Insulate Magazine Issue 15

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in the location they’re needed - with
the factory removed once development
of the site is complete. All
are valid offsite methods, but the
spread of experimentation means it
is harder to judge the potential longterm
success of one over another.
All are valid offsite methods, but the
spread of
experimentation means it is harder
to judge the potential long-term
success of one over another. Lack
of predictability in the market hurts
the speed with which it can prove
itself and be adopted more widely.
Committing to a factory capable of
delivering offsite solutions requires a
level of demand that will bring down
prices. But prices are too high to
create that demand, and there is an
understandable reluctance to invest
as a result
Breaking Point
What we do know is that the cost of
traditional construction is going up.
Figures suggest 35,000 new skilled
workers are required in the industry
purely for it to stand still. The skilled
workers already employed are
commanding higher wages, while
the overall shortfall in skills is resulting
in poorer quality and more
defects.
Demand from consumers, however,
continues to make traditional
construction the preferred solution,
backed up by a lack of innovative
financial products to support the
purchase of alternative solutions.
Social housing and the private
build-to-rent sector are therefore
seen as the sectors best placed
to drive up the demand for offsite.
Inevitably, London is also expected
to be a hub for offsite’s development,
where lessons learned can
be translated to other areas of the
country.
Developing Solutions
A few products and systems have
made their way to market, with an
emphasis on combining an element
of offsite manufacture with the
familiarity of existing materials and
techniques.
Only the manufacturers of those
systems can know how exactly
enthusiastic the uptake has been.
Attending a few trade shows, either
as a visitor or exhibitor, is enough to
see that while new ideas certainly
capture the imagination, converting
that excitement into specifications is
another matter entirely.
For as long as customers are
unwilling to take the plunge, what
incentive do manufacturers have
to explore different - in most cases
radically different - production
techniques when their factories
are kitted out and optimised for
exactly what the market currently
demands?
What Kind of Future do we
Want?
Returning to those automotive
comparisons for a moment, the big
oil and petroleum companies know
the future lies away from diesel and
petrol vehicles, but will do what they
can to keep themselves relevant for
as long as possible.
Has the time arrived when construction
product manufacturers
need to make a decision?
There’s a new horizon for the
delivery of buildings and, while
it might not be entirely new, it is
definitely different to what we’re
used to. Are product manufacturers,
including in the insulation
sector, willing to invest in that bold
new future, or happy to prioritise
the existing demand in order for the
status quo to endure for as long as
possible?
In Summary: Why Offsite is the Future
Speed of construction. The building fabric can be assembled while the groundworks are undertaken,
shaving months off project planning.
Reliability of materials and manufacture. Consistent processes in controlled conditions means better quality
and reliable, improved performance.
Lower costs - if offsite methods can be delivered at scale.
Flexibility. Offsite methods can be used to construct units in places where traditional construction struggles
(e.g. ‘infill’ units).
Less waste. Efficiency in terms of the material used in construction; potential to disassemble completed
units and re-use elsewhere.
Reduced site disturbance, and possible health and safety benefits, with fewer on-site processes.
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