Warehouse & Industrial
Infrastructure Engineering
From pre-engineered steel logistics hubs and cold storage facilities to multi-storey garment factories and pharmaceutical plants — Urban Engineering delivers industrial buildings that are structurally sound, operationally efficient, and fully compliant with Bangladesh's regulatory framework.
Steel
PEB & Industrial Structures
Large
Clear-Span Capability
60m+
Max Column-Free Span
BNBC
Aligned Design
DIFE
Compliant Factories
WHAT WE DELIVER
Full-Scope Industrial Construction Services
Every service we offer is backed by in-house structural, civil, and MEP engineering — not subcontracted out.
Warehouse Design & Engineering
Structural • Logistics • BNBCDesign of storage warehouses and distribution centres — optimising clear heights, column grids, floor loading capacities, rack layout coordination, and dock arrangements. Structural and architectural drawings prepared to BNBC, tailored to racking system loads and materials handling equipment (MHE) requirements specified by the logistics operator.
Factory & Manufacturing Plant Construction
Garments • Pharma • Food • BGMEA/DIFEFull design and construction of garment factories, food processing plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and general industrial buildings — incorporating process-specific structural requirements, utility infrastructure, cleanroom provisions, and regulatory compliance with BGMEA, FSAS, and DIFE standards. Full RAJUK building plan approval package prepared.
Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings (PEB)
Portal Frame • Fast-Track • Large SpanDesign and construction of pre-engineered metal building systems — portal frame and multi-span structures for large-footprint warehouses, logistics hubs, cold storage shells, and light industrial units. PEB delivers rapid erection, column-free spans up to 60m+, and cost efficiency compared to conventional RC for single-storey industrial facilities.
Cold Storage & Temperature-Controlled Facilities
HACCP • -25°C • Insulated PanelCivil and structural design of cold storage and controlled-atmosphere facilities — insulated panel systems, thermal bridges, floor heating to resist frost heave, refrigeration plant rooms, vapour barriers, and drainage accommodating moisture effects of sustained sub-zero operation. Temperature zones from ambient to deep freeze (-25°C).
Site Infrastructure & External Works
Yards • Docks • Drainage • HGV PavingIndustrial site development — yard paving designed for HGV, forklift, and reach truck loads; truck turning circles; loading bays; weigh bridges; external drainage; perimeter boundary walls; gatehouse; and utility connections. Industrial pavement design using structural CBR-based methodology for sustained heavy vehicle operation.
Expansion & Retrofit of Existing Facilities
Assessment • Strengthening • Live SiteStructural assessment, load capacity verification, and phased expansion of existing industrial buildings — adding mezzanine floors, extending warehouse bays, strengthening floor slabs for increased rack loading, and upgrading electrical and fire systems while maintaining operational continuity with minimal production disruption.
SECTORS WE BUILD FOR
Industrial Sector Expertise
Each sector has its own engineering DNA. We bring it — not generic construction, but facilities engineered specifically for your industry.
Garment & Textile Factories
RC frame, DIFE/BGMEA compliance, multiple enclosed fire-exit staircases (FSAS), wide column grids, roof exhaust ventilation, and sewing-floor loading — Bangladesh's most critical industrial sector.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
GMP-compliant facilities: smooth cleanable surfaces, pressure differential zoning, controlled air change ceilings, strict vibration limits, and coordination with validated HVAC and process engineers.
Cold Storage & Food Processing
HACCP-compliant facilities, food-grade finishes, frost-heave slab heating, loading dock air curtains, insulated envelope systems, and temperature-controlled zones from ambient to -25°C deep freeze.
Logistics & Distribution Centres
Large-footprint PEB centres: 10–15m clear heights for high-bay racking, FM1/FM2 flatness-controlled slabs, dock levellers, HGV yard design, and EPC package delivery on compressed programmes.
Chemical & Process Industry
Chemical-resistant flooring, bund wall spill containment, ATEX-zone structural provisions for explosive atmospheres, blast-resistant RC panels where required, and DoE environmental compliance documentation.
Engineering & Light Manufacturing
EOT crane runways (5–50T), machine foundations, vibration isolation, oil-resistant floors, compressed air distribution, roller shutter door openings, and clear heights sized for crane hook travel.
Technical Parameters
Key Warehouse Design Numbers That Matter
A warehouse that looks correct on a layout plan can fail operationally if critical parameters — height, column grid, floor flatness, dock sill level — are not locked down before structural design begins. We coordinate these with the logistics operator and MHE supplier from day one.
6–15m
Clear Internal Height
6–8m for conventional racking; 10–15m for high-bay automated storage. Must be agreed before structural design — cannot be changed after frame sizing.
12×24 – 12×36m
Column Grid
Column spacing must align with racking aisle widths and MHE turning radii — misalignment forces costly racking layout compromises post-construction.
5–40 kPa UDL
Floor Loading Capacity
TR34/ACI 360 slab design for static rack UDL, dynamic forklift axle loads (15–80 kN), and post-installed anchor loads. FM1/FM2 flatness class specified for VNA operations.
1.1–1.2m
Dock Sill Height
Dock sill height above finished yard level, minimum 35m truck apron, dock leveller type, and HGV/pedestrian segregation — all parameters coordinated before construction drawings are issued.
