HOUSING PIH-117
PURDUE UNIVERSITY. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Planning Considerations for the Construction
Of a New Swine Building
Authors
Arthur J. Muehling, University of Illinois
Les L. Christianson, University of Illinois
Gary L. Riskowski, University of Illinois
Larry E. Christenson, Kalona, Iowa
Neil F. Meador, University of Missouri
Reviewers
Sid and Peg Burkey, Dorchester, Nebraska
Stephen and Darleen Burkholder, Albustis, Pennsylvania
John A. George, Uniontown, Kansas
Dennis L. Jones, Ames, Iowa
John W. Parker, North Carolina State University
David and Joyce Sharp, Visalia, California
When you decide to buy a new car, you do not start thinking,
``I can buy some tires at a good price from the co-op tire dealer
in the next town; the local auto dealer has a good price on
engines; and I remember seeing an ad for a new type of car seat
in last week's paper.'' You don't call up the local auto mechanic
telling him you need a new car and ask him how much it will cost
to build one and when he can have it ready.
Yet the majority of swine buildings whether building new or
doing major remodeling are designed piecemeal by the farmer, a
feed salesman, an equipment supplier, a local building contrac-
tor, or local veterinarian. The costs of these buildings can be
many times the cost of a new car. Most painful is the realization
that the piecemeal approach to designing and building swine
buildings often costs more in the long run than a well planned
and engineered building.
This fact sheet lists a number of points that should be con-
sidered when planning and managing the construction of a new
swine building. More detailed information on these topics is in
the Midwest Plan Service Swine Housing and Equipment Handbook
(MWPS-8).
SITE SELECTION
Proper choice of a site for your new swine unit will not in
itself ensure a successful operation. However, if you choose a
poor location, you will be saddled with serious problems for a
long time.
Locate downwind (of summer winds) from any residences to
minimize odor problems. When possible, choose a location with
protection from cold winter winds and snow accumulations. Natur-
ally ventilated buildings need an open area to allow adequate
natural air movement. Allow a minimum of 50 feet between build-
ings. A larger spacing would be better for fire control. The
Reinsurance Association of Minnesota recommends a spacing of 100
ft. for fire control.
All-weather roads are essential to move feed and hogs.
Locate near an adequate electric supply. Many power companies
charge for running new electric lines to your new buildings. If a
high electricity demand is expected, check for 3-phase power.
Water should be of drinking quality. Your source should be able
to supply the daily requirements plus other demands such as spil-
lage, cooling sprays, cleaning, fire protection, and expansion.
Provide access to all sides of new and existing buildings.
The fire department must have room to move its equipment close to
any fire source. Enclosed walkways should not block access to
adjacent buildings, and should be designed and managed to prevent
the spread of fire. Provide a path for vehicle passage around or
through any walkways.
Locate new facilities adjacent to existing buildings or
extensively remodel existing facilities only if these existing
facilities are located properly, are in good condition, and fit
your plans. Frequently, producers lock themselves into a location
because of an existing building and it often is in a poor loca-
tion or is otherwise unsuitable.
Surface and subsurface drainage is necessary for all build-
ings. Do not locate in a low area that can result in wet condi-
tions in and around the buildings. Use adequate gravel fill under
the floor to ensure good drainage and help prevent cracking of
the concrete.
Check out local zoning and environmental laws and regula-
tions for a proposed location. If the location is zoned for other
than agriculture, check with legal council before building.
Locate your hog production unit away from the residence, away
from the water well and back from major highways. Isolation is an
economic concern that merits serious attention when locating a
new unit. In a hog-dense location, consider an electrical secu-
rity fence to prevent stray animals from coming in contact with
your unit.
When purchasing a farm or establishing a new swine produc-
tion unit, a location with easy access to a point of marketing
can be an important factor. Also, make sure a new location has
adequate land for manure disposal. Develop a plan for how and
where you could expand the facilities in the future.
