Pre-engineered vs Conventional metal buildings: Differentiating factors

Pre-engineered vs conventional metal buildings, ever since the time pre-engineered structures started gaining prominence in various industrial sectors, there's been a wide debate raging on about the pros and cons of it. Some people have even gone to the extent of predicting that pre-engineered buildings will completely replace conventional buildings in future. Whether it will be true or not is anybody's guess but one thing is for sure, that pre-engineered structures are here to stay.

So let's have a look at some differentiating factors as regards to pre-engineered vs conventional metal buildings.

Design

Simply due to the fact that the conventional metal buildings are constructed on site, the scope of customization and design variations is immense. As opposed to it, since the components of pre-engineered structures are manufactured at a facility and afterwards they are are transported to the site and assembled, there is always a certain degree of uniformity in design. However, as a result of some changes in the manufacturing process, this uniformity in design is being done away with now.

Installation and building time

It isn't difficult to guess that the installation or erection time taken for pre-engineered structures is comparatively much lesser that conventional buildings. This is primarily because pre-engineered structures only require transporting the built components to their intended location and afterwards assembling them there as opposed to constructing a whole metal building from scratch which takes many months.

Foundational reliability

As regards foundational reliability or in other words ability of the building to resist adverse unforeseen situations, pre-engineered buildings are almost equal to conventional buildings in this aspect. So whether it be shocks, vibrations, impacts, pre-engineered metal buildings are as sturdy and reliable as conventional ones.

Cost

As regards the cost factor, pre-engineered structures are comparatively much more inexpensive than conventionally built buildings. Moreover, issues such as downtime due to adverse weather conditions and other external factors are also minimized. The transport and installation of pre engineered structures also results in lesser wastage of resources and lesser environmental pollution.

Seismic soundness

Seismic soundness is one area where conventional metal buildings had a big advantage until some years ago. Although they are still ahead in this aspect but the fact of the matter is that owing to new methods of component design, assembling and erection, this difference has lessened to a great extent and is expected to lessen further in the coming years.

Ease of future expansion

When it comes to the ease of future expansion, conventional metal buildings have a big advantage, as further construction can be done on them. As far as pre-engineered structures are concerned, their uniform structural design makes it very hard to further add components for expansion.

Amenities

As far as amenities are concerned, all amenities that conventional buildings have can also be easily added to pre-engineered structures. So whether it be comfortable bathrooms, well designed living spaces, sufficient electric switch points or anything else, pre-engineered structures can have the same amenities that conventional buildings have.

Prefabricated Multi-Storey Building

Prefabricated multi-storey buildings are structures that consist of factory made components which are transported to the intended location and then assembled for use as residential buildings, offices etc. Ideal for use in remote places, for public housing, as temporary structures, the prefabricated multi-storey buildings are equal to conventional buildings in all aspects. Moreover, these also accord additional benefits over conventional buildings such as lesser wastage of man hours, less environment pollution and cost savings. Probably as a result of the aforesaid benefits accorded by prefabricated multi-storey buildings, these are increasingly being preferred over conventional buildings, an event that was hard to even think of a decade ago. It can also be safely stated that going forward, the usage of these buildings is only expected to increase further.

Epack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2000 & ISO 14000 certified organization that is engaged in manufacturing and supplying of a wide assortment of energy efficient & sustainable buildings. The organization is a part of the East India Group, a renowned group established in the year 1989 and which currently has a turnover of over 650 crores INR.. Apart from India, Epack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. is also a leading exporter in this sector with clients in places such as Australia/NZ, Middle East, North America, Europe etc.

Attributes of prefabricated multi-storey buildings :-

• These are as long lasting as conventional buildings
• These have optimal tolerance to shocks and vibrations
• Prefabricated multi-storey buildings are ideal for use in places where living or working spaces for a large number of people are required, this is primarily because these generally have a uniform design
• Moreover, providing water and electricity connections inside prefabricated multi-storey buildings is much more simpler as compared to traditional buildings
• Also, extra safety features as per requirement can also be added to these buildings
• These provide sufficient protection to people inside during adverse weather conditions.

