Industrial buildings are very essential in many industries since they help accommodate key functions in production lines, storing goods, and research. The type of industrial building is an essential factor that must be considered in business ventures because of operational issues, costs, and most importantly the codes of zoning. As you get ready to build an industrial structure or facility, it’s imperative to be aware of the main categories of industrial buildings, and how their various characteristics are shaped and defined by design factors of functional and site requirements.
Industrial buildings are different as a result of the specific activities for which they are used and could be as small as a workshop or a big manufacturing floor. According to experts, the industrial real estate sector worldwide is valued at over US$118.10tn by 2024.
What Are Industrial Buildings?
Industrial buildings are large structure types which can be used for manufacturing, distribution and storage functions. It can be noted that the architecture and design of each type of building in the industry depends on the intended use of each building.
What Are The Main Types of Industrial Buildings?
1. Manufacturing Buildings
Industrial structures are those which have been designed to accommodate manufacturing processes of large scale production. It is common to find them with large open floor areas, tall vertical clearance, floor loadings bearing the major loads of machinery.
Characteristics:
Heavy manufacturing: The latter include buildings that contain enormous, complicated equipment and should have corresponding support systems.
Light manufacturing: These buildings are used in putting together goods and do not need so much fixed installations as the heavy production industries do.
Example: An example of a large manufacturing building which is Gigafactory belongs to Tesla company and is aimed at the production of electric vehicles.
2. Warehouse Buildings
Warehouse shelter and store raw or finished goods, products or materials which may have been purchased or manufactured. They are created with enormous area and the effective logistical means for stock control and delivery.
Characteristics:
Climate control: Some of the warehouses have provisos like climatic control in the storage rooms meant for the sensitive items.
Automated storage: This has made modern warehouses use more efficient methods such as the use of automated storage systems.
Example: Amazon distribution centres are big storey buildings that contain the company’s large stock of products with the help of advanced automation systems.
3. Distribution Centers
Distribution centers do not centre on long term storage of goods but with the high turnover of products. These are structures meant to provide the required space for the influx and efflux of products to meet consumption rate or delivery to the local retail markets or consumers.
Characteristics:
High dock doors: As to ensure that there is ease in the loading and offloading of the consignment, and that the means that are hired to the Shippers and Receivers are adequate.
Strategic location: They can be found close to centres of transport to ensure it takes the shortest time to transport the products.
Example: In particular, absorbing centers are situated to achieve quick restocking of storehouses throughout the country.
4. Flex Buildings
The Flex building is a general purpose building which can be used for the purposes of offices, small industries, and warehousing needs in one single area. These are flexible buildings as the spaces within can be altered depending on the needs of business at later stages.
Characteristics:
Multi-use layout: May provide accommodation to offices, production line and storage facilities.
Scalability: Flex buildings are particularly suitable for firms’ that expect growth and require the capacity to grow rapidly.
Example: Most technology oriented firms in Silicon Valley use flex buildings for office work as well as research and development.
5. Research and Development (R&D) Buildings
These buildings are specifically intended for corporations that are inclined in innovation and development such as companies in the pharmaceutical or technology industry. R&D buildings have Laboratory spaces, Testing areas and Special Ventilation Systems are some of the features that are expected to be in any R&D building.
Characteristics:
Lab spaces: They had research-related tools and facilities to enable them conduct the research successfully.
Strict safety protocols: Conforming to different levels of requirements and regulations to ensure minimum hazard exposure to the scientists and researchers.
Example: Some examples of R&D facilities are Google X laboratory which was home to some of the company’s innovations such as self-driving cars.
6. Cold Storage Buildings
Cold storage buildings are structures put up as storage depots for highly perishable produce which requires specific temperatures to be stored in. These structures are helpful in food processing industries, the manufacture of drugs and chemicals and farming among others.
Characteristics:
Temperature control: Contains the cooling equipment used for cooling the products to keep them in the required thermal environments.
Energy efficiency: The new cold storage buildings do not consume much energy in today’s modern world as the buildings are designed to store products under the right climatic conditions.
Example: Warehouses where various big companies store their products at low temperature include – McCain Foods uses giant cold storage units.
Factors Influencing Industrial Building Design
1. Zoning Laws
Zoning laws refer to the state of legal codes that control the manner in which property located in given geographical regions can be utilized. It is important for a company to check on the current zoning laws within a certain area when planning to build an industrial building as it may have certain restrictions when it comes to the size, the height and the use of the building.
2. Building Codes and Regulations
Industrial buildings should therefore meet the stipulated national and local codes of construction that aim at offering safety to constructions, limiting impact on the environment and offering safety to workers. These codes include protection as well as fire safety systems plus air quality standards to mention but a few.
3. Sustainability Practices
Due to change in acts and pressure from various quarters to embrace environmentally friendly structures, there is an uptake of green structures in industrial buildings. Such options include energy conservation and management, utilisation of renewable energy sources and materials with low carbon content.
Example: The Prologis Industrial Business Park in Chicago has been praised with issues such as the solar power plant and the rain water harvesting plant.
Conclusion
Industrial buildings are an essential element of the modern world economy because they provide the necessary conditions for the creation, preservation and delivery of products. There is a general decision based on business requirement and then a specific decision that depends on the industrial building type required for the operation of the business in question and the future plans concerning expansion and growth of the business. Knowledge of different types of industrial buildings can assist firms in making appropriate choices that correspond to their needs and lead to operational effectiveness as well as development.
