Offsite/Modular Construction Talks

How the off‐site and modular construction can be beneficial in terms of time, quality, sustainability and safety?

Fadia O Chaker

Off-site construction is the planning, design, fabrication and assembly of building elements at a location other than their final installed place to support the rapid and efficient construction of a permanent structure.

It involves ready-made modules that are placed next to each other and on top of each other and its structure can be based on steel-frame or wood modules and includes electro-mechanical works.

Modular construction, which meets strict standards, takes this concept one step further than the prefabricated construction system whereby single elements such as concrete floors or façade panels are produced in the factory.

What is Offsite Construction?

Modular buildings, temporary and permanent, may be manufactured as structural units that make up the structure of the building once assembled on-site.

Non-structural modular such as factory fitted bathroom or service pods can be placed within a larger modular superstructure or in traditional construction on-site.

What is Offsite Construction?

DESIGNINGASSEMBLING BUILDING ELEMENTS

TRANSPORTINGFABRICATING

Off-site construction is characterized by an integrated planning and supply chain optimization strategy.

Offsite construction process

PLANNING

Because the modules come 95% complete with all the cabinetry, appliances and finishes already installed, It is important for a final check up to make sure that everything is well controlled and working properly.

When the units are on site, the construction team assemble them as per the client requirements.

After the structure of the building is completed, we

Install Stairs and lifts Create internal divisions using partition

walls Add chosen façades Hook up gas, electricity and water Handing the keys

The construction method of the future

The construction method of the future

Modular frames are constructed as planes, fitted as boxes, and then finished from the inside out.

Modular buildings are demountable. The modules can be disassembled at any time. Depending on the client's requirements, the modules can then be reused for a different purpose or layout.

Modular construction equals flexible construction.

This construction technology excels at flexibility, speed, limited upheaval, efficiency and sustainability.

In the 19th century, as large portions of the population began to move west as during the 1849 California Gold Rush prefabricated houses were transported from New York to California.Prefabricated housing was also popular in the first half of the 20th century, especially during times of high demand, such as the years immediately following World War II due to the need for mass accommodation for military personnel.In the late 1950s, modular construction began to be used for a broader range of project types, including schools and healthcare facilities, and in the ’60s and ’70s modular construction began to be used to build large-scale hotel projects.

Back to the 19th century-US

Why modular construction are the next big thing?

Modular construction is gaining more importance and its use is becoming more common and widespread. The rise in its use is related to various reasons. (Environmental, economic and geographic reasons)

They always have been affordable, practical and convenient housing solution.

In the last decade, they have evolved to become a stylish, adaptable and modern space option in their own right.

The modular industry consists of two distinct

segments

Re-locatable Modular

Temporary modularwhich meet temporary space needs .

Job site trailers, temporary classrooms, communication pods, showrooms, and

restaurants.

Permanent Modular

Permanent modular construction (PMC)is comparable to site built structures meeting

the International Building Code (IBC)is manufactured in chunks within a factory. PMC is deployed for multistory multifamily

structures, government buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, hotels, and any other

building types found in traditional on-site construction.

Modular Type

Temporary Modular Housing

Temporary Modular construction

Permanent Modular construction

What makes it a rising trend?

• The modular construction is more quicker and efficient option.It can be completed up to 50 per cent faster than traditional

site-built projects.

• A complete team of dedicated builders and tradesmen working in a controlled environment off-site, without any adverse weather or site conditions to interrupt the schedule.

• Same time that the construction is happening off-site, the on-site team are already preparing the land for the installation.

This overlap saves weeks off the build time which means once the preliminaries are finalized and construction starts, a modular home is usually built and installed in just 12-16 weeks.

Traditional site-built vs Off-site construction

The traditional site-built projects stages Design approved by the client Site preparation Electro-mechanical works phase I Tiling works Metal /glass works Gypsum works Wood works phase I Paint works phase I Electrical-mechanical works phase II Wood works phase II Cabinetry and appliances

installation Final Paint works Furniture installation

The off-site construction projects stages

Design approved by the client Site preparation and Production of modules

components Transportation of modules to the construction site Assembly of modular units to form a finished

building

Environmental and social benefits

Many people are drawn to modular homes for their environmental benefits.

The off-site build greatly reduces the environmental impact on site, because access is required for weeks rather than months, and only to prepare the site and to install the house, rather than the full start to finish construction process.

The off-site build also means there is less wastage of materials, as any excess products can be stored and used for a future build.

