Unit Factory Delph near Oldham

A “unit factory” has recently been erected at Delph, near Oldham for Messrs Hirst Brothers and Company Limited from the designs of Mr A J Howcroft of Oldham. The factory is of reinforced concrete on the “Khan” system and is “T” shaped on plan. The layout is of 20 feet by 20 feet units having been applied throughout. In the main structure, measuring 140 feet by 60 feet, the floors were designed for a superimposed load of 1.5 cwt per square foot, while in the wing, which measures 40 feet by 60 feet wide on plan, the load designed for is 1 cwt per square foot. A height of 15 feet is uniform throughout the five storeys, and for the attachment of overhead mechanical equipment slotted inserts have been embedded in the underside of every beam in the main building and holes also were cast in all main and secondary beams at regular intervals for electric wires etc. In all three of the 60 feet ends the columns and beams have been designed with provision for extension. Extension will be a simple matter whenever it becomes necessary and the steel sashes in these end walls can be transferred to a side unit in the new construction. Indeed, even the concrete sills to the curtain walls would automatically fit in. The reinforcement was designed and supplied by the Trussed Concrete Steel Company Limited, South Kensington and the general contractors for the building were Messrs S and J Smethurst Limited, Oldham.

The unit type of multi-storey factory which is a factory where the layout is divided into units, each one complete in itself may be said to originate in America. By it a factory is not designed for present requirements alone, but provides for all possible extensions for perhaps a generation or two ahead. The unit may be a complete building as in the Small Heath scheme for the BSA Company where there are three units, each 600 feet long by 60 feet wide by four storeys high. ......

Reference           Builder 1 April 1921 Page 413 with plan and longitudinal section