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It is said that prefabrication will be an accelerating trend this upcoming year.
Offsite, modular, or prefabricated construction has become a popular method of structure construction offering benefits such as reduced construction time, less waste and possible financial cost reduction. Companies have turned to ‘prefab’ as an option that offers more certainty while they struggle with staffing job sites.

Modular construction represents a new, efficient, and exciting way to build their projects. But what is it?
It is the process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities but in about half the time. Building offsite ensures better construction quality management. Modular construction reduces site disruption, vehicular traffic, and improves overall safety and security. Houses are becoming infinitely customizable. The homes are constructed in separate box-like modules which are then secured together to form a whole. Building in a controlled environment reduces waste through avoidance upstream rather than diversion downstream. A lot of research has come out in the last few years supporting the process and poised to help the industry grow. Redirecting labor hours offsite with prefabrication and modular manufacturing reduces onsite labor hours greatly and in turn, reduces the chance for job site injuries to occur.
There is no construction that happens on-site. Manufactured homes are constructed on a steel frame shipped on its on the wheel then laid on a crawl space or a slab of concrete. This method of construction occurs in a controlled factory environment, where it can be ensured that the home is built to the federal Manufactured home construction and safety standards (better known as the HUD Code).

Isn’t “manufactured home” just a fancy name for a mobile home?

With several American companies developing factory-built homes, the industry has grown to install homes on permanent foundations that are much more like on-site built homes than mobile homes.
When a home is built on the site, it is exposed to the elements during its entire construction, and the building materials used to create it are also stored outside. This can expose an on-site built home to moisture through rain and snow, and may cause construction delays during patches of Inclement weather.

Some benefits of Offsite Modular Prefabricated include;
• Increased worker safety and productivity, can alleviate onsite hazards such as height and confined space-related dangers.
• Streamlined onsite materials and waste. Manufacturing has the potential to save up to 90% in onsite waste related to packaging, temporary and damaged materials.
• Faster project completion: projects are completed more efficiently with work being performed offsite, onsite tasks can occur simultaneously and allow for a compact schedule. Additionally, onsite weather delays cease to be a major problem.

What is your opinion on this popular structure construction method?

For more information on this trend, visit:
http://www.constructiondive.com/news/10-construction-industry-trends-to-watch-in-2016/411402/
http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/construction-industry-trends-to-watch-60419/