Why Pre-Engineering Has Revolutionized Construction
A Paul Mitchell • Mar 19, 2024
New technology and a changing marketplace have disrupted almost every industry; pre-engineering has been the response within construction.
Like most industries when faced with changing marketplaces, technology and social expectations, construction has had to undergo a tremendous evolution over the last decade. Practices and attitudes have shifted to a mindset guided by a necessity to produce less waste, be more considerate to environmental impact and to do much more, at lower cost with fewer resources. With that, a wider acceptance of pre-engineering and the use of off-site assembly for commercial buildings has emerged.
Builders in the industrial space have been hit hard by challenges coming from many directions. Order demand has increased, commodity prices have increased dramatically, and labour is in short supply – seriously placing pressure on capacity. Clients expect more for their dollar and businesses demand that new facilities be built faster, for less. Pre-engineering, with its use of off-site manufacturing, cold-formed framing and lean construction techniques, is a necessary cost-effective and scalable solution to these immensely large industry challenges.
The Advantages of Pre-Engineered Steel Construction
Steel has been a vital component in construction for over a century. It’s high strength-to-weight ratio is invaluable, as is its cost, versatility, recyclability and durability. Using steel is a wise choice not just for framing, girders and columns, but also as siding and walls with pre-engineered steel panels. They are manufactured in factories offsite and transported to the jobsite ready for installation.
Cold-formed steel panels arrive pre-welded, pre-cut and pre-hole punched to reduce construction times, ready to support any R-value insulation and are available in a wide range of exterior finishes. Steel is relatively easy to cut and shape making it more precise to fit and more protective against water leakage. It is also non-combustible, providing more fire protection than other materials.
Pre-engineered steel construction offers many advantages for the durability, stability and precision of your final building:
- Steel’s strength-to-weight ratio allows for modern architectural features
- Steel is more sustainable by being 100% recyclable
- Steel is non-combustible to provide more fire protection
- Steel materials can be cut to exact, laser-measured lengths
- Steel does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
- Steel does not warp, split or crack from the elements
Pre-engineered steel frame and steel panel construction has transformed commercial building. Steel’s building benefits, namely less time to build and requiring much less labour, help eliminate some of the construction industry’s current challenges. As shortages in skilled labour grow, working with steel’s shorter learning curve and faster construction times create savings in labour that are effective for tighter building budgets. Because pre-engineering methods require fewer people, it address labour shortages and means workforces travels less, creates more accommodating workplaces and produces well-paying jobs for a wider pool of talent.
Pre-engineering also shifts most of the activity away from busy construction sites to controlled factory environments reducing the potential for injury. More construction processes taking place in a controlled setting yields a higher level of safety.
Reasons Why Pre-Engineering and Off-Site Construction is So Efficient
Builders must collaborate closely with the manufacturers, suppliers, architects and engineers partners, who all share equal responsibility into the final success of any project. These professionals recognize the benefits of pre-engineering to make their work more creative, reliable and cost-effective for clients. Read about the design freedom pre-engineering allows for architects.
Heavy industry clearly sees the benefit of constructing with pre-engineered steel buildings, as seen by the prevalence within business parks. Pre-engineering’s production and assembly method continues to be widely adopted by industrial clients across a wide range of industries – from manufacturing, warehousing to agricultural and forestry sectors. Steel structures can be quickly assembled in the most isolated and harshest of locations and the speed of construction helps reduce interruption and downtime to clients’ operations.
From the client’s perspective, pre-engineering allows for better scheduling from a more predicable supply-chain organization. Working with domestic manufacturers means materials are more readily available with less potential to cause delays to final construction times. The pre-engineering manufacturing process reduces overall waste and brings final costs down.
Industry estimates suggest working with steel can slash construction time by 35% and cost much less to build in materials. Combining pre-engineering’s lower building costs with its proven more efficient and reduced operating costs can mean hundreds of thousands off construction and carrying costs over the long run.
Let Construction Technology Solutions Work for You
As the business evolve to meet changing economic needs and social expectations, so should the way companies look at their next construction project. The public expects more responsibility in the way companies treat their employees and resources. Pre-engineering building solutions provide the cost-effective and sustainable methods to build faster and better with a conscientious effort to use fewer materials in a way that contributes to long-term value. Double Black Construction brings their building expertise and established relationships with manufacturers to make the most of your budget and exceed your expectations.
Contact us today for a free quote and to get started at
(833) 322-2722 or by email at
info@DoubleBlackConstruction.com for a free quote and to get started.
About the author:
A. Paul Mitchell
is Head of Research and Business Innovation for Double Black Construction and is an award-winning marketing professional with over 30-years experience in marketing strategy and corporate communications. His previous cross-industry experience has helped develop an extensive breadth of skills, including writing, graphic design, web design, media relations and photography. Paul holds Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Arts degrees as well as professional certificates in Leadership and Business Analysis from Western University. He also completed Centennial College’s post-graduate marketing and business management program. He lives in London, Ontario with his family.
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