Top 10 tips for warehouse design

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Each crop of warehouses rising in the Middle East brings a fresh wave of evolution in terms of standard and design. Arabian Supply Chain looks at the leading techniques and practices revolutionising warehouse design across the region.

Construction

A set of typical drivers commonly affects the construction of a warehouse - the height of the building, its plot size, service requirements and structural complexity. It may be a surprise to learn aspects such as height not also affect concrete slab specifications but determine the fire fighting system required as well.

"The type of fire fighting systems installed determines the cost of the project and the construction time required. For instance, in-rack sprinklers can only be installed once the racking installation is complete. This would usually delay the occupancy of the building for at least 2 months, compared to a conventional system," states Jihad Bsaibes, general manager of Dubai branch, Amana Contracting & Steel Building.

The use of VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) racking has a likewise effect on the slab - which must comply with TR-35 specifications to create 'super flat slabs'. "At Amana, we use laser screed technology which speeds the slab laying process and increases its tolerance," says Bsaibes.

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Assessment of the site is required in order to ensure flatness in respect to adjacent roads, otherwise plot levelling and soil improvement could prove to be costly and time consuming. "At Amana, we have our own inhouse design capabilities that are continuously fed with site experiences. In addition, involving the construction team early on with the designers provides added value through lessons learnt on previous jobs," highlights Bsaibes.

The construction process itself should not exceed 10 months for a medium size project (below 30,000m²). Independent of the construction period, the developer must budget approximately 3 months in order to have the scope of work defined, shortlist appropriate contractors, receive prices for the scope of work, analyse prices, award the job, prepare the detail design and finally obtain the building permit.

"Nevertheless, contractors can fast-track the above process. At Amana, we have completed jobs in five months, from the point we were awarded the project to the point we obtain the construction completion certificate from the authorities. Such fast-track work requires a great deal of planning and coordination," concludes Bsaibes.

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