Things one should know before finalizing a PEB Partner

Pre Engineered Building (PEB) is probably one of the best things to happen to the Construction industry. It started getting popular in India around the early 2000s and over the span of the past few years is now being increasingly adopted to deliver warehouse buildings

To put it in simple terms a PEB structure is manufactured at a factory, as opposed to being built at the site, in the conventional method of construction. It is then assembled at the site, thus saving on time and effort while ensuring quality of the highest level.

As with all projects, contracts management plays a crucial role to deliver the project as per schedule, and most Project Managers will agree that it is often the PEB which occupies significant space in their Gantt chart.

If the parameters of the PEB are not very clearly understood, order materialization can be a time consuming affair, drastically affecting the project schedule. To avoid such a situation it would be good to know what the process entails:

·        Finalized technical parameters: The following should be well understood & included in the scope of the PEB vendor: length, width, bay spacing, width module, clear height, peripheral block wall, design codes, load combinations, wind speed, seismic zones, rainfall intensity, sheeting thickness, insulation, type of ventilations, etc.

·        Peer review: A detailed peer review of the design to ensure optimal consumption of steel and at the same time ensure the life of the structure is in line with the design parameters; It is a good practice to follow to eliminate inefficiencies in the execution of the project.

·        Column reactions: This will help in deciding the size of the civil foundations, pedestals, and also the initial and foremost work front for the site team along with anchor bolts.

·        Approval of GA drawings: The schedule is governed by the timely approval of GA drawings  and the release of shop drawings to the factory, which in turn will aid in delivery of the required consignments at the project location.

·        Factory fabrication: As the name PEB itself suggests, all the necessary cutting and welding is done at the factory, and the manufacturing is strictly supervised to ensure quality control (QC) by adhering to the standard Quality Assurance Plan (QAP), various test flatness, Dye Penetration test (DPT), Ultra sonic test of Welds, Dry Film thickness (DFT), etc.  

·        Delivery of consignment: A knowledgeable Project Manager can demand for a sequential delivery of consignments basis project priorities and what will be required first at the site.    

·        Installation & erection: It would be good to ask for erection methodology before the work commences. One of the most important activities of the project is the installation and erection as it requires utmost safety; the Project Engineer needs to ensure safety while the installation and erection is in progress.

·        Aesthetics: Finally it is the PEB which makes the building look aesthetic as it is one of the visible aspects of the project.

Therefore, it is evident that a well-executed order management for a PEB is equally important in governing the project schedule.

Since the market is populated with various PEB players, to shortlist one for your project it is always advisable to consult EPC specialists, turnkey contractors, consultants & architects, who can help you choose the right one by understanding your requirements, the approved budget and timelines.

 Article by Mr. Arun Sowmitri, Manager Projects Conserve Buildcon