CC Jul-Aug 2021

CASE study
Can CAD help construction build, build, build?
Chris Powell, Sales Director at Pasquill, considers how design technologies and off-site modular
construction go hand in hand to improve the quality and quantity of homes built in the UK
For decades, we've struggled to
build enough new housing to keep
pace with demand. Many experts
feel that off-site construction is the best
way forward, especially in light of the
Government's commitment to build
300,000 new homes a year.
This forms part of the Conservatives'
New Deal, a £420 million injection in the
construction sector which aims to reduce
the time to build new houses by 50%, with
a focus on accelerating the adoption of
modular construction.
Off-site and prefabricated
manufacturing techniques are gaining
momentum as a means to reduce
wastage, inefficiencies and delays on
site. But off-site manufacturing (OSM) is
not a new concept. We can trace the
practice of assembling buildings away
from the construction site as far as the
Romans. In the 1900s, we saw the
development of kit homes in the US and,
here in the UK, the post-war period took
advantage of prefabrication to help
address housing shortages.
In fact, when many people hear the word
prefabrication, they think of these
(somewhat poorly constructed) temporary
homes from the 60s. But off-site
manufacturing has come an incredibly
long way since then, not least because
every element of the process has been
refined and enhanced by technology.
From design software that can map out
an interactive 3D model to manufactured
products accurate to within fractions of a
millimetre, these modern methods of
construction (MMC) improve cost
predictability, the quality of the final build
and allow us to put up homes at speed
without impacting on the finished product.
DIGITAL INSIGHTS
Combining CAD technology with the
manufacturing benefits and speeds up
every step of the build, from end to end.
This is demonstrated by the fact that we
are finding clients requesting their
drawings earlier in the build timeline, long
before work begins on site. The use of 2D
and 3D designs naturally help them to
see the visual realities of their concept
and it's spatial planning before further
financial resources are committed. From
the earliest stage, these drawings can
also generate accurate costs for the build,
which are generally much more stable
when OSM is used.
CAD is generally much quicker than
traditional freehand drawing, particularly
when you factor in the time saved in the
amends process or the ability to create
different scale models at the click of a
button. Software can also help to
coordinate the different disciplines
involved in the design and eliminate any
possible clashes, resulting in a reduction
in remedial work on-site. Furthermore,
designers can conduct structural analysis
and energy calculations through
simulation within the 3D model
environment.
We use the MiTek suite of software
including Pamir, a fully integrated CAD
layout and engineering software allowing
us to design our products to the very
latest design codes, and WoodEngine,
the industry leading timber frame detailing
software. Both offer powerful links to
numerous other packages to allow for
complete BIM integration.
CAD designs can be incredibly useful in
speeding up planning applications too,
providing planners with visual context in a
more intuitive way. For example, 'a right to
light' concern can be quickly answered
using 3D visualisations, GIS mapping and
daylight simulation.
At Pasquill, we specialise in OSM timber
frame elements, such as roof trusses and
floor cassettes. As each product we
design and manufacture is bespoke, we
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July/August 2021