Food & Agro Projects Services in Pakistan | ACCO

Our Step-by-Step Food & Agro Structural Process

We follow a rigorous, food-safety-focused process tailored to food processing and storage requirements.

1. Step 1: Initial Consultation & Food Safety Classification – You call +92 322 800 0190 or email info@acco.com.pk. We discuss: product type (grain, dairy, meat, fruit, beverages), facility type (processing, cold storage, silos), temperature requirements, hygiene level, and regulatory target (PSQCA, ISO 22000, HACCP).
2. Step 2: Site Investigation & Geotechnical Study – Our team visits your site. We conduct or arrange a geotechnical investigation (critical for grain silos and cold storage floors). We analyze soil bearing capacity, settlement, frost line depth (for cold storage ground freezing), and seismic site class.
3. Step 3: Equipment & Storage Manufacturer Coordination – We obtain anchor bolt templates, equipment weights, grain storage capacity (for silos), temperature requirements (for cold storage), and hygiene access requirements (for processing floors).
4. Step 4: Food Safety & Environmental Specifications – Based on food type and process, we specify: cleanroom/hygienic floor specifications (seamless, coved, drain details), cold storage insulation and heating requirements, corrosion protection (high-humidity areas), and vermin-proof construction details.
5. Step 5: Structural Design & Analysis – Our engineers model your food facility in ETABS/STAAD.Pro. We calculate: dead loads, live loads, equipment loads, grain loads (for silos – hoop stress analysis), thermal loads (cold storage, freezing), humidity effects (corrosion allowances), wind loads, and seismic loads (importance factor 1.5).
6. Step 6: Foundation & Structure Design – We design grain silo foundations (ring beams, hoop stress reinforcement), cold storage floors (under-floor heating, insulation layers, thermal breaks), hygienic processing floors (seamless, coved, with drains), individual equipment foundations (vibration isolation), multi-temperature warehouse structures, and grain handling structures (buckets, conveyors, dryers).
7. Step 7: Drawing Production & PEC Stamping – We produce detailed structural drawings: silo foundation layouts (ring beam details, hoop reinforcement), cold storage floor sections (insulation, heating, thermal break details), hygienic floor details (coves, drains, seamless construction), equipment anchor bolt templates (±1mm), and corrosion protection specifications. PEC-registered engineers stamp every drawing.
8. Step 8: BIM Coordination & Construction Supervision – We integrate structural, hygienic finishes, and process equipment models. We provide 3D architectural walkthrough for food safety review (identifying crevices, cleanability) and regulatory submissions. During construction, our engineers inspect silo hoop reinforcement placement, cold storage insulation and heating installation, hygienic floor coving and drainage, equipment anchor bolt placement, and vermin-proof detailing. A 2-year structural warranty is provided upon completion.

Why Food & Agro Clients Nationwide Choose ACCO

Pakistan’s food and agriculture sector must meet food safety standards (PSQCA, ISO 22000, HACCP). First, food processing floors with cracks or square corners harbor bacteria—leading to product contamination and recalls. Second, cold storage floors without frost heave protection heave (lift) within 2-3 years, cracking walls and damaging racking. Third, grain silos without proper hoop reinforcement develop cracks, leading to grain moisture ingress and spoilage. Consequently, proper structural engineering is essential for food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance.

ACCO has provided food & agro projects services in Pakistan for facilities across Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Our structural designs have been approved by PEC, PSQCA, and food safety auditors.

Furthermore, we serve food and agro clients across all major zones: Lahore, Faisalabad (grain and milling hub), Karachi (port-based food processing), Multan (mango and fruit hub), Gujranwala (rice hub), and other agricultural regions. We also support international food companies building in Pakistan with headquarters in the UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and the USA.

Our integrated approach means we also provide architectural drafting and building design for hygienic packaging halls, quality control labs, and administration areas. Explore our Architectural Engineering page for more.

By The Numbers: ACCO’s Food & Agro Structural Track Record

• 20+ Food processing and agro storage facilities structurally designed and supervised.
• 30+ Grain silos designed (concrete and steel, 500-5,000 tons each).
• 15+ Cold storage facilities designed (50,000 to 500,000 cubic feet).
• Zero Food safety audit findings related to structural design across our portfolio.
• 100% PEC compliance rate for all food & agro submissions.
• 25+ Years of continuous food & agro practice in Pakistan.
• -30°C Deep freeze temperature accommodated (frost heave protected).
• 5,000 tons Maximum grain silo capacity designed.
• 2 Offices (Lahore & Karachi) covering all food & agro zones.
• 10+ PEC-registered structural engineers on our food & agro team.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Food & Agro Structures

1. What is the difference between food facility and general industrial structural design?

Food facility structural design focuses on: hygienic surfaces (seamless floors, coved bases, no crevices), cold storage floors (under-floor heating, insulation, frost heave prevention), grain silos (hoop stress analysis, low-permeability concrete), high-humidity corrosion protection (epoxy-coated rebar, galvanized steel), wash-down capability (sloped floors, drains, waterproofing), vermin-proof construction (sealed penetrations, no gaps), chemical resistance (cleaning agents, fruit acids), and food safety compliance (PSQCA, ISO 22000, HACCP). General industrial design does not require these food safety-specific considerations. ACCO specializes in food and agriculture.

