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Prefabrication and Off-Site Production 497
The Yorkon assembly line
demonstrates the cleanliness
and efficiency of off-site
construction. Lifting gear, flat
clean floors and the
controlled factory environment
provide much improved
working conditions
compared with that of a
construction site
Volumetric assembly – fully fitted
apartments being assembled in the
factory
Roof assembly
The externals walls for the modular
apartments are lifted into position
Photograph 8.5 Factory production of modular apartments (http://www.yorkon.info).
fittings, switches, heating units, etc.). The findings of a study undertaken by BSRIA showed
that there were cost-saving benefits in excess of 10% to be gained, at every level of
the supply chain, through the use of prefabricated and pre-assembled services (Wilson
et al., 1999).
Buildings are becoming more reliant on technology and services. Clearly it is beneficial
to do as much as possible of the assembly of services off site in clean and controlled environments.
While it may not be possible to prefabricate long runs of cables and pipes that
have to be fed around the building, it is possible to assemble the fixtures, fittings and plant.
This has led to the development of innovative jointing and fitting systems to ease assembly