BUILDING PLANNING
You should have a complete set of plans and specifications
prepared before beginning construction on any new or major remo-
deling project. Detailed plans, specifications, and contracts
help provide the needed communication and understanding between
owner and builder so that you get what you want. A complete set
of plans should include the following:
Floor Plan and Cross Section
Foundation Plan
Ventilation Plan
Electrical and Lighting Plan
Structural Details
Water System
Waste Management System
Feed Handling System
Flooring and General Equipment
-Specifications
Building Material Specifications
Fire Protection Planning
Animal Handling Facilities
ENGINEERING HELP AVAILABLE
Cooperative Extension Service
Most counties have an agricultural Extension agent who can
provide planning material including general plans. These Exten-
sion agents can also call in Extension specialists from your land
grant university. Extension personnel can help with general
recommended information on system planning, building materials,
ventilation and waste management systems. They are not able to
prepare detailed construction plans for you and your builder.
Soil Conservation Service
Each county has a district conservationist who is able to
help with drainage and some waste management problems. They also
have area and state engineers to back them up with additional
engineering help when necessary.
Equipment Dealers
Equipment dealers have seen many different operations and
may offer suggestions as to what works best. Equipment dealers
can be helpful in planning how their equipment should be
installed and used in your operation. Some equipment companies
have engineering help to adapt their equipment to your needs. It
is the first goal of the dealer to sell equipment, so remain
objective and carefully choose the type and amount of equipment
that best suits your needs. An unbiased, experienced planner is
best.
Building Company
Building companies that specialize in swine facilities can
be a help in planning your operation. Their experiences with the
construction of similar facilities can be helpful in planning
what will work the best. They usually also have a number of con-
tacts with equipment dealers who they have worked with in the
past. Recognize, though, that most builders are not engineers and
may not have an engineer on their staff.
Choose a building contractor who will consider all your
needs. Be wary of company representatives who provide a ``cheap''
building but furnish inadequate assistance concerning long range
planning for expansion, best use of existing space and facili-
ties, and total system evaluation including manure handling,
animal flow and management input.
Consulting Engineer
With the intensified building systems being used today, a
consulting engineer can contribute an important service to pro-
ducers. Industries would not think of constructing a new plant or
office building without first hiring an engineer to plan and
supervise construction, yet many large swine operations of equal
or higher cost are built with very little engineering help.
A consulting engineer can make a major contribution by
evaluating the many options for livestock equipment and the mul-
titude of concepts concerning waste management, building struc-
tures, and ventilation systems. These items should be adapted and
tailored to the management skills, abilities, and present needs
of the producer. An engineer can make sure that the building is
structurally sound and that all the different systems within a
building work together without one interfering with the other.
Consulting engineers usually complete a project in three
phases: preliminary planning, engineering design, and construc-
tion monitoring. They may be retained to help with one or more of
these phases. Select a consulting engineer based upon the follow-
ing factors:
Registration.
Practicing consulting engineers must be registered profes-
sional engineers in their state of residence and qualified to
obtain registration in other states where their services are
required.
Technical qualifications.
Reputation with previous clients.
Experience on similar projects.
Availability for the project.
Consulting engineers can provide the following services:
o Personal consultationproviding technical advice or evalua-
tion of proposed plans and designs.
o Planning studiesevaluation of future expansion goals and
animal flow together with existing facilities.
o Feasibility studiesincluding economic comparisons of prelim-
inary plans and alternatives.
o Approvals and permitsassisting with procurement of regula-
tory approvals or permits.
o Designincluding preliminary and complete construction
details.
o Specifications and bid documentspreparing for equipment,
structure and services.
o Cost estimationsestimating for proposed facilities and
equipment.
o Construction servicesmonitoring construction, advising on
building acceptance.
Be sure to enter a contract with the consulting engineer to
establish what duties are expected of the engineer.
TOTAL PROJECT COST
The lowest total project cost or lowest individual component
price should not always be the only determining factor for the
selection of the component or total project. Too many existing
agricultural buildings have been selected on that basis and exhi-
bit poor design, short service life, inadequate flexibility and
overall poor performance. The total project cost and component
pricing must be within budget guidelines, but the key selection
criteria should include proper design, quality materials, and
adaptation to management goals.
