Nowadays, no matter the logistics warehouse, high-precision electronic workshop, heavy-duty machining workshop or high-rise office building, modular building can give customers a perfect solution, today we will use the prefabricated steel structure plant in modular building as an example, simulate once again from the design to the program to deepen the construction and the final delivery of the matters that need to be paid attention to.
Design Initial: Understanding What is a Prefabricated Steel Plant?
At the beginning of the design, the first factor we need to consider is: what kind of modular design do we need to meet the actual needs? In the selection of prefabricated structures, first of all, we need to consider the basic information of the plant according to the actual situation: single-storey plant, double-storey plant, multi-storey plant, single-span structure, double-span structure, multi-span structure, and so on.
1. Single-story prefabricated steel structure workshop
Single-story steel structure factory building or warehouse is the most common structural form, it is widely used and adaptable, from small toy factories or stacking warehouses to tens of millions of square meters of industrial processing bases, you can see the figure of single-story factory building, this kind of factory is quick in construction, with high space utilization rate, and it can be adjusted continuously according to the subsequent development of the company, and it has strong adaptability to the climatic environment, and at the same time, the single-story prefabricated steel building was developed earlier, under the current mature design technology as well as construction technology, the cost can be effectively controlled, and it is also one of the most widely used steel buildings at present. At the same time, the development of single-story prefabricated steel structure buildings is relatively early; under the current mature design technology and construction technology, the cost can be effectively controlled, and it is also one of the most widely used steel structure buildings at present.
2. Multi-storey prefabricated steel structure construction workshop
Compared to single-story structures, multi-story steel buildings are more common in cities with tight land resources or high-value-added industries. Multi-storey steel buildings are sometimes combined with high-rise office buildings to meet the different needs of office and manufacturing. Multi-storey steel structure buildings have higher load requirements, but at the same time, they can be utilized in a more diversified way to meet different needs, and have the double guarantee of high performance (earthquake, flood, corrosion, etc.) and high utilization, which is more common in many large-scale factories or industrial parks, and even in the construction of shopping centers.
3. Span considerations (single-span, double-span, or multi-span plant)
Single-span workshop
Depending on the usage scenarios of different industries, the maximum span should also be considered as one of the design factors in the design. Single-span plant means that in the design of the width of the plant, there are only two support points on the two sides, forming a single-span space structure. In many production scenarios, there are specific requirements for the span, such as the large volume of machinery and equipment to be introduced into the factory, or in aerospace, the maintenance hangar or final assembly workshop of the aircraft, due to the need to take into account the length of the aircraft wing, there will also be strict requirements for the span of the maintenance hangar (usually spanning more than 60 meters, and the truss structure made by XTD Steel Structure has a maximum span of 140 meters) to adapt to the actual demand. To meet the actual demand.
Double or multi-span workshops
Suitable for small spans, similar production processes, or the need for continuous process assembly of the workshop combination, a reasonable design of the multi-span workshop can even help the factory layout of the production process. In many large-scale factory buildings, multi-span workshops can also be done at different heights to adapt to different production processes. While in the design of multi-span workshops, more details need to be considered, such as increased lighting or ventilation openings, higher fire protection requirements, and so on. In short, multi-span workshop needs to consider more factors than a single span, large volume or large span of the single-span project usually requires a higher production and installation process, the specific choice of single-span or multi-span, as well as the span requirements still need to be based on the actual production needs to decide.
4. Floor Height
In the design phase, the floor height of the plant is also one of the key considerations. If there is a need to install large equipment or equipment platforms, it is necessary to reserve space for installation and maintenance, and usually, the floor height of the factory needs to be more than 6 meters. In multi-storey standard factories, the floor height needs to be higher than 4.5 meters, and different considerations are needed for different industries, such as the need for additional ventilation, cleanliness, or temperature and humidity requirements. Therefore, more space may need to be reserved for equipment installation and daily use. The overall requirements for floor heights may also vary in different industry classifications. For example, in automobile manufacturing or heavy industry manufacturing, the floor height is usually 8-12 meters. The special workshop for steel bridges currently being planned by XTD Steel Structure is designed with a single floor height of up to 20 meters or more, as it considers the production of steel bridges of larger volume. Light industries, such as cell phone or other electronic assembly industries, have less stringent requirements for floor heights, usually 3.5 to 5 meters.
5. Plant design reference parameters
Here, we list the usual design parameters for reference, but it should be noted that in different industries, there will be a big gap between the design requirements, specific also need to communicate with professional steel structure construction designers, to meet the local laws and regulations under the conditions of the design to meet the needs of the actual manufacture of the design.
- Span: The standard span ranges from 6 meters to 24 meters, and large plants in some industries can achieve spans of up to 60-90 meters. The type of structure required for the span varies from industry to industry. For example, large spans are usually constructed using grid or truss structures, while standard spans are more inclined to use the more economical portal rigid frame structure.
- Spacing: Column spacing is usually set between 6 and 9 meters, which directly affects foundation complexity and roof members. The spacing of the grid affects the total number of supports and determines the size and cost of purlins and girders.
- Environment: Skylights, translucent panels, and ridge-mounted ventilators are often integrated to reduce energy consumption and improve indoor environmental quality.
- Height: Workshop heights are usually between 6 and 12 meters, with special cases being able to exceed 15 meters, details of which can be found in the table below:
| Industry |
Height |
| Some heavy machinery manufacturing (with heavy equipment) |
≥15 m |
| Printing and packaging |
≥12 m |
| Mechanical equipment |
≥10 m |
| Electronics and furniture |
≥8 m |
| General Manufacturing |
≥6 m |
Steel structure construction buildings have been massively promoted nowadays because of their significant advantages, but in developed countries, the proportion of modular building-steel structure plants is still significantly ahead of the others. In addition to the staggering cost advantage, for the users, the subsequent expansion and transformation can be quickly and conveniently, as well as significantly shorten the construction period, are prefabricated components such as the law to refuse the advantages, and at the same time, mature prefabricated production process At the same time, the mature prefabrication production process and installation technology, which reduces the cost and guarantees the quality of the products, make the steel structure workshop, steel structure warehouse, steel structure public building and other products become the best choice to meet the demand.
Dalian Electric Porcelain Manufacturing Industrial Park (Jiangxi), undertaken by XTD Steel Structure, the steel structure workshop is fabricated for the super-large volume grid structure. The workshop covers an area of nearly 160,000 square meters, and the total construction area reaches 166,000 square meters. The design meets the structural requirements of a large span, and the production technology is leading in China.
Ready for a Tailored and Reliable Steel Structure Construction Solution?
Are you preparing to build a prefabricated steel structure for your workshop, warehouse, utility facility, or office building? Look no further — XTD Steel Structure is here to bring your vision to life with precision, speed, and exceptional quality. We welcome you to leave us a message and connect with our expert team to discuss your project requirements in detail. From the initial consultation to final installation and ongoing maintenance, our dedicated professionals are committed to delivering customized, end-to-end steel construction solutions that match your specific needs.
Whether you're seeking support for procurement, project management, engineering design, or post-construction services, XTD Steel Structure offers a full spectrum of services that ensure durability, efficiency, and long-term performance. With our proven experience and focus on quality, we take pride in helping businesses like yours achieve success through strong, cost-effective, and sustainable building solutions.
Let us be your trusted partner in building a smarter, stronger future. Get in touch with XTD Steel Structure today to begin your journey toward a reliable, high-performance steel facility.