Factors that are taken into consideration while installing prefabricated multi-storey building :-

• A structural design that ensures stability of the installed building while in use
• Meeting all the requisite fire resistance regulations, most prefabricated multi-storey buildings generally have a fire rating of F30-B, i.e – in case of fire, the building components must stand for at least 30 minutes
• Optimal sound and thermal insulation
• Ability to withstand a mild to severe magnitude earthquake
• Providing sufficient exit ways for people residing inside in case of any untoward instance

Prefabricated multi-storey buildings : contributing towards developing rural India :-

Prefabricated multi-storey buildings offer immense future possibilities that are good enough to benefit people, organizations and even society as a whole. Some future possibilities are :-

• These can be used as educational institutions for people living in remote or rural areas of India.
• These can also be used as hospitals, offices of government departments in remote and rural areas of India.
• Prefabricated multi-storey buildings can also be used in disaster management initiatives, providing temporary shelters to people during distressing times such as floods, cyclones etc.
• These can also be used as a market hub in villages of India.
• The prefabricated multi-storey buildings can also be used as guest houses and hotels in remote or rural places for people who are traveling there just as a tourist or for some other specific work.

Prefabricated Office Structure

Prefabricated Office Structure are temporary structures specifically designed for easy shipment and assembly at any intended location. These are perfectly suited for use in industrial facilities that are located in far off sites, isolated areas etc. The widespread usage of prefabricated structures is only a few decades old and when viewed in context with permanent structures, they can be termed as a relatively new trend. Inspite of this, the Prefabricated Office Structure are as durable and almost have the same facilities that permanent structures have, with added benefit such as monetary savings and also little wastage of precious man hours. As a matter of fact, it can be argued that the usage of these structures is only expected to grow further and sometime in future it might become as common as that of permanent structures.

Epack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. is a part of the East India Group, an internationally renowned group with an annual turnover of INR 650 crores. The organization is ISO 9001:2000 & also ISO 14000 certified and has been acknowledged and feted by various national and international organizations for its range of products. Some of its popular products include clean room panels, cold storage sliding doors, fruit ripening chambers etc. The organization is also a major exporter with its major export markets being countries in the Indian subcontinent, Europe, North & South America.

Features of Prefabricated Office Structure

• Components being factory made and assembled on site; that is why Prefabricated Office Structure have a specific design, i.e – multiple structures might be similar in their specifications, architectural design etc.
• These can easily stand even the most adverse weather conditions
• These have optimal resistance to moisture and also UV rays
• When the supposed purpose of Prefabricated Office Structure is fulfilled, they can be moved to another location
• These can withstand extremely high horizontal and vertical pressure
• These structures have the requisite amount of space inside them to fulfill any desired purpose

Design considerations during the manufacture of Prefabricated Office Structure

How Prefabricated Office Structure are designed depends on a whole host of factors, some of which are,

• The final place of its usage and the total weight that the structure is going to bear
• How will the structure be transported to the intended location
• What use the structure is intended for, this helps in minimizing the vulnerable points in the components of the structure
• The surrounding environment of the location in which the Prefabricated Office Structure is to be used. Suppose the environment has a lot of moisture, the structure will be provided with increased resistance against corrosion
• Cost considerations
• How long the structure is to be used for, the longer the usage, the more robust it has to be made

Advantages accorded by Prefabricated Office Structure

• Quick erection times
• Prefabricated Office Structure can be installed even in areas where traditional structures are difficult or impossible to build
• Minimizes the wastage of raw materials, thus helping to save costs and also reducing environmental pollution
• Allows for a much simpler management of construction sites
• The overall construction quality is much better as compared to permanent structures

Prefabricated Metal Building

Prefabricated metal buildings are buildings that are constructed by prefabrication( the process of manufacturing components at a factory and then assembling them at a specific site). Considering the various advantages these accord such as cost effectiveness and minimal maintenance requirements, it won't be an exaggeration to say that these buildings are a perfect solution for various commercial, industrial and agricultural applications. In fact, the popularity of prefabricated metal buildings has considerably increased over the past few years across the world, with application areas that erstwhile were not thought of as fit for these buildings now increasingly being flooded with them.


