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Use our expertise in self-storage before you start construction or fit out of your self storage facility. Whether you use one or all of our consultancy services for your self-storage project, assistance is only a click away.

Know more about the requirements you need to take in consideration before starting the self storage construction.

We know, and have worked with, many property agents in the regions we operate in. These agents understand the basic requirements of a self‑storage property and, combined with our specialist knowledge, we feel confident in recommending them.

In Asia, we regularly look for suitable buildings for self-storage ourselves, but also rely on property agents.
In the ‘About self-storage’ section we’ve explained the basic requirements a suitable building or plot of land should have. If you’ve found one, just ask us to do a self‑storage feasibility assessment.

Feasibility assessment

When you own or have found a building or plot of land and need to check whether it is viable for self-storage, we can do a self-storage feasibility assessment for you. We understand the whole process of getting a self-storage facility up and running from concept to completion, so our assessment looks at all aspects of the location and/or building. This will help you put together and evaluate your business model and ultimately help you to get the required planning and building approvals when moving forward.
 
How it works
First we look at the demographics of the area and the location — whether for a brownfield or greenfield site — as explained in ‘Choose the right location for your self-storage facility’.
For brownfield sites we’ll also look at:
 
  • Accessibility
  • Building structure and marketability
  • Ventilation
  • Fire safety
  • Possibilities for self-storage design
We’ll also take note of any possible issues that the relevant authorities in your country may have with the building, from permissions required for change of use to building approvals.
Recommendations
We will share our conclusions and recommendations with you. We may advise against using the land/building for self-storage or provide options for change where possible, but ultimately it’s your choice.

Structural assessment

Brownfield
Structural engineering is an important part of our self-storage feasibility study. This ensures the structure can hold the load of the self-storage partitioning and the items that will be stored (floor loading), so that it can be used safely.
Our structural engineers look closely at the floor loading capability of your building and whether it’s suitable for a change of use. If so, they will also assist in putting together the application for change of use for the relevant authorities in your country.
Greenfield
For a greenfield building, we’ll take the floor loading into account when we design your self-storage building.
If you need us to do a structural assessment, please contact us for more information.

Ventilation

Building codes in most countries have a ventilation requirement. In some buildings there is enough natural ventilation from windows — which can have louvers built in — but not always.
We look closely at ventilation as part of our self-storage feasibility study. If there is not enough natural ventilation, you will need to install mechanical ventilation by simply placing fans in strategic locations along the corridors of your self-storage facility.
Climate-controlled environment
Using climate control in self-storage buildings by installing air conditioning is becoming increasingly popular.
Especially important if you intend to include wine storage at your self-storage facility as air conditioning is key for this specialty storage.

Fire-safety regulations

Fire-safety regulations vary from country to country, but one way or another your self-storage building must be up to code. So by working closely with local qualified engineers, we’ll make sure that your building meets all local fire-safety requirements.
Brownfield
We look at fire safety as part of our self-storage feasibility study for a brownfield building.
The main things to consider for fire safety at this stage are:
  • Sprinkler system
  • Emergency exits
  • Car park
  • Smoke stop lobbies
  • Fire suppression, e.g. hose reels and extinguishers
  • Smoke purging
  • Ventilation
Ideally, your building includes all of these items, but if not they can all be installed.
Greenfield
When we design a greenfield building, we’ll make sure your self-storage facility meets the fire-safety regulations in your country.

Advice on self-storage security

Access control and security is an important component in any self-storage facility. Your customers will want to know that their belongings are safe and secure when they decide to store with you. And you can rest assured that your operations are accountable and traceable.
Before you open your facility, you must have a robust access control and security system in place. We work with one of the world’s leading providers of self-storage access control and security systems, PTI Security Systems. They can advise you on the best integrated access and security solution so that you’ll have total control of your entire self-storage facility.
Get it right from the start
Experience has taught us that using anything other than a top-class security system can come back to haunt an inexperienced operator when operations grow beyond the system’s capability. It is imperative to get it right from the very beginning.
You can read more about access control and security systems in the products section or contact them at:
  • PTI Security Systems Australasia (Australia, New Zealand and Asia)
  • PTI Security Systems Europe (Europe and the Middle East)

Architectural design

We have been involved in thousands of self-storage projects and we understand how to optimise the design of self-storage facilities. This is a fine art that blends economics, functionality and user appeal, culminating in a well-balanced and profitable solution for your operation.
Our self-storage building and fit-out designs are created entirely in-house. Our architects know the building codes that apply in your country and will take this into account when designing your self-storage facility.
Working together
Any design is a team effort and our qualified architects will work closely with you, our structural engineers and your Steel Storage sales representative to create the best possible building design and space mix.
Space mix (floor plan design)
A space mix is the variety of self-storage unit sizes that make up the layout of your floor plan. The average unit size varies per country/region, which we take into account when creating the space mix.
This is where our knowledge of the self-storage industry is invaluable. We want your business to succeed; so we want you to be able to rent out all of your units and not have any small or large units that people won’t rent.
Therefore, we’ll ensure that the floor space of your building is utilised to its utmost capacity with various unit sizes. We’ll strive to provide you with a fully optimized space mix, typically between 60-70% of the GFA*.
Space mix example
In the example above the total GFA* is 2,154m2 (23,185 ft2) and the NLA** is 1,295m2 (13,939 ft2) giving a storage space percentage of 60%.
* GFA: gross floor area – this is the entire floor area including staircases and other areas unsuitable for building self-storage units
** NLA: net lettable area – this is total area covered with lettable self-storage units.

Electrical design

Once the space mix design for your self-storage building has been signed off, we’ll complete the electrical design. A self-storage electrical design involves lighting, mechanical ventilation and the self-storage security system.
Lighting
Well-lit corridors invoke a feeling of safety for your customers. Having your self-storage facility lit 24/7 is very costly though, so you will want to reduce your operational cost by implementing an energy-saving electrical design.
Reduce cost, save energy
There are a number of ways to reduce cost and save energy. Both lightning and mechanical ventilation will be part of your self-storage electrical design, which can operate as follows:
  • Have lights and fans linked to your self-storage access control system and turn them on only along the corridors leading to the self-storage unit that is being accessed.
  • Have lights and fans controlled by motion sensors and they will turn on as customers walk along the corridors.
  • Air conditioning can be put on a timer to operate only during opening hours. This does not apply to wine storage, which needs 24-hour air conditioning.

Planning approval

Obtaining planning and building approvals can be tedious. Having guided many of our customers through the approval process, we have extensive experience in obtaining the approvals and avoiding any pitfalls. Let us take the hassle out of this process for you.
We will take all outcomes of the self-storage feasibility assessment into account, will adhere to all local building codes and will submit an optimised design to obtain the required approvals in your country.
During the entire planning and building approvals applications process, we’ll regularly update you on the status and explain the processes involved in getting your self-storage project started.

Self storage supply solutions

We have a number of self-storage supply solutions to choose from. Apart from our turnkey service, they are all on a supply only basis plus an additional service as required. We can provide you with any of our consultancy services in addition to our supply solutions

View all solutions
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