Industrial construction is a sector of the construction industry that's responsible for designing and building highly specialized structures and facilities for manufacturing, such as warehouses, factories and powerplants. Industrial buildings are designed in compliance with industry regulations and federal, state and local building codes. Ensuring compliance involves obtaining industrial permits and meeting occupancy requirements.
Industrial construction goes beyond designing and constructing these structures. The sector also focuses on ensuring the interior of a facility is suited for the intended operation. These types of buildings are built for practicality — they need effective floor plans and must support heavy equipment. Further, industrial construction projects focus heavily on coordinating distribution because many industrial facilities require special product conveyance, such as access to highways, air transportation, railroads, shipping yards or around-the-clock shipping and receiving capabilities.
Industrial buildings commonly fall under two categories — warehouse/distribution and manufacturing. Here are a few features commonly found in these types of industrial buildings:
Warehouse and distribution: These facilities store and transport goods. They're typically single-story buildings that can span hundreds of thousands of square feet. They have high ceilings to accommodate storage and racking systems for holding massive amounts of products. Warehouses and distribution centers also usually require loading docks, large doors and entryways and large parking lots for the trucks and trailers transporting goods.
Manufacturing: Manufacturing buildings are also called heavy industrial buildings. These buildings are where products and materials are produced. They house heavy machinery and equipment, requiring a powerful electric supply to carry out processes. Manufacturing buildings need heavy-duty exhaust and ventilation systems to filter out harmful fumes and chemicals and must be equipped with pressurized water or air lines, as most heavy industrial machines require them to function properly.