DELIVERY METHODOLOGY
Our Industrial Project Delivery Process
A disciplined delivery process that integrates structural, civil, MEP, and compliance workflows under one coordinated programme.
Feasibility & Brief
Site investigation, operational brief with logistics operator, structural system selection (PEB vs RC), utility feasibility, and regulatory pathway review — before any design cost is committed.
Design & Approvals
Structural design, architectural drawings, RAJUK building plan submission, DIFE/BGMEA factory approval package, fire strategy, and environment clearance — all coordinated and submitted in parallel to compress the approval programme.
Construction & Supervision
On-site construction supervision, QA/QC testing, materials sampling, structural inspection at critical stages (foundation, frame, floor slab), weekly progress reporting, and HSE management throughout the construction phase.
Commissioning & Handover
System commissioning, floor flatness survey, occupancy certificate, as-built drawings, operation and maintenance manuals, DIFE inspection support, and defects liability period management.
Our Advantage
Why Urban Engineering for Industrial Infrastructure?
Warehouses and factories are precision-engineered tools for a specific industrial operation — not generic buildings. We deliver industrial facilities that are operationally correct from the first day of production, not structurally adequate but logistically impractical. Here is what makes us different:
See Our Industrial ProjectsDIFE & BGMEA Factory Compliance — By Design, Not Retrofit
Fire exit staircase count, widths, enclosure, and location designed from the very first layout sketch — not added at the end as a compliance afterthought. Compliance is designed in, not bolted on.
PEB Structural Design Capability — In-House
Portal frame analysis, crane beam integration, purlins and girts sizing, and connection detail design for pre-engineered steel building systems — without relying on a PEB manufacturer's standard design.
TR34 Industrial Floor Slab Design
Ground-bearing and pile-supported industrial floor slabs designed to TR34 (Concrete Society) and ACI 360 — specifying flatness class, joint layout, fibre or bar reinforcement, and surface hardener matched to MHE requirements.
Crane Runway & MHE Structural Coordination
EOT and jib crane runway beam design to BS EN 1993-6 fatigue class, forklift impact guard integration, and column protection — coordinated directly with crane supplier specifications.
Expansion Provisions Built In from Day One
Column stub-outs for future roof extension, oversized foundations for additional loading, utility infrastructure stub-outs — avoiding costly structural modifications when the facility needs to grow.
Full RAJUK & Regulatory Approval Management
Building plan approval, DoE environmental clearance, factory licence applications, industrial plot layout approvals — prepared and submitted by our team, guided through Bangladesh's regulatory process from application to permit.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about warehouse and industrial facility engineering in Bangladesh.
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When should I choose a pre-engineered steel building (PEB) over a conventional RC frame?
PEB is generally the right choice when the building is single-storey, large column-free spans (20m+) are needed, construction speed is critical, and upper-level floor loads are not required. For Bangladesh's logistics and distribution warehouses, PEB typically delivers 15–25% lower structural cost and faster construction than RC. RC frame is preferred for multi-storey factories (garments, pharma) with heavy floor loads (5–20+ kPa UDL), fire compartmentation demands, or heavy intermediate floor crane loads. Most clients who assume RC is cheaper are surprised when a proper comparative analysis factors in foundation cost, construction programme, and cladding. We carry out this comparison for every project before recommending a structural system.
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What floor loading should I specify for a new warehouse in Bangladesh?
Floor loading specification must address three types: (1) UDL — typically 10–25 kPa for conventional pallet racking; (2) Racking base plate point loads — concentrated loads through rack uprights, which govern slab reinforcement locally; (3) Dynamic forklift axle loads — the heaviest MHE wheel load governs slab thickness (commonly 7.5-tonne axle for reach trucks, higher for counterbalanced forklifts). Floor flatness is equally critical — conventional forklifts require FM2 class; VNA guide rail operations require FM1, demanding specialist concrete placement and laser-guided finishing procedures. We develop the floor specification jointly with the racking supplier and logistics operator before structural design begins.
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What fire safety requirements apply to garment factories in Bangladesh?
Fire safety for garment factories is governed by overlapping frameworks: BNBC sets structural fire resistance ratings, travel distances, staircase widths, compartment area limits, and alarm provisions. DIFE enforces additional post-Rana Plaza requirements — minimum numbers of enclosed fire-exit staircases, maximum inter-staircase distance, fire door specifications, emergency lighting, and assembly points. Export-facing factories under RMG Sustainability Council (RSC) framework face further requirements above BNBC minimum. Urban Engineering prepares fire strategy documents and BNBC compliance calculations for all factory projects, and coordinates with Fire Service and Civil Defence for approvals.
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What regulatory approvals are needed to build an industrial facility in Dhaka?
Key approvals for industrial construction in Dhaka include: RAJUK building plan approval (structural drawings by licensed engineer, architectural layout, land use clearance); DoE Environmental Clearance Certificate (required for any facility with chemical storage, effluent, or significant emissions); DIFE factory registration for any facility employing above-threshold workers; BFSA registration for food processing facilities; BGMEA membership and factory registration for export garment facilities; and BEZA/BSCIC industrial estate authority approval for projects within designated economic or industrial zones. Urban Engineering prepares all building, structural, and environmental documentation and manages the submission process on behalf of clients.