With both cost-efficiency and the reduction of environmental impact playing such crucial roles in today’s building projects, the construction industry is increasingly turning to off-site construction.
Testament to its sustainability and cost saving credentials, the approach has been highlighted by the Capital Review Team as a solution for delivering the Building Schools for the Future programme.
In our construction process, 3D steel-frame modules are constructed and fitted out in a factory environment to a high level of finish, before being delivered to site and installed.
The capabilities of off-site construction have grown dramatically over recent years, and curved, triangular and "V" shapes can be created, as well as E, C, L & T shaped buildings. Architecturally innovative off-site projects, such as the award-winning 17-storey Paragon in Brentford and the V-shaped Hilton at Luton, demonstrate that modular construction can create far more than the boxy structures once associated with the approach.
Modular construction has become accepted in a wide range of sectors such education, hotel, defence, medium to high-rise residential and prison sectors. One key reason for its increasing popularity is the speed of project delivery that it enables.
A building programme can be significantly shortened thanks in part to the short timeframe between project go-ahead and module construction. Also parallel working reduces construction time as modules are constructed in the factory at the same time the site is being prepared. In addition, common delays (such as those caused by adverse weather) can be avoided. In a recent example the Ministry of Defence occupied a 72 -bed block just 12 weeks after it was first delivered to site.
Cutting the time needed for building on site has a positive impact both on environmental impact and on project costs, as it can minimise local disruption, reduce energy usage on site and allow buildings to be ready for use more quickly. Feasibility studies and cost models show the added value that modular building companies can bring to a project, particularly through early consultation and client involvement from the design stage. In addition, the controlled factory environment means that the modules are constructed in a quality controlled environment and with reduced risk for any delay, damage or mistakes.
Despite the economic climate, for many clients, managing environmental impact remains as critical as ever. Off-site construction can deliver real environmental benefits for a construction project both through the creation of energy efficient structures – typically, structures built through modular construction achieve air tightness figures that are three times better than Building Regulations requirements – and also by minimising the environmental impact of the construction process itself.For example, the approach facilitates a reduction in the amount of waste a project generates, and maximises the amount of material that is recovered through re-use and recycling.
A Waste & Resources Action Programme report has found that projects can reduce waste by up to 90% through increased use of modern methods of construction. For example, all factory waste Caledonian is either recycled or re-used, and so lessens the pressure on landfill space and material resources. It also has significant carbon benefits – increasingly important as the industry drives towards a low-carbon future.
Project SLAM (Single Living Accommodation Modernisation) is the MoD scheme for upgrading service accommodation across the UK.
Caledonian is part of the delivery team led by Debut Services Ltd, a joint venture between Bovis Lend Lease Ltd and Babcock Infrastructure Services Ltd.
One of the largest SLAM projects is at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire where the MoD has provided 22 new accommodation buildings with around 1,300 single en-suite bedrooms as part of a new campus on site. Modular construction was the preferred construction option for the benefits it offered to the project partners in terms of cost, time, quality and sustainability. As we were on board at the early stage of this project, the company was able to work with the design team to develop a module design that was both efficient to deliver, but that also met the enhanced security requirements of building for the MoD.
The use of modular construction significantly reduces transport requirements for both materials and labour. A 1,290 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions generated by transport was associated with this project.
As a Government department, all MoD construction projects must embrace the Government’s agenda for sustainable construction. Caledonian’s construction approach has delivered strong environmental credentials and the project has achieved an ‘Excellent’ BREAAM rating.
As this project demonstrates, modular construction can enable programme and cost efficiency to be married with environmental benefits. With the capabilities and flexibility of the off-site approach being developed further year on year, building off-site looks set to play a key role in helping the industry to deliver high quality buildings, cost effectively and to the highest environmental standards.
www.cbuildings.co.uk