subject: Modular Building - the Future of Construction [print this page] Modular Building - the Future of Construction
Modular building techniques have been around for over 60 years, beginning as a solution to the need for post-war housing and classrooms for the baby boomers'. Since then, the offsite industry has transformed the face of modular construction, and now creates aesthetically stunning and environmentally friendly permanent or temporary buildings for a wide variety of sectors, includingschools,hospitals,retail units andhousing.
Modular building is fast, affordable and sustainable, and seems to be the future of modern construction.
Modular Building Methods
The manufacture ofmodular buildings can be done in several different ways, depending on the application, the intended use, the space and access available. For example: a fully formed volumetric unit could not be craned directly into a tight site where a long crane reach is required, therefore flat pack panels would be used instead, and erected on site.
Unique and cost-effective buildings can be created using offsite construction in the following ways:
Flat Pack Buildings:
Flat pack, panelised units allow flexibility of design, delivery and construction, as well as guaranteeing quality control of each unit within a factory environment. Panelised units are ideal for temporary or permanent low-rise buildings such as offices, nurseries, clinics and clubhouses. They are fast to construct and can offer excellent value for money. As mentioned before, flat pack panels can be delivered to any site, no matter how restricted the access is, and put up in a matter of days.
Volumetric Units:
Volumetric modules are built with light-gauge steel frames offsite, fully fitted and sealed in factory conditions. They are then delivered to site to provide fast and efficient construction. This technology allows the affordable creation of high volume replicated units for accommodation, hospitals, universities and housing and minimises time on site.
Steel Frame Units:
Sometimes called Skeletal units, steel framed buildings combine traditional and modular building methods to provide a flexible and fast option for truly unique buildings. Using the advantages of offsite construction, this systematic approach delivers better value for a range of building projects.
The Benefits of Modular Building
Compared to conventional building methods,modular building solutions can provide enormous savings on time and cost, and generally lead to a smoother and less complicated project. With government spending cuts and environmental attributes being prioritised for modern construction, modular building delivers many benefits, including:
The opportunity to build a prototype before the full build commences.
Cost certainty modular building is far more predictable than traditional construction methods, so the cost of units and site work can be far more accurately predicted.
A shorter construction programme much of it taking place in a factory offsite, so quality is kept high and mistakes are minimised.
Improved health and safety.
Less disruption to site and local residents volumetric units or flat pack panels can be craned into place without requiring extensive site access.
Fewer deliveries and less waste on site the use of modular units has the potential to reduce the waste produced to less than 1%.
Fewer materials on site means less storage space required, less product damage, and fewer thefts.
Construction schedules are less weather dependent a building can be made watertight extremely fast, which means that work can continue inside while cladding is finished on the outside.
Materials used for construction can be carbon-neutral or recycled, and units themselves can be recycled and used again for different purposes, with different facades.
Almost all offsite builds come in on, or ahead of schedule and budget.
Applications and Aesthetic Advantages
Despite the long and successful history ofoffsite construction, many people still have a preconception of modular buildings as being dull, uninspiring stacks of boxes'. Today's challenge to the modular industry is to break free from these stereotypes, and show the flexibility and opportunity for unique building design modular building can offer.
The application of modular techniques are being used in increasingly wider sectors, including healthcare, commercial, educational, developer, government, custodial, military, retail and public projects.
The exterior design and interior layout of these buildings are almost limitless with the use of hybrid technologies. Options for modular structures need be no different from traditionally built buildings, offering a range of brick, timber or lightweight aggregate panel cladding to ensure the finished appearance matches the architect's aesthetic and/or blends in with surrounding buildings. Landscaping, balconies, atria and extensive glazing can all be integrated into designs, along with environmental attributes such as rainwater-harvesting devices and sun tubes.
Fully-fitted elements such asbathroom pods can be constructed offsite and delivered to the build to be craned into position and connected to the mains services, reducing the need for skilled workers and cutting costs and timescales. These units are fast becoming the method of choice for the leisure and hotel industry, with the housing sector following fast behind.
Modular building is quickly growing within the construction industry, popular with architects, schools and the government as a fast, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional building methods.
