Building a new data center, hospital, or industrial facility requires an intricate balance of trades, engineers, and installers. Working around the schedules of HVAC and electrical teams, BIM coordination, and making sure everything is installed in the correct sequence results in longer lead times for construction projects. Owners are looking for facilities to be built faster than ever which requires contractors to think outside the box to deliver projects on schedule. 

There’s a solution that lets you begin construction of key mechanical services and compress the on-site construction schedule. Offsite fabrication will allow the contractors to receive assembled multi-trade racks that can be installed in hours instead of months.

Building Multi-Trade Racks Offsite with Sikla siFramo

Sikla siFramo is a weldless, configurable metal framing system with high torsional resistance and weight capacity. The modular nature of the Sikla siFramo system utilizes all bolted connections that easily interface with any traditional construction hangers or support systems. These features make Sikla siFramo an ideal choice for building your required multi-trade racks offsite, loading them with the trade components, and delivering them to your site for installation, all with little to no adjustments needed once on site. 

The process starts with the Unistrut Midwest team using Sikla siFramo to build the rack frames to your specifications in our warehouse, often taking only half a day per rack to complete. The racks are then fit with your electrical, HVAC, and/or plumbing components, and can even have drywall headers installed. All of the services can be installed on the ground in a controlled environment which improves efficiency and safety on the project. With that work completed, the rack can be delivered to your site, lifted into place, and connected to the necessary equipment. 

While the above process is the most optimized option, we know that your project may have different requirements. We can deliver just the frame to your site so that your trades can install the pipes, etc. themselves. Or, we can send the racks as sub-assemblies for more efficient shipping or as a more compact option for storing on your site until you’re ready for installation. Regardless of your project’s requirements, our team will complete as much work as possible in our warehouse, freeing up your time and team.

Benefits of Prefabricated Multi-Trade Racks with Sikla siFramo

The number one reason to consider a prefabricated multi-trade rack solution is speed to market. Sikla racks are assembled quickly (often taking only half a day, compared to about three days for traditional welded steel rack assembly), and as much work as possible is done offsite, meaning limited downtime for your operations. 

Sikla’s high torsional resistance means that with proper deflection engineering, your rack can be transported to your site and lifted into place without the need to retorque or adjust once everything is in place. Sikla will analyze the structure during the lift and determine the proper lift points to avoid deflection during transport and installation. Sikla works seamlessly with Unistrut, so if your rack is connecting to Unistrut once in place, it requires only a few screws instead of welding. 

Additionally, the workability and ease of use of this solution should not be underestimated. We all know the industry is facing skilled labor shortages right now, so why choose an option that requires your team to spend their time welding frames? 

Requiring fewer people without welding capabilities for fabrication, a Sikla prefabricated rack frees up more of your team for billable work. Your team can spend their time welding pipe for a client instead of a steel frame for your warehouse. The benefits of an easily installed solution should not be underrated in a labor-deprived market.

Multi-Trade and Riser Rack Options

Sikla framework can meet a variety of multi-trade and riser rack specifications, depending on certain requirements and restrictions. With all offsite designs that will be transported to the job site and lifted into place, all lifting and transportation forces are considered in the design calculations. 

Lighter 2D Corridor or Riser Racks

• Unistrut and Sikla hybrid
• Typically 20 ft x 5 ft
• Up to 3000 lbf
• Six hangar positions
• Strut bays
• Sikla longitudinals

Heavier Flat Pipe Racks

• Up to 26 ft x 10 ft wide
• Up to 6000 lbf at 8 ft supports

Heavier Volumetric Corridor or Riser Racks

• Up to 26 ft x 10 ft wide
• Up to 6000 lbf at 8 ft supports

Multi-Trade Racks - Structural

• 40 ft multi-trade racks
• 8 ft wide, up to 5 ft deep
• Up to 8000 lb rating of 200 lb per ft corridor service load
• Modular steel chassis and strut intermediates for varying trades
• Lifting lugs side-mounted 

Are you ready to discuss a prefabricated multi-trade rack solution for your facility? Our team would be happy to walk you through your options. Contact us today.