Industrial construction is the biggest of the three types of buildings. It focuses on buildings that are built for large-scale industrial operations. These structures are not meant to provide a good lifestyle or support commercial activities. Its focus is entirely on building a safe environment that can support production, storage, and processing needs. Sometimes these buildings are used for purposes like power generation. The industrial projects aim to make a structure whose strength is undoubtedly exceptional. The type of activities that happen within an industrial building requires the structure to handle high workloads.
Before a contractor starts a project of this scale, it should get an industrial construction estimate. It will help them find out how much the cost will be for the project. Once you know the cost before the construction starts, you get a chance to manage your funds properly. An industrial project is a large-scale construction, which means that a large sum of money is involved. If a mismanagement of money happens on a smaller scale, it will still be a huge loss. Let’s understand industrial construction more closely.
Industrial Construction Explained
Industrial construction involves projects that support any work that happens in industries. In industries, the major tasks that happen are
- Manufacturing
- Energy production
- Material processing
In these buildings, even the large equipment is used in the daily routine. So, it is important that the building is made in such a way, with enough strength to support this work every day. The project of an industrial building is large and complex. If a residential house needs fifty percent strength, then an industrial building needs one hundred percent. This construction is done by professionals with proper planning. Some common features of industrial buildings are:
- Heavy structural framework
- Advanced MEP systems
- High safety compliance
- Long project timelines
Types of Industrial Construction Projects
Industry is not a place where one sort of manufacturing is happening. In fact, there are several businesses that run through these industries. So every industrial building serves a different purpose depending on the type of business it is supporting.
1. Manufacturing Facilities
This is the type where products are manufactured. And when manufacturing is happening, it also supports its storage. Its layout needs to be designed in a way that allows easy movement of machinery. And worker safety is always a major concern when industrial buildings are made.
2. Power Plants
The power that we use in our daily life, no matter what means it is generated from. It comes from a power plant. And the building that supports this kind of work is an industrial building. These projects need precise engineering.
3. Oil and Gas Facilities
Industrial buildings can also support the oil and gas facilities. What’s done in these facilities with oil and gas includes
- Collection
- Movement
- Storage
- Processing
In simple words, the oil and gas are refined here, and then, using long pipes, it is carried from one place to another.
4. Warehouse and Storage Facilities
If raw materials or finished goods need storage on a large scale, then industrial buildings are used. They are very big, with very high roofs. So the movement of machinery and workers happens easily. The material that is stored here is mostly part of the supply chain. If a factory produces something related to steel, then the steel can be stored here, including other raw materials.
5. Chemical and Processing Plants
Some facilities process
- Chemicals
- Food
- Cement
- Steel
- Pharmaceuticals
All of these are complex industrial projects. And specialized material is used in these. Which makes it suitable to be done in industrial buildings.
Cost planning is very important in industrial projects. The reason is that the projects are complex if you compare them to residential ones. Construction cost estimation can be helpful because having the finances sorted means that half of the work is already done. Poor cost planning in projects of this scale leads to budget overruns and poor quality of work.
Challenges in Industrial Construction
If the project is complex and large, then it is very normal for you to expect that challenges will occur. Some of the most common problems that happen in such projects are
- Managing the timelines because delays can happen, and keeping the project on track can be difficult.
- Coordinating multiple professionals
- Dealing with material delays can be draining because it causes a delay in the project. Not having material means the project cannot proceed. So managing the dates in a way that such issues do not happen needs excellent management.
Conclusion
Industrial construction is the largest type of construction among the three types of construction buildings. It is larger in size, but what makes it larger is the detail that goes into it. These buildings are superior in size, strength, and other qualities. Every type of construction is critical and should be made of good strength, but the requirements of residential buildings and industrial buildings are different. Working with experts in both management and estimation can make the job easier.
