Modular storage solutions such as our lightweight buildings can be configured individually in terms of size and features to suit the application. However, with so much flexibility, the question of what elements to look for when designing the building often arises. Not only are legal regulations, economic fluctuations and internal processes key to finding the right storage solution, the stored goods themselves also determine the building requirements.
Stored goods requirements for configuring a lightweight building
General requirements
Thanks to the above-mentioned flexibility in terms of features and size, lightweight buildings are able to meet a wide range of different requirements. In general, these concern the length, width and height of the building as well as fire protection regulations and insulation, or the type of wall and roof cladding.
What length, width and height do I need?
The length of Herchenbach lightweight buildings can be selected as required, in increments of 4 m or 5 m. Individual panels with widths of 2 m or 3 m can also be inserted, making any length feasible. In addition to the available space, the quantity and type of stored goods as well as the configuration of the building width are also key when determining the length of a building. Lightweight buildings can even be extended in length after assembly, if more space than originally planned is required.
The width is similarly easy to adapt. We create column-free clear widths up to 40 m. Anything wider than this is implemented in a multi-aisle design. The building width is particularly relevant if trucks are loaded and unloaded here or entire vehicles are parked in the building. In this case, a wide gate must be installed, which even with standardised column supports can easily be wider than 5 m. Loading docks for trucks can also be effortlessly integrated into lightweight buildings.
The height of your building should be based on two requirements in particular. If you stack your stored goods (usually using pallets, pallet cages or shelves), you can maximise your storage volume with the help of different eave and roof ridge heights. On the other hand, the gate dimensions also play an important role when selecting the right eave height. For example, to allow trucks to be driven into the building, the side height must be at least 4 m.
Our modular system includes all the usual lengths, widths and heights required for storage and logistics. See here for the exact specifications. If you require dimensions not included here, it’s still worth inquiring – our team of engineers will welcome the challenge.
When must fire protection regulations be complied with?
When it comes to fire protection, there are regulations to be observed in building construction that relate not only to the stored goods, but also to the conditions on site.
If, for example, the prescribed minimum distance of 15 m from existing buildings is not possible, so-called hard roofing is required. Thanks to its design and the materials used, hard roofing is resistant to flying sparks and radiant heat. Our patented roofing, which has been thoroughly tested by various testing bodies and is thus approved by building authorities, meets all the requirements of so-called hard roofing without impairing translucency or insulation.
To prevent fire spreading to other parts of a building or to other buildings, additional fire walls must be built. Fire walls are fire-resistant under mechanical load and made using non-combustible materials, ensuring that they offer sufficiently prolonged resistance to a fire event.
If smoke extraction for the building is required by construction regulations, e.g. the Model Industrial Buildings Directive (MIndBauRL), smoke and heat exhaust ventilation must be guaranteed. Our MIndBauRL-compliant smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system (SHEVS) can be easily integrated into the roof and is the preferred choice of many fire protection experts. As the system has also been developed on modular principles, with all the associated benefits such as fast delivery, quick assembly and cost efficiency, one SHEVS is required for every 400 m² of storage space to ensure full compliance with the MIndBauRL. For large storage spaces, several SHEVS are used, while all necessary components such as smoke alarms, central control devices or emergency switches are coordinated and can be easily connected by any electrician.
On the product pages for our buildings you will find further information on our patented fire protection roofing and our smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system.
Canopy vs unheated warehouse vs insulated building
The modular design of lightweight buildings makes the wall and roof cladding extremely adaptable. For example, our Cover+ model can be used as a cost-effective, simple canopy for goods that only need to be protected from the weather. Our Cover+ buildings consist of a sturdy aluminium frame and a highly tear-resistant industrial textile on the roof. By coating the textile with an advanced polyvinyl chloride, the good properties of both components are combined, resulting in a durable, weatherproof, robust canopy.
If the stored goods need to be protected from the weather and against theft, wall cladding is required. The walls of our Safe+ buildings are cladded with trapezoidal steel sheets and the roof cladding is also made of a highly tear-resistant industrial textile.
If frost protection is also required, the building must be insulated. Our Therm+ buildings are cladded with ISO panels on the walls, as well as with an optional patented, multi-layer, insulated and translucent roofing, which protects the stored goods at both excessively high and low temperatures.
The following table shows typical applications for the Cover+, Safe+ and Therm+ buildings.
