The futuristic technology of pre-engineered building (PEB) is evolving every day in multi-dimension to support the cities turn smarter year-by-year, in-terms of more sustainable, efficient and affordable. With increasing urbanisation, the PEB technology integrated with advanced concrete solutions and cladding options, is making more sense contributing towards speed, ease and cost of construction. Structural members get completely fabricated under controlled facility away from the worksite, thus making it much cleaner accelerating work speed twofold. PEB construction could be used as a synonym to smarter way of construction adding utmost value in making cities smart and more sustainable.

Open ground for architects and customers
The biggest and most eye-catching example today that defines the trend in speedy and quality construction is the metro lines, steel flyovers, bridges and high-rise steel buildings. The trend is constructing today starts with providing an open ground to the architects and customers for their exposition of imagination and aesthetics irrespective of major limitation that could be achieved and built to match their imagination. This includes the clear spans and cantilevers with the section sizes much optimised. Currently, in one of our ongoing projects, A G+3 Steel Building for a School at Bangalore, the depth of steel sections is restricted even by providing higher clear spans up to 11.0 m. In one of our other projects, we have delivered 15 m clear mezzanine span as it was much needed one. These designs were double vetted to ensure higher stability and strength.

Surging demand
The demand for the overall construction is always high and is consistently increasing year-by-year. The rate of adaptability of PEB technology is what that defines the actual increase in demand for PEB’s. People are understanding the constraints in traditional construction methods, which have been little unsuccessful in meeting the increased demand for infrastructure from sectors such as power, warehousing, fast moving consumer goods, automotive and logistics. The demand for warehouses is also increasing with the increase in the number of e-retailers. The increase in demand over years was at least 5 per cent to maximum of 8 per cent. The demand in this year is also expected to hit the higher number. The overall demand will reach close to 12 per cent per year by 2020. As the major challenges for adopting PEBs in India is over passing the persisting trust in traditional construction methods with the rise in the awareness of the advantages of PEBs.

Benefits abound
Time saving: PEB reduces the total construction cost by the least 40 per cent, which leads to faster occupancy and early revenue.
Cost efficient: Saving is optimised design, manufacturing and construction cost.
Spans: PEBs can be built up to 90.0 m clear span (column free).
Flexibility of expansion: PEB can be easily expanded in length by adding additional bays.
Quality control: PEBs are manufactured under controlled conditions depending on the site and hence the quality is highly assured.
Low maintenance: PEB’s have high quality paint systems for cladding which gives long durability and low maintenance costs.

Authored by:
Vishwa Murthy, KM,
CEO,
HalleysBlue Steels Pvt Ltd