Aluminum Pump Enclosures Versus Pump Buildings

There are many choices in the marketplace for protecting pumps, control panels and mechanical equipment. Regardless of whether it's a small hydraulic pump or a large booster pump, there are all sorts of options available. You can choose from modular buildings, modular pump enclosures, and packages where enclosure and pump are one unit and aren't easily separated.

Pump enclosures are made with everything from heavy steel to fiberglass. Each option comes in different sizes and shapes and has different ways of opening. We see the famous clamshells, enclosures with hinged doors, removable doors and even — if the customer did their homework — enclosures with removable roofs.

Each of these has strengths and weaknesses. These myriad options were designed and manufactured to solve someone's problem. Which one solves the most problems? For the sake of brevity, let's just compare two: permanent modular buildings and modular enclosures.

The Pros of a Permanent Building or Pump House

Manufacturers of pump houses promote themselves as a long-term or permanent solution. Their pump buildings are built to last in various climates and situations. Some of the permanent pump house manufacturers also manufacture the pumps themselves. This should mean they're experts when it comes to their own equipment and may have an advantage over a manufacturer that doesn't also make pumps.

Another selling point for this solution is that they're prefabricated buildings, meaning they come assembled. This eliminates the need to assemble on site. Envirosep, a pump and pump house manufacturer, states their enclosures" eliminate site coordination and negate start-up irregularities."

One other commonly promoted aspect of permanent modular enclosures is that they can be customized.  Some modular manufacturers may offer many different doors, lights, climate control and finish options. In addition, some of the permanent enclosures are modular and these can be sized to fit the equipment easily.

The Pros of Modular Pump Enclosures

Aluminum paneled enclosures are constructed from individual insulated panels that are quickly assembled on site and can be easily disassembled if needed. They are not considered a permanent structure and therefore there's no need for permits. Because they're made up of panels, each panel can easily be swapped out for a door or access panel. This allows for efficient and safe maintenance and repairs for the equipment. It also means that a single panel can be shipped in to replace a damaged one. 

Speaking of replacements, many custom enclosures have removable roofs so that the equipment inside can be replaced. The enclosures can be secured to concrete slabs or portable skids to allow for transportation to another project site. For aesthetics, they can be colored or even vinyl wrapped. 

Aluminum is very easy to work with and can be customized to meet nearly any specific size requirement. Of course, there are many brands, sizes and layouts of pump applications, and using a modular design makes it easy to size the enclosure specifically for the equipment's needs. 

Because it's so easy to work with, aluminum also allows for adding piping penetrations on site and fans, louvers, windows and more. If pricing is affecting your decision between a building and a modular enclosure, you may be pleased to learn that paneled enclosures are shipped flat in a box which significantly reduces freight costs and damage risks.

The Cons of a Permanent Building or Pump House

You now know what many pump house manufacturers promote as features of their enclosures. Unfortunately for them, if you look at some of those same aspects from a different angle they can be seen as negatives. 

Because these buildings are permanent structures, some need expensive and time-consuming permits to allow people access for weekly tasks and pump equipment maintenance. Easy and fast maintenance is of the utmost importance with this expensive equipment. What a disaster if your pump were to fail or need to be replaced simply because permits were taking too much time! 

Because the shelters are not meant to be taken apart, the equipment inside is likely difficult to remove and replace if needed. Should the enclosure itself become damaged, it's possible you'd need to replace the entire thing rather than just the damaged area. 

Additionally, since pump houses are built at the manufacturer's location and shipped fully put together, shipping costs can be prohibitive. Shipping them pre-built also increases the probability that they'll be damaged in transit.

The Cons of Modular Pump Enclosures

Custom additions are available, but will cost extra. Aluminum enclosures have a few less styling options that pump houses, but can be colored in any of these PAC-CLAD colors or vinyl wrapped. While Safe-T-Cover doesn't make pumps, we coordinate with many pump manufacturers to create a package for you. This may increase cost, as this process adds a middleman. Or, you can order the enclosure yourself.

Because modular pump enclosures are shipped flat, these shelters must be assembled on site. Skilled laborers will be able to complete the job quickly and it should only require two people. 

Here's a video of two of Safe-T-Cover workers assembling an enclosure.

Which Pump Equipment Cover Solves More Problems?

Pump manufacturers and customers want a simple, streamlined enclosure that will provide easy access to their pump equipment while keeping pumps safe and ready to run when needed. They also want to keep pumps cool in the summer months and warm during winter to protect the local water supply.

Weigh the pros and cons of each — a pump building versus a modular pump enclosure — to determine the best fit for you. For many reasons, including saving on permit costs, we recommend aluminum enclosures over pump houses for sensitive equipment protection and maintenance versatility.