Kirby Building Systems India Ltd

• How economical PEBs are when compared to equivalent construction systems in steel? 

The company uses specifically developed software packages for design and detailing of PEB structures, in addition to standard packages. This proprietary software ensures that the designing & detailing activity is totally computerized and customers can get an accurate & speedy response. Kirby’s sales, engineering, and plants are networked with the automated ERP system (SAP) to provide online information to the customers.

PEBs are lower in cost by more than 20% when compared to conventional buildings mainly because of the systems approach which results in significant savings in design, manufacturing and onsite erection costs. They are on the average 30% lighter because of the efficient use of steel. PEBs can be fitted with different structural accessories including mezzanine floors, canopies, fascias, interior partitions etc. and the building is made water proof by use of special mastic beads, filler strips and trims. This is very versatile buildings systems and can be finished internally to serve any functions and accessorized externally to achieve attractive and unique designing styles. It is very advantageous over the conventional buildings and is really helpful in the low rise building design. The application of pre engineered buildings concept to low rise buildings is very economical and speedy. Buildings can be constructed in less than half the normal time especially when complemented with the other engineered sub systems. The most common and economical type of low rise buildings is a building with ground floor and two intermediate floor plus roof.

• What are the advantages and value additions your organisation provides? 

Kirby’s steel buildings are customized to meet the unique demands of the customers. They are designed to render speed in delivery and erection, overall savings on the project cost, hassle-free single source of supply, flexibility in expansion, and resistance against the severest combinations of wind and seismic loads. Most optimized design with structural soundness and reliability, ontime delivery, high quality products, top of the class customer service and continuous R&D with new aesthetics are some of the advantages of PEB offered by Kirby India. The company’s huge capacities, world class manufacturing and engineering facilities, vast experience over the last 12 years in India coupled with over 37 years of global experience, execution of various projects across diverse applications, etc are some of the main factors in Kirby’s success. 

• Do you provide complete Pre Engineered Building Solution including erection at site? 

Yes. We provide complete PEB Solution including erection at site but the solution consists of only the superstructure. 

• What different systems of PEBs your organisation can handle? Is there any size limitation? 

Kirby has evolved its own PEB concepts based on its long experience through executing thousands of successful projects worldwide. R&D activities which account for nearly 5% of its total revenues, have lent prime support to company’s global acceptance. Apart from investing heavily in advancement of design & manufacturing technologies, Kirby continues to spend on its human resource to match the most competing demands of the time. Kirby has constantly worked towards extending its product lines and widening product mix with a view to provide the most economical approach to construction of infrastructure in India. These products enable Kirby to design and offer a unique package for every customer, thus meeting his every need anywhere, and yet providing him cost economics. 

Over the years, Kirby India has evolved from a mere manufacturer of PEB to a total solution provider for customer needs. Like a true leader, it has constantly tried to set new standards in the PEB industry. The company has demonstrated its capability to design and manufacture complex and heavy structures. The company in the past few years has executed mega projects in the automobile, shipyard, general engineering, infrastructure, logistics and various other sectors. Kirby India has also successfully ventured into many unexplored territories like power plant Structures, bridge girders and shipyard structures and became the role model for other PEB players by making inroads into these areas and laying the foundation for similar type of projects in near future. Kirby India has also successfully completed several mega projects involving an area of over a lakh sq. mt at a single location and many such mega projects are under execution stage. This showcases that there is no size limitation for any type of PEB project that Kirby cannot handle.

Kirby is the only PEB manufacturer in India that is capable of supplying a packaged solution for all building requirements maintaining international quality standards. Almost all the big names in Indian corporate and multinational companies that have set up facilities in India have joined hands with Kirby in some way or the other. Its buildings have stood the test of time, time and again against all odds - manmade and natural. 

• How easy will it be to dismantle the PEB system and re-erect it at some other location? 

As PEB Systems buildings are assembled at site by bolting, the units can be dismantled and shifted to new locations and reassembled. But utmost care need to be taken at the time of dismantling as there should not be any damage or tear and wear which might lead to improper erection or non-fixing of the same at other location thereby leading to other problems. This makes it very important for the entire structure to be handled very carefully both at the time of dismantling and re-assembling. Keeping all these in mind, the overall cost aspect also need to be taken into consideration which mostly depends on the size and complexity of the building. 

