively promotes the implementation of the green construction concept.
Foundation pit air-supported membrane technology belongs to the category of inflatable membrane structures. The core operating principle lies in that the air supply system is used to supply air into the interior of the air-supported membrane, creating a stable internal pressure. This enables the originally flexible membrane structure to gain sufficient rigidity, thereby maintaining a specific spatial form and having the ability to withstand external loads.
From the perspective of product type classification, foundation pit air-supported membrane products can roughly be divided into three types: air-supported type, air-pillow type and air-ribbed type.
- The air-supported type maintains positive pressure inside the membrane by continuously supplying air, forming a self-supporting dome structure without the need for an internal frame. The air pillow type is composed of multiple independent inflatable unit air pillows spliced together, and each air pillow is a double-layer membrane structure. The air-ribbed type takes the air-ribbed beam formed by inflating the arch ribs as the framework and covers it with membrane material to form a rigid support.
There are certain differences in the components of different types of foundation pit air membranes. Taking the air-supported foundation pit air-supported membrane as an example, its main system covers the following aspects:
Firstly, the membrane structure system, which is composed of membrane materials, cable nets, anchors and other components.
Secondly, a stable internal pressure system. This system relies on air supply pressurization equipment to provide a stable internal pressure.
Thirdly, the detection and control system, which is composed of intelligent sensing and automatic control devices;
Fourth, other necessary systems, including dust removal systems, fresh air systems, electrical systems, and fire protection systems, etc.
In recent years, the green construction technology of foundation pit air-supported membrane has shown a rapid development trend. The rapid rise of this technological field was initially attributed to the innovative practices and application explorations in various engineering projects in Beijing.
Against this backdrop, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development) took proactive actions and was the first to release technical guidelines and relevant documents on cost indicators for foundation pit air-supported membrane structures, laying a solid foundation for the standardized and normalized development of this technology. After learning about Beijing’s successful experience, other regions across the country have drawn on its model and gradually promoted and applied the foundation pit air-supported membrane technology in high-density urban area engineering projects.
Specifically, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development officially released the “Technical Guidelines for Air-Supported Membrane Structures in Foundation Pits of Housing Construction and Municipal Infrastructure Projects” in 2024. At the same time, the cost indicators of air-supported foundation pit air-supported membrane should be clearly included in the “Beijing Engineering Cost Information”. Among them, the cost standard under the general tax calculation method is 400-490 yuan per square meter, and under the simplified tax calculation method, it is 430-527 yuan per square meter (here, “square meter” refers to the horizontal projection area of the air-supported film).
The introduction of the above-mentioned cost indicators not only provides an important basis for both the contracting and subcontracting parties when formulating the highest tender limit price, but also offers a reference standard for bidders to quote. In addition, this cost indicator also has certain reference value for other regions across the country. Each region can make reasonable adjustments and optimizations based on its own actual situation.
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She has over 20 years of experience in tensile membrane structure design, engineering, and manufacturing, with extensive expertise in delivering custom solutions for commercial and architectural projects.