2. Why do cold storage floors need under-floor heating?

Cold storage freezers operate at -20°C to -30°C. Without heating, ground moisture migrates toward the cold slab and freezes into ice lenses that expand and heave (lift) the floor by inches—cracking the slab, damaging racking, and ruining freezer operation. Under-floor heating (electric cables or glycol pipes) maintains the ground temperature above freezing, preventing frost heave. ACCO designs cold storage floors with under-floor heating and insulation as standard.

3. What are coved bases and why are they essential in food processing?

Coved bases are curved junctions between floor and wall (3-6 inch radius). They eliminate the 90-degree corner where dirt, bacteria, and cleaning residue accumulate. Without coving, biofilms form in corners, contaminating food products during processing. ACCO designs all food processing and dairy/meat areas with coved bases as standard.

4. What is architectural engineering, and why is it important for food facilities?

Architectural engineering integrates structural, hygienic finishes, and process systems. For food facilities, this is critical: seamless floors must coordinate with cove details, drains must be flush with slab surfaces, and equipment cutouts must be sealed for vermin control. Learn more on our Architectural Engineering page.

5. Can ACCO design grain silo foundations for 5,000-ton capacity?

Absolutely. We design concrete and steel grain silos up to 5,000 tons single silo capacity. Our designs include: hoop stress analysis (horizontal pressure from grain at critical depths), ring beam foundations (spread load to soil), low-permeability concrete (to prevent grain moisture ingress), smooth interior surfaces (to prevent grain bridging at discharge), and discharge hopper details. We have designed silos for multiple grain storage facilities.

6. Do you offer a warranty on food & agro structural work?

Yes. We provide a 2-year workmanship warranty on all food & agro structural construction services. This covers structural defects, cold storage frost heave protection (under-floor heating, insulation), hygienic floor details (seamless construction, coving, drain integration), and grain silo performance. For cold storage floors, we provide additional frost heave prevention warranties.

7. How long does food & agro structural design take?

A typical grain silo installation (5-10 silos) takes 2-3 months for structural design and PEC-stamped drawings. A cold storage warehouse (50,000 sq ft) takes 3-4 months. A complete food processing plant may take 4-6 months. Construction supervision continues throughout the project (typically 6-12 months).

8. What is frost heave and why does it destroy cold storage floors?

Frost heave occurs when moisture in soil below a cold storage freezer migrates toward the freezing slab and forms ice lenses. Ice expands by 9% when freezing, lifting (heaving) the floor by inches—cracking the slab, damaging racking, misaligning freezer doors, and making the freezer unusable. ACCO prevents frost heave with under-floor heating (electric or glycol) and rigid insulation beneath the slab, maintaining ground temperature above freezing.

Build Safe, Hygienic Food & Agro Facilities – Choose ACCO

Your food facility produces food that nourishes Pakistan’s families. A structural failure—a cracked silo, a heaving cold storage floor, an uncleanable processing floor—risks food contamination, spoilage, and regulatory action. Therefore, investing in proper food & agro structural engineering is not a cost—it is an investment in food safety and food security.

ACCO has been providing food & agro projects services in Pakistan for over 25 years. We are trusted by Savour Foods, grain storage handlers, cold storage operators, and food processors across Pakistan. Our PEC-registered engineers use advanced software (ETABS, STAAD.Pro, Tekla), follow international standards (ACI 313 for silos, IIAR for cold storage, PSQCA for food safety), and deliver designs that are hygienic, temperature-controlled, and heavy-load-capable.

We cover all major food & agro industrial zones nationwide: Lahore, Faisalabad (grain hub), Karachi (port processing), Multan (fruit hub), Gujranwala (rice hub). We also support international food companies building in Pakistan with headquarters in the UAE, UK, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and the USA.

Ready to build a food facility that protects Pakistan’s food supply? Contact ACCO today. Structural integrity means food safety.

ACCO – Engineering Food & Agriculture Infrastructure. Since 1998.

Explore related services: Learn about our Architectural Engineering integration or view our Our Projects gallery to see our food & agro structural work in action.