Membrane snow shelters are now available! Membranes protect roads in winter.

Snow shelters are installed between tunnels in mountainous areas to suppress gusty winds and crosswinds, and in winter, they protect drivers by reducing the effects of road surface icing and snow accumulation. Taiyo Kogyo has applied a membrane structure to these snow shelters. Taking advantage of the features of membranes, such as light weight, brightness, durability, and environmental performance, these shelters protect road safety in winter.

Japan's first membrane snow shelter on a Hokkaido motorway

Reduction of driver stress due to improved visibility Membrane effects expected on ordinary roads

Installation of membrane snow shelters is not limited to highways. When installed on general roads in snowfall areas, they have a variety of benefits, including road safety and accident deterrence. One of the most significant differences, especially when compared to existing steel shelters, is its brightness. The translucency of the membrane is approximately 13%. During the daytime, the shelter lets in plenty of natural light, making it much more visible than steel shelters. Drivers can quickly recognize subtle changes in the road surface and take appropriate safety maneuvers such as slowing down, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of accidents.

In addition, light passing through the membrane material becomes soft diffused light. This low-contrast light is gentle to the driver’s vision and has the effect of reducing the “blending phenomenon” that occurs at tunnel entrances due to the large difference in illumination between the inside and outside, and the “evaporation phenomenon” that occurs at tunnel exits when sunlight suddenly shines through and the driver loses visibility for a brief moment. Above all, continuous driving in tunnel sections under artificial lighting is stressful for drivers. In this sense, in addition to its basic performance as a shelter to prevent snow from entering and the road surface from freezing, the brightness of the membrane is surely one of the most important factors when considering road safety.

Contributes to reduction of electricity consumption, information provision function by membrane and lighting, etc.

鋼製スノーシェルターの場合、日中から照明の点灯が必要となりますが、膜は日中は、極端な日陰などでなければ照明なしで一般道の走行にはほぼ支障のない明るさが確保できます。くわえて膜は光の反射率も高いため、夜間照明を効率的に反射させ道路を照らします。膜の持つ明るさ、その透光性能、反射性能は施設全体の電力消費量削減にも貢献します。

一方、膜は照明との親和性が高いことも大きな特徴の一つです。夜間、照明が点灯するとその光がシェルター全体を行灯のように照らし、昼間とはまったく違う意匠を浮かび上がらせます。この特性を利用し商業施設ではイベントや催事に合わせた照明計画などが実施されています。道路の場合にはまず安全性の確保が最優先となりますが、それを担保した上で、たとえば街おこしや地域イベントとの連動、時間や季節に合わせた照明の変化。さらには膜をサイネージとして利用し、渋滞情報、道路工事情報などドライバーへのさまざまな情報提供ツールとして利用するといった可能性も考えられます。