Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Prefabricated Buildings for Industry

The need for additional space can present a headache for any business, whether it is needed for extra capacity or to overcome the consequences of a fire or flood. Creating a conventional building of bricks and mortar is a time consuming and costly exercise and increasingly businesses are turning to prefabricated buildings as an alternative. There are a variety of designs and styles of prefabricated buildings so there are choices to be made.
Prefabricated building alternatives
For larger prefabricated buildings the choice is between having a steel or an aluminium building and both have their advantages. Buildings made from steel are obviously stronger than those made from aluminium but, because of their weight usually require ground work to be carried out to support the load and there is the possibility of corrosion over time. Aluminium is not as heavy as steel and buildings made in this material can be installed on to level hard standing without extra foundations being laid. Although aluminium is a lighter material than steel it is more flexible when impacted and is very resistant to corrosion.
The fact that aluminium buildings can be assembled in a matter of days and be disassembled just as quickly, makes them an attractive proposition for use as an alternative to a permanent structure. This type of building can also be bought outright or hired which offers choice in the financial arrangements.
Selecting a prefabricated building
As with most things however its horses for courses and some people prefer steel buildings because they come with a steel roof. The aluminium prefab buildings have a fabric PVC roof which may need to be replaced during the lifetime of the building. This however is an extremely fast and economical job so devoted fans of the aluminium option don't find it significant enough to change course.
Given the very fast installation time and the fact that most suppliers carry stock, aluminium industrial buildings can create on-site space extremely quickly. This is obviously ideal in an emergency such as a warehouse fire, but it also gives businesses the ability to quickly capitalise on growth opportunities and get a fast return. When compared to a steel or permanent structure, a return on a new project can be seen in weeks as opposed to months, or maybe years.
Prefabricated buildings also come in the form of cabin type structures; Portakabin being a renowned manufacturer and provider. These buildings are often used for offices and classrooms but can also provide space for a wide range of applications such as canteens, marketing suites, bathrooms, retail or storage units. Steel framed modular buildings of this nature are manufactured in the factory and fitted out with all services prior to being transported, ready for use, to site where they are craned into position. All manufacturing is done in a controlled factory environment avoiding any problems with adverse weather or busy operational sites. Buildings can be stacked on top of each other creating multiple storeys and hired or purchased.
This wide choice of prefabricated building combined with the options available with permanent structures shows that with the right research and knowledge businesses can find a solution that ticks all their boxes for design, cost, speed, functionality and durability.

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