Epack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. is a ISO 9001:2000 certified organization established in the year 1989 that is engaged in offering prefabricated metal buildings. Apart from prefabricated metal buildings, some other products of the organization include railway telecom shelters, industrial sheds, ripening chambers, EPS panels and many more. Since establishment, Epack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. has steadily grown, with its products being acclaimed universally. Going forward, this growth trajectory is only expected to continue.


History of Prefabricated Metal Buildings :-

Prefabricated metal buildings have probably been manufactured for over a couple of centuries, with the first advertised prefab building being the Manning cottage in Australia. Advertised in the year 1837, a London carpenter named Henry manning constructed the building components, afterwards shipping and assembling them using the services of innumerable British emigrants. The usage of prefabricated metal buildings gradually grew in Australia and consequently also spread to other parts of the world such as the Caribbean, England and also the United States.

During the second war, prefabricated metal buildings were widely used for providing temporary shelters to military personnel. After the end of second world war, these buildings were the preferred solution when it came to providing housing to people whose homes were destroyed in the war. From here on, the usage of prefabricated metal buildings kept increasing worldwide, fueled by the economic boom in United States and Europe.


Advantages of Prefabricated Metal Buildings :-

• The usage of these buildings speed up the overall construction process, thus saving on labor and other incremental costs.
• Minimal effect of natural occurrences such as extreme weather on construction process.
• Compared to site built construction, there is lesser wastage of materials.
• Prefabricated metal buildings are ideal for use in large projects such as government housing schemes, official complexes etc.
• The buildings have optimal resistance to corrosion and abrasion.
• The construction of these buildings is much more environment friendly than on site constructed ones.

Application areas of Prefabricated Metal Buildings :-

• Warehousing.
• On site storage facilities.
• Workshops.
• Temporary fire stations.
• Recreational buildings.
• Educational buildings.
• Temporary commercial facilities such as showroom space.

Industrial Prefabricated Structures

Industrial Prefabricated Structures are gradually being thought of and accepted as an effective way of reducing overall cost, man hours, risk and also environmental waste in the construction sector. Due to this reason also, these are widely replacing traditional industrial structures in the developed world as well as the developing world. One noteworthy thing here is the fact that in all this hullabaloo over the prefabricated structures, these aren't yet ideal for every construction project but only for specific ones, with some issues still holding back the growth of this segment.


E-Pack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. is an organization that is indulged in manufacturing and supplying of industrial prefabricated structures. Established in the year 1989, we began with EPS packaging, manufacturing and afterwards diversified into the construction industry. Along with being a renowned manufacturer and supplier, we are also one of the leading exporters of industrial prefabricated structures, with a diverse clientele spread across east and south east Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and many more geographies.



Industrial Prefabricated Structures are best suited for the following types of projects:

•     Standardized building systems.
•     Complex assemblies.
•     Repetitive sub-components of a building.
•     Constructions in hard to reach places.
•     Temporary construction projects.

Why to use Industrial Prefabricated Structures?

• Compared to conventional structures, these are comparatively inexpensive and also take less man hours in construction, thus increasing the overall productivity.
• For places with minimum or no human habitat that require temporary shelters, industrial prefabricated structures are ideal as they require minimal maintenance.
• Another advantage of industrial prefabricated structures is that these be easily moved to another place that requires them. These are quite easy to install and dismantle.
• Some projects require structures that have a specific feature or attribute, prefabricated structures are optimally suited for such projects.
• These can designed to fit almost any situation, sufficing all major requirements. All major amenities can be provided in industrial prefabricated structures which makes in highly sought after across the globe.