CHOOSING A BUILDER OR CONTRACTOR
The two major tasks involved in the successful completion of
a new building is developing a good building plan and selecting a
good contractor to build it. When looking for a builder or con-
tractor, consider the following:
Check with friends and neighbors who have had construction
done recently. They will have recommendations that you should
consider. Also check with your county Extension agent.
Check local advertising media such as newspapers, telephone
yellow pages, and local radio stations.
Look in farm magazines for both local builders and region-
ally based companies that do business in your area.
Ask for references. Any good builder or contractor will be
happy to provide potential customers with a list of references
and previous customers. Check thoroughly with a number of refer-
ences concerning workmanship, timeliness and completion of con-
tract items.
Another place to check is with your lending agency for their
evaluation of contractors you are considering.
Ask for competitive bidding. A comprehensive design and
specification package can be used in conjunction with good con-
tract and bid documents to select the most competitive from the
available qualified builders.
PREPARING A CONTRACT
A contract is an agreement between the builder and the
owner. To promote better understanding and reduce problems, a
contract should be prepared with all items discussed and agreed
upon in writing. Points that should be covered in the contract
are:
Bid Alternatives. In some cases it may be desirable to have
bids on portions of the construction as well as the entire proj-
ect. When funds are limited, a farmer may want the option of
using his own labor to do site preparation or equipment installa-
tion work to keep costs down. Alternative bids provide a basis
for selecting those jobs which can save the most money.
Duties of the Contractor. On most projects the contractor
supplies all labor, equipment, and materials to complete the
structure.
Duties of the Owner. If any of the work, equipment or
materials is to be supplied by the farmer, it should be speci-
fied. Usual inclusions are providing electrical power, telephone
service, restroom facilities and water required during construc-
tion. The owner or his representative also should be available at
specified times for consultation or interpretation of plans and
specifications.
Drawings and Specifications. No building should be con-
structed without a complete set of scaled drawings and written
specifications. These may be supplied by either the owner or the
contractor and should be included as part of the written con-
tract.
Provide Owner Shop Drawings for Fabricated Equipment. Many
swine buildings contain equipment that is designed and built
specifically for that particular building. To facilitate service
at a later date, the owner should be provided with a set of plans
for any nonstandard items of this type.
Laws, Permits and Regulations. Design and construction
should conform to all applicable laws and regulations. Make sure
you know whether the contractor or the owner is responsible for
obtaining and paying for required permits. Permits are typically
required from Environmental Protection Agency, county, etc.
Changes. Nearly every building constructed will involve some
changes from original plans and specifications. Both owner and
contractor need to agree on procedures to be followed in accom-
plishing changes.
Substitutions. Delivery schedules, equipment model changes
and price changes are all factors that can require substitutions
during construction. Substitutions should be subject to the
approval of the owner before being incorporated into the struc-
ture.
Insurance. There are four general types of insurance cover-
age required to afford complete protection during construction.
State in the contract whether you or the contractor is responsi-
ble for securing adequate risk protection.
A Workmen's Compensation Insurance. Covers injury to employees
working at the construction site. Usually provided by the
contractor.
B Public Liability and Property Damage Insurance. Provides
protection for the contractor and subcontractors from claims
for personal injury, including death, and from claims of
property damage. Usually provided by contractor.
C Owner's Protective Liability. Protects owner in event of
liability claims arising from the construction project. May
be provided by owner or contractor.
D Builder's Risk Insurance. Protects labor and on-site materi-
als in the event of loss or damage by fire or other casual-
ties. Usually provided by the contractor. May be an owner
responsibility in ``cost plus'' types of contracts.
Payment. The written contract should specify the method and
time of payment for the project. It is common for large projects
to require payment of portions of the contract price at specific
points during the construction process, with the final payment
due on completion. Make sure the contract specifies who is
responsible for payment of subcontractors on the project. Obtain
lien wavers from suppliers before final payment is made to the
contractor. Otherwise you may be forced to pay twice or face
litigation even if you have paid for your equipment and materials
through your contractor.