“It has been noted that using prefabricated construction has been instrumental in reducing the electricity usage in both, the factory in which the product is manufactured, as well as the final location where these products are shipped to and assembled.”

Commercial Design (June 13 2019)

Environmental and Social benefits

In cities where rental rates are high, using space for producing goods, which is a rather long process is not affordable.

The rate of production is indeed faster and using prefabricated methods have proven to result in completion of the project in 30-50 percent faster.

Growth through technological advancements

Digital modelling combined with improved software of 3D modelling has led to improvement in the creative, design and production aspect.

The use of CNC controlled robots in the production of most items has led to the facilitation of ease in the actual application and materialization of ideas.

Growth through technological advancements

By 2050 the world’s population is expected to reach 9.8 billion. Nearly 70 percent of this booming population 6.7 billion people is projected to live in urban areas.

The emergence of Smart cities has experienced a boost in the use of Modular constructed products.

Buildings incorporate natural elements and are largely modular, leading to faster production with less waste. Spaces can quickly transform to meet changing housing, industrial, or business needs.

Growth through technological advancements

The environmental compliance associated with prefabricated building has enticed smart cities to incorporate its use. Collectively, Prefabricated Construction has various economic, environmental and social benefits which is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of between 6 and 7 percent until 2020.

The prefabricated construction market is valued at about $79 million in 2015 and it is expected to reach over $110 million by 2020.

In US, According to Modular Building Institute’s 2018 annual industry statistical report, based on a survey of 252 modular manufacturing firmsin 2017 the permanent modular construction industry drove about $7 billion in construction activity, and the estimated overall market share for permanent modular construction in North America rose to about 3.27 percent, up from 3.18 percent in 2016. Three to four years ago PMC (Permanent Modular Construction) only constituted 25% of the market share in the modular industry. Today it represents 50%

In September 2018, modular technology reached a new height with the tallest modular hotel in the United States, the 21-story citizenMNew York Bowery located in Manhattan.

In Sweden, prefabricated homes represent around 70 per cent of their construction industry, and the Netherlands, Japan and Germany also have strong and growing numbers.

Australia is lagging behind, the construction industry contributes over $150 billion, or 10 per cent to their gross domestic product, it’s estimated that only $4.6 billion, or 3 per cent of this figure comes from the prefabricated housing sector.Recently, there has been a growing awareness of the benefits of modular homes and it’s set to change the construction industry.

Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden

Un the UK, Ministers are planning a new wave of prefabricated homes in a drive to solve Britain's housing crisis.More than 100,000 pre-packed 'modular' homes could be constructed as the Government looks at ways to meet its target to provide one million new homes by 2020, according to reports.

Student accommodation, Holloway Rd London

Facebook modular offices space consisting of a conference room, offices, a canteen, a store cupboard and welfare facility. UK

What are the advantage of modular construction?

FlexibilityIt is easy to adapt the modules to the client's (future) requirements. Modular construction is easy to adjust, whether it concerns a change in purpose or location or involves an expansion or reduction.SpeedExternal factors such as the weather or availability of manpower do not play a role, which will reduce the construction time with 30% to 50% compared with traditional construction. Therefore, modular construction is also called fast construction.Reduced upheavalManufacturing is mainly done in the factory, so (noise) nuisance on site for local residents is limited. And transport of the modules requires fewer transport movements.EfficiencyBecause the modular construction projects are largely standardized, failure costs are low. Little to no repair work is needed to repair errors in the planning, design or implementation. Buildings are delivered significantly earlier, increasing the client's profitability.SustainabilityModular system construction creates considerably less waste because most of the materials can be reused. Projects also consume less CO2 because there are fewer transport movements.

Since the Syrian civil war officially began March 15, 2011, families have suffered under a brutal conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, torn the nation apart, and set back the standard of living by decades.

Nearly 12 million people in the country need humanitarian assistance.

Healthcare centers and hospitals, schools, utilities, and water and sanitation systems are damaged or destroyed. Historic landmarks and once-busy marketplaces have been reduced to rubble.

War broke the social and business ties that bound neighbors to their community.

Millions scattered, creating the largest refugee and displacement crisis of our time.

About 2.5 million Syrians are now refugees in Lebanon, and another 6.2 million people are displaced within Syria.

Half of the people affected are children.

UNHCR estimates that about 900,000 Syrian refugee children and teenagers are out of school

Case study: Syria cities after the war

Case study: Syria cities after the war

The modular off site construction can be a fast and cost efficient way for Syrian people to return to their country and live in dignity.

Syrian refugee crisis

Syria

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