When investing in a factory, the first question regarding structure is usually: should I choose a pre-engineered steel building or a reinforced concrete building? Each solution has its own advantages in terms of cost, schedule, span, and durability. This article compares pre-engineered steel buildings and concrete buildings based on 7 criteria, along with selection suggestions from the practical experience of Hai Long Construction.
What are pre-engineered steel buildings and reinforced concrete buildings?
Pre-engineered steel buildings have a load-bearing frame system (columns, rafters, purlins) made of steel, designed and fabricated at the factory, then assembled with bolts at the construction site. The foundation and floor are still reinforced concrete.
Reinforced concrete buildings have columns, beams, and floors cast in-situ (or using precast concrete components), combined with internal steel reinforcement to bear loads.
Comparison table of pre-engineered steel buildings and concrete buildings based on 7 criteria
| Criteria | Pre-engineered steel building | Reinforced concrete building |
| Progress | Fast: fabrication at the factory runs parallel to foundation construction | Slower: must wait for concrete to reach strength after each pour |
| Span | Large span without intermediate columns | Large spans require large beams and more columns |
| Weight and foundation | Lightweight, smaller foundation – advantage on weak soil | Heavy, larger foundation |
| Cost | Optimal for single-story factories with large spans | Optimal for multi-story buildings, small spans, heavy floor loads |
| Expansion, renovation | Easy to extend, dismantle, and relocate | Difficult to renovate, costly to demolish |
| Fire resistance | Requires fireproof paint or coating according to fire safety requirements | Inherent good fire resistance |
| Maintenance | Requires suitable anti-rust coating and periodic inspection | Low structural maintenance, focus on cracks and leaks |
When should you choose a pre-engineered steel building?
- Single-story production factories and logistics warehouses requiring large spaces and fewer columns.
- FDI projects needing early operation, where schedule is the top priority.
- Factories with overhead cranes or planned phased expansions.
- Plots with weak soil conditions, requiring reduced load on foundations.
When should you choose a reinforced concrete building?
- Multi-story office blocks, canteens, and dormitories.
- Chemical warehouses, areas with high fire/explosion risks, or highly corrosive environments.
- Multi-story factories with very high floor loads and small spans.
Hybrid solutions: The trend for modern factories
In practice, most factories do not choose one over the other but combine both: foundations, floors, and auxiliary blocks in reinforced concrete; production workshops and warehouses in steel frames. Multi-story factories can also use hybrid structures: steel frames combined with concrete floors on metal decking.
This combination leverages the speed and span capabilities of steel while maintaining the durability and fire resistance of concrete where necessary.
[See more: Factory steel structure]
Experience from projects executed by Hai Long
Large-scale factories for which Hai Long provided steel structures all chose steel frames for the main production blocks:
| Project | Location | Steel structure tonnage |
| LG Innotek Vietnam Factory | Trang Due Industrial Park, Hai Phong | 14,500 tons |
| LG Display Vietnam Factory | Trang Due Industrial Park, Hai Phong | 9,300 tons |
| VinFast Assembly & eBus Factory | Hai Phong | 5,000 tons |
| Amkor Bac Ninh Factory | Yen Phong II Industrial Park, Bac Ninh | 4,500 tons |
See more Hai Long Steel Structure projects here
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pre-engineered steel buildings durable?
If designed to standard, with proper surface cleaning and protective coating suitable for the environment, pre-engineered steel buildings have a lifespan equivalent to conventional industrial structures.
Do pre-engineered steel buildings meet fire safety requirements?
Yes, when protected by fire-resistant paint or materials that meet the fire resistance limits according to the approved fire safety documentation.
Are pre-engineered steel buildings cheaper than concrete buildings?
For large-span single-story factories, they are usually more optimal due to lighter foundations and faster construction. Specific costs need to be calculated per project.
Consulting on steel structure solutions for factories
With a design consulting center of over 30 engineers and a 35,000-ton/year steel structure factory, Hai Long provides the most suitable structural solutions for your functionality and budget.
- Hotline: (+84) 846 625 888
- Email: info@hailongjsc.vn
- Factory: Quyet Thang Commune, Hai Phong City