Insulated Sandwich Panel

Insulated sandwich panels are generally used during the construction of walls and roofs of buildings, enclosures of industrial equipments, air conditioning devices etc. The basic function of these panels is to provide protection from weather conditions such as rain, snow etc. Along with it, insulated sandwich panels also provide protection against corrosive factors, moisture, chemicals, fire and many more. Due to their usage across various industries, these panels are available in a variety of designs, with the honeycomb design being widely regarded as the most efficient one due to its optimal mechanical performance and weight.

Insulated sandwich panels are usually made up of three layers. In between two thin skin layers, a low density core is inserted, this is also the reason for these panels to be called as sandwich panels. During its functioning, the low density core takes the shear loads, while also creating a distance between the two skin layers, thus allowing the panel to function properly even under high stress.

Established in the year 1989, Epack Polymers Pvt. Ltd. manufactures and supplies superior grade insulated sandwich panels that are favored by various industrial and commercial sectors. With a wide portfolio of leading names of the automotive and electronics industry as clients, it is one of the leading firms in this sector.

Benefits of insulated sandwich panels: Apart from the benefits mentioned in the first paragraph, sandwich panels provide several added benefits, these are:

• Making walls and roofs leak proof
• Noise insulation
• Good strength parameters, thus allowing for monetary savings in terms of supporting structures
• Long term incremental monetary savings on electricity bills

Application areas of insulated sandwich panels: To put it simply, sandwich panels are almost always recommended in areas where high structural rigidity and low weight is a necessity. Some application areas of these panels are,

•     Air-crafts
•     Packaging
•     Transportation and auto-motives
•     Public utility buildings such as gymnasiums, swimming pools etc
•     Food processing plants

Insulation core within the sandwich panels: The insulation core within the sandwich panels varies a lot, with the core material being used generally falling into either of the below mentioned categories :

• Polyisocyanurate foam
• Polyurethane foam
• Fiberglass or mineral wool ( non combustible)
• Polystyrene( either expanded or extruded)

All About Industrial Prefabricated Shelters

The shelters are becoming essential or basic in the industry. These are mainly used in construction industry, which is competitive, especially in today's economy. At definite times of the year, development can be hindered largely by forces of nature beyond your control. Nevertheless, these long lasting shelters make it possible to keep the workflow going no matter what the weather is doing on the other side of the structure walls.

High winds, snowstorms, unbearable heat, heavy rain, and cold temperatures can lead to delays for construction projects. As a general rule, rental equipment and job materials are ordered at the start of a construction project. At the time of bad weather, not only you left responsible for lengthy rental fees on equipments, but each and every thing is exposed to the elements, which can cause even greater delays and expense. 

There is one solution of all these problems - Prefabricated Shelters. This fabric building can can be ordered and set up on your project site quickly and easily. Under the cover of these shelters, your workers will be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This shelter can be set up on the temporary or permanent basis and completely portable regardless of size.

Its durable fabric cover is virtually maintenance-free, requiring no cleaning or treatments. While its high roofs allow better air flow which makes them popular with the workforce, while transferring operating costs down into the bargain.

The suitable shelter for:

• Equipment overhaul
• Industrial coatings areas
• Machinery storage
• Maintenance
• Sandblasting booths
• Service bays
• Vehicle and machinery storage
• Warehousing
• Welding areas
• Workshop

Properties:

• These shelters are fire resistance and blast resistance to protect your personnel.
• Large solution available for any work-site weather protection.
• Long shelf life and Strong design.
• Designed to resist extreme wind pressure.

In the above paragraphs, I have discussed about industrial shelters, but there are various other shelters which are used for the same purpose. One is BTS Shelters and other one is given below:

Telecom shelters:

This Ready to Erect telecom shelters, with in-house Design, Technology, Manufacturing and Erection / Installation capability for efficient and cost effective operations of telecom equipment. It is dust proof insulated cabin for Housing CDMA/ GSM Transmission equipment base station.