Storage of Materials. Weatherproof onsite storage of con-
struction materials (if needed) may be either a contractor or an
owner responsibility. The responsible party should be indicated
in the contract.
Cleanup. Upon completion of the construction, the contractor
is usually required to clear the site of all construction debris
and to clean up building surfaces. Responsibility for cleanup
should be stated in the contract.
Utility Connections. Responsibility for connection to elec-
tric, water, sewer and gas lines as required should be specified.
Extension of utility lines to the building site should also be
covered.
Warranties. Terms of the contractor-supplied warranty should
be spelled out in the contract. Provisions should also be made
for transferring to the owner any warranties provided by manufac-
turers or suppliers of component parts.
Service Manuals and Operation Instruction. The contractor
should be responsible for providing the owner with operational
and service manuals for component equipment. He should also pro-
vide instruction in proper operation of any equipment unfamiliar
to the owner.
Time Schedule for Completion Date. For many construction
projects it is essential that a completion date be known well in
advance. Make sure both you and the contractor understand when
the building is to be ready for owner acceptance and if the con-
tractor should pay a penalty if construction extends beyond that
date.
Reliability of Equipment. It should be the responsibility of
the contractor for all equipment to operate properly when the
building is accepted by the owner. If there is a need to go back
to the equipment company for repairs or replacing something, the
contractor is responsible until the building is accepted.
CHECKLIST BEFORE FINAL PAYMENT AND ACCEPTING BUILDING
It is important to go over a checklist with the builder
before making the final payment and accepting the building.
Points that should be covered are:
o Check working drawings to see if building conforms with
drawings and that all details are included. Was all the
equipment cited in the contract installed?
o Operate all mechanical equipment (motors, engines, feed con-
veyers, emergency power units, and air inlets) to see that
they all operate properly.
o See that doors, gates and windows work smoothly.
o Check to see if you received service manuals and operating
instructions for all equipment.
o Check the overall appearance of the building. Are there any
flaws or irregularities in the materials used that you are
unhappy with? Inspect the building and site for cleanup.
REFERENCES
Pork Industry Handbook
A handbook of more than 100 fact sheets on pork production
available from your state Extension swine specialist.
Midwest Plan Service and other Plan Services
General plans and planning information available through
your county agricultural Extension office or from your state
Extension agricultural engineer. Planning handbooks available
are:
MWPS-2 Farmstead Planning Handbook
MWPS-8 Swine Housing and Equipment Handbook
MWPS-13 Grain Drying, Handling, and Storage Handbook
MWPS-14 Private Water Systems Handbook
MWPS-18 Livestock Waste Facilities Handbook
MWPS-28 Farm Buildings Wiring Handbook
Cooperative Extension Publications
Planning information available from your county agricultural
Extension office.
Building and Equipment Sales Leaflets
Sales leaflets are available from individual companies. Many
references are available from the popular swine magazines.
Popular Magazines
Several swine magazines are available to pork producers free
of charge. Articles on producer experiences and planning ideas
are often included. The common publications are:
National Hog Farmer
Webb Publishing Co.
1999 Shepard Rd.
St. Paul, MN 55116
Hog Farm Management
The Miller Publishing Co.
P. O. Box 2400
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Pork '88
Vance Publishing Co.
P. O. Box 2939
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201
Hogs Today
A Farm Journal Publication
Farm Journal, Inc.
230 W. Washington Square
Philadelphia, PA 19105
List of Independent Consulting Agricultural Engineers
Rural Builders Buyers Guide
(``Rural Builder'' supplement each October)
American Farm Building Services, Inc.
260 Regency Court
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone (414) 782-0604
Annual Agricultural Engineers Guide to Products
-and Services
American Society of Agricultural Engineers
2950 Niles Road
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone (616) 429-0300
o
The mention of trade names doesn't constitute an endorsement by
the Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against
those omitted.
NEW 12/88 (5M)
______________________________________________
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics,
State of Indiana, Purdue University and U.S. Department of Agri-
culture Cooperating. H.A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette,
IN. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
It is the policy of the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue
University that all persons shall have equal opportunity and
access to our programs and facilities.
.