MMC 5542 48 Feb '16 cc

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Debunking the myths of modular construction Modular buildings are still something of an unknown quantity, both inside and outside the construction industry. Wernick Group Marketing Manager, Leigh Fennell discusses some of the more prevalent misconceptions about modular offsite construction. LRI-Hospital Uppingham Community College Weald of Kent entrance Goals Football Centre Hillingdon Cycle Circuit St Giles on the Heath Are modular buildings of high quality? Many people’s perceptions of modular buildings stem from their experience of old leaky prefabricated classrooms. These were often supposed to be temporary but often had to be endured for use by schools across the country for decades. Before I worked in the offsite construction sector this was certainly my own opinion. I have now come to understand this presumption that modular buildings are of low quality is a misconception that is easily dispelled. Firstly, modular buildings follow the same set of regulations as traditional construction and must therefore meet the same standards of quality. Building modules are manufactured in tightly controlled factory environments meeting ISO 9001 quality management standards and often IS0 14001 environmental standards. In the healthcare sector modular building facilities are constructed to the latest healthcare standards, including HTM (Health Technical Memoranda), HBN (Health Buildings Notes), SHTM (Scottish Health Technical Memoranda) and HAI-SCRIBE (Healthcare Associated Infection System for Controlling Risk in the Built Environment). Another comment I would make on this point is that many the materials used in modular building, such as the steel frame, are exactly the same materials used for a traditional build. The only difference being that the construction takes place off site in a more controlled factory environment. As testament to their quality many offsite construction companies will now offer a 25 year warranty as standard with their buildings which also have an expected design life of over 100 years! Are modular buildings just temporary structures? While modular buildings can be used as a temporary solution the quality of build, as mentioned, means they are built to last. Just like a traditional building, modular buildings are steel-framed in construction and can provide permanent a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation solutions, including purpose-designed schools, hospitals, office blocks, police cells and even nuclear power station a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation. The end product is often a building that its hard to imagine was manufactured in a factory. Is modular construction a proven concept? The first recorded use of modular buildings as we know them today was in the 19th century. Some leading offsite manufacturers have been in business for over 80 years and there are many examples of their buildings still standing today that were manufactured many decades ago. Are cost savings (when compared to traditional construction) exaggerated? It’s commonly stated by offsite specialists that a modular building is far more economical when compared to traditional construction, with a saving of around 50% achievable. Let’s look at the facts. A report by Laing O’Rourke, who developed a modular system with an engineering company, suggested it could build a 1,300 pupil school for £14.3 million, £6 million cheaper than an equivalent school under the Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF). The fact that much of the modular construction process is carried out offsite in a controlled factory environment means projects can be completed much faster than traditional construction methods with no delays due to bad weather. Is modular construction as sustainable as claimed? By process, offsite construction is also far more environmentally friendly when compared to traditional construction. This greatly reduced programme inevitably minimises the impact on the environment. Modular buildings are produced in a controlled factory environment, in which all waste including steel, aluminium and timber is separated for recycling with almost nothing ending up as landfill. The process is not subject to bad weather, and subsequent delays this may cause. As the time on site is reduced, so is the impact of the construction process on the site and surrounding environment. Modules can also be designed to a specifically optimised size in order to match the supplied sizes of the building materials, further reducing the amount of waste. Typically, the end product is a building, which achieves an Energy Performance Asset rating (EPA) of B, as standard. An ‘A’ rating is easily achieved when sustainable options, such as solar panels are incorporated. Are modular buildings all the same? Although modular buildings lend themselves to standardisation, clients are increasingly looking for buildings that cater to their specific needs and are quite understandably less interested in a ‘one size fits all’ approach. In terms of providing ‘traditional’ finishes, we are increasingly being asked to provide extensions to existing buildings while maintaining a continuous external appearance. This can be done so effectively that often you cannot tell which is the old traditional building and which is the new modular extension. Increasingly architects are also bringing their designs to life in a modular environment and I would encourage anyone looking for a new build project to seek out the possibilities offered with offsite construction by reflecting on the finished product. www.wernick.co.uk 36
Relieve the pain of rising patient numbers A rise of patient numbers means hospitals and clinics could face a facility shortfall putting pressure on healthcare management to provide more space quickly and economically. Modular buildings from Wernick provide a modern, spacious, energy efficient environment for patients and medical staff which are fully HTM and HBN compliant. What’s more, while the building is being manufactured, the foundation is being prepared on-site. This makes it possible for us to deliver a building of exceptional quality very quickly and with a saving of up to 50% when compared to a traditional building. Modular buildings can form permanent buildings with traditional features such as a brick finish and a pitched roof. Why Wernick Modular Buildings? ✔ Speedy completion ✔ Lower cost than traditional build ✔ More dependable build programme ✔ HTM and HBN compliant ✔ 25 year structural warranty ✔ ✔ Full project management ✔ Sustainable form of building ✔ ✔ HIRE and LEASE options available Planning and building regulation service Choice of traditional or contemporary finishes Sustainable construction without compromise Sustainable construction without compromise For additional information visit www.wernick.co.uk/healthcare 0800 18 18 22
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Page 5 and 6: empowered by Achilles empowered by
Page 8 and 9: Whatever the exposure - EJOT ® has
Page 10 and 11: Sweat equity Technical Editor, Bruc
Page 12 and 13: How off-site construction can beat
Page 14 and 15: Exeter campus contract for Lowfield
Page 16 and 17: Cross code project nears completion
Page 18: Could offsite construction attract
Page 21 and 22: Permanent buildings constructed usi
Page 23 and 24: The versatility of the SureClad ®
Page 25 and 26: Article > Precast Concrete Modular
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Page 35: HTC The industry leader HTC Sweden
Page 40 and 41: Article > EOS Facades on a roll! On
Page 42: Smartply offers sustainable solutio
Page 45 and 46: Concrete considerations for offsite
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MMC 5542 48 Feb '16 cc

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