Various industrial canopy types, including fixed and modular options, are available to businesses in the UK that seek to deploy weatherproof sheltered spaces in their premises.
Although brick and mortar buildings or steel warehouses were the traditional option for businesses, they had numerous shortcomings and inefficiencies—and with the advancements in material science and engineering innovation, the cost-effectiveness and high performance of container canopies have made them a more versatile and worthwhile alternative.
Likewise, structures for material storage too have evolved from simple storage sheds into more modular industrial canopies UK businesses adopt and can easily and rapidly deploy in use cases such as aggregate storage. Both Shield Canopy and OPUS are prime examples of cutting-edge innovation that has driven transformation in commercial structures thus far.
Read on to explore how businesses stand to gain bountiful benefits from choosing the right commercial structure by accounting for the rapid evolution of industrial canopies and their ability to fit into a multitude of requirements of the business.
Modular options vs permanent options of industrial canopies UK businesses should consider
Most modern industrial canopies, including container canopies, are modular/semi-permanent structures. This means they can be easily disassembled, relocated, reassembled, and redeployed conveniently. However, this does not mean they are flimsy and less reliable than permanent structures. For example, Shield Canopy by McGregor comes with a five-year guarantee.
Compared to their modular counterparts, permanent structures are a lot less flexible in terms of how they can be used. They cannot be easily altered to fit a variety of use cases, requiring costly refurbishments to do so. Also, if these structures were erected to house equipment for a temporary need and are not required once the project is complete, they most often need to be demolished, which increases maintenance costs and is detrimental to the environment.
Comparing the requirements of deploying modular industrial canopies with traditional options
Planning permission
Obtaining planning permission can be a complex process and is a costly and time-consuming prerequisite for constructing traditional buildings. Businesses often need to wait for their building plan to get approved before they can get started with building their permanent structures.
Industrial canopies, however, may not require any planning permission as they are considered semi-permanent structures. While this is dependent on local government policies, most of the time, there’s no need to seek permission from authorities to deploy a container canopy.
Groundwork
One of the main advantages of Shield Canopy and other similar modular canopies is that they require little to no groundwork, as they can be attached directly to one or multiple 20ft and 40ft shipping containers or be fitted onto a base of interlocking concrete blocks in the case of OPUS. Since Shield Canopy is made to standard sizes, it also gives the provided McGregor Structures more time to rigorously test the structures before deployment. This enables us to guarantee resistance against Beaufort 10 winds for five years.
On the contrary, constructing a permanent structure will involve a lot of pre-construction groundwork to ensure the structure has a solid foundation to support its weight and be stable; this makes permanent structures drastically more expensive than many modular industrial canopies UK businesses can consider—not to mention the extended project timelines and expensive construction projects involved in deploying traditional commercial buildings.
Maintenance
One of the biggest differences between modular industrial canopies and permanent structures made of steel and wood is maintenance. Permanent structures can be difficult to maintain depending on the materials used and the climatic conditions. Commercial sheds are prone to rapid wear and tear, requiring regular upkeep to prevent issues such as rotting, rusting, or cracking, which is both time-consuming and expensive.
However, the Shield Canopy and PUS are built using high-strength galvanised steel frames, robust 600GSM PVC-coated fabric roof sheets, dynamic clamping systems, and more, which eliminates the possibility of rusting or warping under adverse weather. They are also much easier to clean whenever there is a need.
Ease and speed of deployment
As already mentioned, many steps go into the complex construction projects of a permanent structure, which means it generally takes longer to build and requires expert construction teams with specialist skills and equipment to deploy based on the size and complications entailed in the construction of the buildings.
Since modular industrial canopies are made to standard sizes, it’s much easier to install and deploy. At McGregor Structures, quick delivery and installation of modular canopies are prioritised—and the Shield Canopy and OPUS structures can be installed in as little as 48 hours.
Different container canopy types
Container canopies are one of the most popular types of modular industrial canopies UK businesses aim to deploy, this is mainly due to their highly versatile nature. They can be acquired in various configurations and deployed in a range of layouts to meet operational requirements.
Some of the most common include:
Standard container canopies: These container canopies attach directly to 20ft and 40ft shipping containers, offering a secure and weather-protected environment for working or storing goods.
Double-bay container canopies: These are installed on three shipping containers arranged side by side, which offer a larger sheltered space. These are perfect for storing large assets, vehicles, or equipment simultaneously or to be used as a workshop.
Multi-bay container canopies: These are similar to double-sided container canopies but extend across multiple bays. Some multi-bay layouts can span across 10 or more canopies, they are more useful for large-scale industrial applications.
Choose modular industrial canopies UK businesses trust for better flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of deployment
When it comes to cost-effective commercial sheltering options for storage bays, warehouses, and workshops, container canopies are the best choice. They offer flexibility, safety, and weather protection while being easier and cheaper to deploy and maintain than traditional permanent structures.
There are also many modular industrial canopy types to choose from depending on your specific needs and requirements. If you’re considering container canopies or modular material storage bays, choose McGregor Structures, which has been a pioneer in the market with high-quality offerings and over 45 years of engineering and innovation.