# Steel Portal Frame vs RC Factory: Which Suits You? > Compare steel portal frame and reinforced concrete factories on span, column-free space, speed, fire and durability, and when a hybrid fits. URL: https://factorybuilder.my/guide/steel-portal-frame-vs-reinforced-concrete/ Last-Modified: 2026-11-10 Tags: steel structure vs reinforced concrete factory, steel portal frame factory, rc frame factory, factory structural system menu\_book Decision guide // Factory construction # Steel Portal Frame vs Reinforced Concrete Factory Compare steel portal frame and reinforced concrete factories on span, column-free space, speed, fire and durability, and when a hybrid fits. Published 10 November 2026 · 6 min read ![Steel portal frame factory with an RC office block being built in front](/images/featured/steel-portal-frame-skeleton-of-factory-with-reinfo.webp) ## Two Main Structural Systems You’ll notice most factory owners start with floor area, but the structure decides how usable that area is. Most factories in Selangor use a steel portal frame, a reinforced concrete (RC) frame, or a mix of both. That makes steel structure vs reinforced concrete factory the first big decision. A **steel portal frame** uses steel columns and rafters to form wide, clear spans under a lightweight roof. An **RC frame** uses concrete columns, beams and slabs. The choice affects how the building works, how long it takes to build and how it handles fire and loads. It’s one of the early calls in any factory construction [/ →](/) project. At Factory Builder Malaysia, the factory and warehouse building arm of QDB Ventures Sdn Bhd, we’re a Cheras-based contractor building in Selangor. CIDB’s IBS guideline lists steel framing as one of six recognised Industrialised Building Systems, so prefabricated steel is well established here. Below, we compare the two systems on spans, speed, fire, loads, the hybrid option and cost. ### Spans and Column-Free Space **Steel portal frames** are the usual choice for production and storage buildings because they span wide without internal columns. A 2026 Malaysian industrial steel building guide for Selangor, Johor and Penang says common clear spans are 18 m, 24 m, 30 m and 36 m. Wider spans are possible, but the guide notes that cost climbs as rafter depth, transport length and lifting needs grow. **RC frames** usually need columns at closer spacing. That suits offices, multi-storey buildings and areas where the floor above carries heavy loads, but it breaks up open floor space. Clear floor space matters because it protects: - Production line layouts you may want to change later - Racking aisles and pallet flow - Forklift turning circles and dock door access **Pro tip:** Sketch your line and racking layout over a column grid before you pick a system. If columns land in your aisles, you’ll feel it every day. ### Speed of Construction Steel members are fabricated off site and bolted together, so a steel frame can go up quickly once the foundations are ready. RC frames are built in place, with formwork, reinforcement and curing time, so they take longer at the frame stage. CIDB’s IBS guideline puts faster construction first on its list of advantages for industrialised systems like steel framing. Some Malaysian steel suppliers publish whole-project figures. One guide from GL Steel Structure puts steel buildings at 3 to 6 months and concrete at 6 to 12 months. Treat that as a supplier’s rough guide, not a promise for your site. The overall programme also depends on: - Design and engineering time - Approvals from the local authority and Bomba - Earthworks, piling and foundations - Mechanical and electrical services Frame speed is only part of the picture. ![Reinforced concrete columns with exposed rebar on a factory site](/images/content/reinforced-concrete-columns-with-exposed-rebar-and.webp) ### Fire and Durability Concrete has inherent fire resistance. Steel loses strength at high temperatures: Promat Malaysia notes that steel loses its load-bearing capacity above 550°C. A review of intumescent coatings, published in the Journal of Constructional Steel Research, says that Eurocode guidance gives structural steel only about 50% of its normal strength at 550 to 600°C. So where your building use and Bomba requirements call for fire ratings, steel members may need protection. Common options include fire boards, sprays and intumescent coatings. Fire design in Malaysia sits under the Fire Services Act 1988 and the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984. It follows the building’s use, size and compartments, and it’s worked out during detailed engineering. For durability, the two systems need different care: - **Steel:** protection against corrosion, especially near the coast or in processes with moisture or chemicals - **Concrete:** good cover to the reinforcement, so rebar stays sealed from moisture - **Steel coatings:** ISO 12944 is the standard that matches paint systems to how corrosive the environment is Both last well when designed and built properly. ### Loads, Cranes and Upper Floors Steel frames handle overhead cranes well, provided the columns and runway beams are designed for crane loads from the start. The same 2026 Malaysian guide describes factory workshops in Johor and Nilai with 3 to 20 tonne overhead cranes and mezzanine platforms on steel frames. Our guide on planning a factory for an overhead crane [/guide/factory-overhead-crane-structure/ →](/guide/factory-overhead-crane-structure/) explains what is needed. RC frames are well suited to heavy upper floors, such as a production floor above ground level. If you might add a crane later, tell your designer now. Adding crane capacity to a frame that wasn’t designed for it is far harder than allowing for it at the start. ## Side-by-Side Comparison Steel suits wide, open production and storage space. RC suits offices and heavy upper floors. This table puts the main factors next to each other. | Factor | Steel portal frame | Reinforced concrete frame | | --- | --- | --- | | Clear spans | Wide (18 to 36 m is common), few internal columns | Shorter, more columns | | Frame speed | Fast erection after foundations | Slower, built in place | | Fire | Protection may be needed | Inherent resistance | | Corrosion | Needs a coating system, especially near the coast | Needs good concrete cover | | Upper floors | Possible, lighter loads | Suits heavy upper floors | | Typical use | Production, warehouse | Office, multi-storey, heavy floors | > **The structure should follow the operation** > > Start with how the building will be used. Spans, heights and loads point to the right system. ## The Hybrid: RC Office Frontage, Steel Production Building Many of the factories we build combine both systems. A **reinforced concrete office frontage**, often two or three floors with a showroom-style front, sits in front of a **steel portal frame** production or storage building. The office gets the solidity and finishes of concrete. The production floor gets clear spans under a light roof. The key is how the two structures meet. Three details have to be designed together: - **Movement joints:** steel and concrete move differently with temperature and load - **Roof drainage:** the junction between the two roofs is a common leak point if it’s left late - **Fire separation:** UBBL 1984 covers fire resistance, so the wall between office and production needs a rating that fits the building’s use Our design and build factory [/design-and-build-factory/ →](/design-and-build-factory/) service covers this kind of building, with our associate designers handling the office areas. ## Which Is Cheaper? There’s no general answer, and we don’t publish rates. Cost depends on the span, height, loads, ground and specification. The right system for your building is chosen during design, and the quotation lists what it includes. Span is a good example. Steel stays efficient across common spans, but very wide spans push up rafter size, transport and lifting costs. Our guide on factory construction cost in Malaysia [/guide/factory-construction-cost-malaysia/ →](/guide/factory-construction-cost-malaysia/) explains the wider cost drivers. For your own steel structure vs reinforced concrete factory decision, start with the operation: the span you need, the loads you carry and whether you want a crane. If you already own industrial land in Selangor, send us your lot size and layout needs, and we’ll talk through which system fits. helpQuick answers ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Which gives more column-free space? expand\_more Steel portal frames usually span further without internal columns, which suits production lines, warehouses and forklift movement. Reinforced concrete frames usually need columns at closer spacing. ### Can I mix both? expand\_more Yes, and it is common. Many factories have a reinforced concrete office frontage with a steel portal frame production or storage building behind. ### Which is cheaper? expand\_more It depends on the span, height, loads and site. There is no general answer. The structural system is chosen during design based on what the building needs to do. ### Which is better for fire? expand\_more Concrete has inherent fire resistance. Steel can be protected where fire ratings are required. The fire design follows the building use and Bomba requirements. menu\_bookKeep reading ## Related Guides ### After Handover: Defects Liability, As-Built Drawings and Future Extensions After factory handover: defects liability, who fixes roof leaks or floor cracks, the documents you get and planning to extend. [After Handover: Defects Liability, As-Built Drawings and Future Extensions →](/guide/after-factory-handover/) ### What Bomba, DOE and DOSH Need From a New Factory Building Fire, environmental and workplace safety needs a new factory must plan for, and why to raise them in detailed engineering. [What Bomba, DOE and DOSH Need From a New Factory Building →](/guide/bomba-doe-dosh-factory-requirements/) ### Build, Buy or Rent a Factory: How to Decide Renting, buying ready-built or building on your own land: fit to your production line, control, timing and a checklist. [Build, Buy or Rent a Factory: How to Decide →](/guide/build-buy-or-rent-factory/) ### Can You Build a Factory on Your Land? Zoning, Setbacks and Plot Ratio Check whether your land suits a factory: light, medium and heavy industry zoning, setbacks, plot ratio and when to ask the local authority. [Can You Build a Factory on Your Land? Zoning, Setbacks and Plot Ratio →](/guide/build-factory-on-your-land/) From guide to project ## Talk to our engineers about your project Send your site, intended use and budget, even if some details are missing. We review the brief and set out the construction plan, budget and next steps. Contact us [/contact/ →](/contact/) Request a Quotation [/contact/ →](/contact/)