• What generally are the pre requisites to be provided to you prior to taking up the designing? 

Some of the pre-requisites that are required before taking up designing are the design codes, building specifications (width, length, height, roof slope), type of building, crane loads and basic crane details, roofing and cladding specifications, accessories, insulation, mezzanine details, paint requirements and future expansion as it will allow us to design the building in the most economical way in first go itself. This will avoid any site modification work later. The designs are customized and the building components are manufactured at factory. These buildings are pre-designed into standard sizes, spans, bays, heights and use standard details for fixing cladding, roofing, gutters, flashing, windows and doors.  Also, other pre-requisites that need to be provided before start of the design process is the site location as this will help in considering wind speeds, seismic loads, temperatures, humidity, proximity to sea, rainfall, cyclone or snowfall are based on the site conditions and building usage at the design stage itself. 

• Can we integrate RCC slabs as mezzanine floors in your system of PEB? 

Yes. Most of the PEBs consisting of mezzanine flooring are built with a combination of concrete and decking panel which will help the building to withstand the heavy loads. Steel deck which acts as a shutter to support the concrete is provided over steel floor framing to receive cast in site slab. The entire floor should be reinforced and designed for the total floor load. Steel checkered plates can also be used as top surface. These mezzanines are used for office space, storage or equipment supports in industries. 

• What kind of Roofing system you recommend for your kind of PEB system? 

Kirby has its own roofing systems that are provided with the building as a total solution. There are two types of roofing systems – KR (Kirby Roof) and KSS-600 (Kirby Standing Seam Panel System) which are Kirby’s proprietary roofing systems. The KR system is profiled at our factory as per the standards developed by the company. Metallic plain or color coated profiled steel sheets are used as roof sheeting. The steel sheets are generally made from Zincalume or Galvalume coils in thickness range of 0.47mm to 0.55mm. These various color coatings on the base steel with galvanized or zinc aluminum coating provides suitable resistance for various kinds of environment hazards. Metal roofing profiles can be manufactured to any length but they are limited by transportation constraints (usually to 12 meters). 

Kirby introduced Standing Seam Roofing system, named as KSS-600 in India. The profiling of KSS-600 roofing systems is carried out at the site itself with no limit in lengths. Roll forming machines have been developed which permit rolling at the eaves level so that even the task of lifting and shifting the rolled profiles can be avoided. 

Kirby Standing Seam Panel systems (KSS-600) with double lock standing seam ends, eliminates the risk of roof leakage at fasteners and side and end laps due to the concealed fastening system and provides excellent protection in all weather conditions. It assures consistent weather tightness with virtually maintenance free performance for many years. It has gained popularity with many clients / consultants / architects / contracting companies since its introduction. In order to upgrade the product and to ensure that its customers get the most reliable systems of international standards, Kirby India tested its Standing Seam Roofing system at FM Global Laboratories at Boston, USA which is an independent third party testing facility of world repute. Many industrial and commercial companies around the world rely on products and services that are FM Approved and specifications tested to protect their properties from loss. The FM Approved mark is backed by scientific research and testing in the US & tells the customers that the product conforms to the highest standards. 

Kirby’s Standing seam roofs were tested to check the wind uplift resistance by wind tunnel testing. The KSS-600 roofing system received a 90 psf rating approval from FM Global. This ensures that Kirby’s roofing systems are safe and can withstand very high uplift pressures in extreme weather conditions. Kirby is the first PEB manufacturer in India having its roofing system certified by FM Global. 

• How do you rate your PEB system in terms of Fire Resistance?

One of the main reasons that the metal building construction field is growing is that steel is a durable, easy to produce and inexpensive product and is stronger than any other building product. Much of the steel used in any given metal building is recyclable and can be used for many other purposes. Therefore, metal is a "green" building material - a concept that is increasing in popularity with both builders and consumers. It has the ability to withstand some of the most damaging weather conditions as well as being fire resistant which can be achieved by using a fire protection system such as spraying fire resistant coating on steel members.

EOM