Cover+ | Safe+ | Therm+ |
Covering of non-sensitive goods such as bulk materials or empties, etc. | Storage of non-sensitive goods such as empties, cardboard packaging and paper, etc. | Storage of sensitive goods such as food and consumables, etc. |
| Logistics and distribution centres | Parcel depots and luggage distribution |
| Vehicles and aircraft | Production and manufacturing |
| Maintenance and repair work | Workshops and assembly |
|
| Displays and sales |
Special requirements
The wide range of applications for our lightweight buildings involves special requirements. In some cases, strict guidelines have to be met, for example with regard to fire protection. Other areas of application are less complicated.
Logistics and distribution centres
Various types of goods are stored in logistics and distribution centres. The special requirement here is that the goods can be moved quickly and easily. It must therefore be possible to load and unload goods efficiently within the building. We designed and constructed a building with truck docks in the gable walls for a well-known customer in the logistics sector. The longitudinal walls were also equipped with loading ramps for the trucks.
Storage of empties and full goods
When storing drinks industry goods, a distinction must be made between empties and full goods. For empties, an unheated warehouse (Safe+) or a canopy (Cover+) is sufficient. The empties are protected against the weather.
When it comes to full goods, protection against both frost and sunlight plays a major role. Our industrial textile is translucent, yet protects the stored goods against 99.8% of UVA and UVB rays. If the drinks need to be fully protected against light, we also offer opaque roof cladding. The exterior and interior colours of the cladding are irrelevant here – even a white roof cladding is 100% lightproof.
Our customer base includes numerous companies from the drinks industry, such as ABInbev. We have also provided lightweight buildings for national breweries, which are used as drinks warehouses for full goods or empties.
Tyres & wheels
To ensure they retain their shape, tyres should be stored in a cool, dark place. Sufficient ventilation must also be ensured. Partition walls can be installed if the building is designed for use as a warehouse and factory at the same time. When storing tyres, the maximum temperatures can fluctuate between the freezing point and +25°C.
In addition, the issue of fire protection must be considered, as the material of the tyres is extremely flammable. Fire alarm systems, so-called hard roofing, and smoke and heat exhaust ventilation are required in tyre warehouses. Our range of accessories includes patented solutions for hard roofing and smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems (SHEVS). In addition, thanks to our network of experts, we can put you in touch with a fire protection engineer in your area, to ensure our customers can quickly obtain the fire protection report that may be required for the building application.
We have built tyre warehouses that meet the fire protection regulations for many customers in the automotive industry.
Paper and cardboard packaging
When storing packaging materials made of paper and cardboard, keeping them dry is extremely important. Raw materials in particular must be protected against moisture when inside the building. As an addition to our roof tarpaulin, we offer a membrane, developed in-house, which protects against condensation. It is fitted under the roof cladding and made of an open mesh that allows moisture to diffuse as water vapour (air moisture) only from the inside to the outside. This protects the stored goods against condensing water (condensate/condensation).
Glued cardboard boxes must be stored not only in dry but also in frost-proof conditions. Our insulated lightweight buildings (Therm+) offer the perfect solution here.
In recent decades, we have implemented various building projects for customers in the paper industry. These include a wholesaler for catering and hotel paper, as well as for packaging and industrial hygiene products, who store paper napkins in the buildings, for example.
Construction sector
In the construction industry, stored goods sometimes require frost protection. Fillers, for example, must not be stored at temperatures below 0°C. Our Therm+ buildings offer the necessary frost protection. Wide door dimensions are often required for buildings in which trucks load and unload goods. We can install gates both in the gable and longitudinal walls, if required by the operational processes.
For a customer in the construction sector, we built a 25 m-wide building, in which building materials were stored in shelving systems. As the shelving systems were heavily loaded, they had their own statics and required a base plate. Using heavy-duty dowelling, we were easily able to assemble the lightweight building on this.
Further applications
In addition to the areas of application listed here, there are other areas in which the use of a lightweight building can be considered. We have also completed projects for exhibition, hangar and airport buildings and were able to meet the respective requirements with our innovative solutions.
If you have storage needs, we are happy to answer any questions you may have. Send us a non-binding project inquiry and determine your requirements with one of our experts in a face-to-face appointment at your premises!
Conclusion
Our lightweight buildings offer the right solution for various requirements. Their flexibility in terms of size and features allows a wide variety of goods to be stored. We provide storage solutions for customers from the logistics sector as well as for the beverage industry, the automotive industry and for many other industries besides.