Common materials employed in tension membrane structures are coated textiles such as PVC coated polyester and ptfe coated fiberglass fabric to name two. These materials have been in common use for more than 50 years generally have good service records. However, tension membranes in general and coated textiles specifically are less robust structural materials in building applications than structural materials such as steel or reinforced concrete. Most membranes are vulnerable to damage from sharp objects, whether flying debris in windstorms or from vandalism. This is in part inherent in the tension membrane materials’ limited thickness. However, there are other sources of membrane materials’ vulnerability including limited tear strength or resistance and potential to be damaged by wind buffeting should prestress be lost. This paper highlights some of the vulnerabilities of tension membrane fabric structures from examples of built structure failures. In addition, the paper outlines design approaches to mitigate the extent of damage to a tension membrane structure in the event of a local failure.