Why Prefabricated Steel Buildings Are Great For Plant Rooms

To build and grow a business, you need space to house operations, often requiring additional buildings on the site. Additional product and materials storage, manufacturing space and offices might be needed, and prefabricated steel buildings can be an economical solution. 

However, expanding the number of buildings and spaces also requires additional infrastructure and a place to control these services. This is known as the plant room. 

What is a plant room for?

Often known as the ‘engine room’ of a property, a plant room is where all the services are run from. It can house HVAC, electrical and plumbing distribution systems, fire suppression, water treatment and backup generators. 

Sometimes referred to as a mechanical room or boiler room, plant rooms can be found in many industries, including:

• Leisure centres and swimming pools where filtration and chemical additives are housed

• Healthcare where specialised air filtering and emergency generators are needed alongside heating, electric and water distribution

• Commercial and public buildings such as shopping centres, hotels and office blocks for centralised building services management

• Industrial and manufacturing industries where more complex distribution and safety systems are needed
  

Although in some cases, such as commercial buildings, a plant room is actually a room, on larger properties it is often a separate building. 

Why are plant rooms often separate from main buildings?

Industrial plant rooms, such as those on manufacturing or materials processing sites, are often set apart from the main buildings for several reasons:

• Safety concerns due to the type of machinery and hazards like high-voltage breakers

• Noise and vibrations

• Saving space in the main operations areas

• Ventilation for combustible materials such as boilers, generators and engines

• Ease of access for maintenance with every utility and distribution hub in the same place
  

Why is prefabricated steel a good choice to house a plant room?

Size and shape

Plant rooms can come in many different sizes, depending on the type of industry and the size of the property it serves. A plant room can also service multiple buildings, or one large building can have multiple plant rooms. 

Since prefabricated steel buildings can be supplied in many different sizes, there will be a suitable frame and footprint to suit the property’s needs. 

Easier to expand

Unlike brick or concrete structures, the steel structures are easier to remove and replace with a larger structure when the business or organisation needs to expand. The systems from TotalSpan are very easy and quick to install, saving you time and money.

Large access doors

Plant equipment, such as generators and pumps, is often bigger than a standard roller shutter door on a factory unit. 

Prefabricated buildings can be adapted to have larger access doors, or if needed, wall panels can be safely removed to give access for installing equipment.

Structural strength 

Cold-rolled steel frames have a high tensile strength, meaning it is very robust and making it a perfect building material. It can support heavy machinery and is very hard-wearing. 

With the correct coatings and care, the exterior can withstand decades of weather without decaying, giving the structure excellent longevity. 

Fire resistant

While some other building materials are more flammable, steel is not combustible. For plant rooms, that means it is a safer option for housing generators, boilers and high voltage electrical systems. 

If a fire should spread from another part of the site, the steel building will protect the equipment for longer. 

Talk to TotalSpan about your options for a prefabricated steel plant room or order the size you need online.