|
Editorial title
Many Happy Returns!
The second anniversary of bmpr Offsite Consultancy Services Ltd
|
This weekend saw the second anniversary of the incorporation of bmpr Offsite Consultancy Services Ltd. The past two years have seen its founder Bob Mears delivering presentations and Master classes in places as far afield as New Zealand, the United States and South Africa and he and his team working with clients in Peru, Argentina, Australia, Turkey and the US (to name just 5!).
Bob gives us an insight into what he has learned about an industry which, regardless of its global setting and stage of evolution, has its champions and detractors in equal measure.
“I already had the feeling from overseas visits that I had previously done, that the UK was considered a centre of excellence when it came to Offsite………or should I say Prefab, because it is only here in the UK where that is a dirty word. The truth is that using the term Prefab in many other parts of the world became essential if I was to communicate effectively, and also not alienate markets keen to learn from our experience and expertise. They know and understand the term Prefab, why should they want to change it?
It was interesting that one of the biggest common factors seems to be the issue of delineation between temporary and permanent prefabricated buildings. The industry struggles to explain that the two are not the same: designed and fabricated to be solutions to different challenges.
The good news to come out of this struggle though is evident, particularly in Australia, where mining camps, which were once very perfunctory and generally to low specification are now being put together taking advantage of improvements in technology adopted by manufacturers of permanent Modular buildings.
The trade bodies here in the UK (MPBA) and in the US (MBI) have lobbied for many years to have the differences recognised. Permanent and temporary undoubtedly have their place; the industry just has to get better at explaining their individual benefits to those who are unfamiliar and not try to “stretch” people’s imagination too far!............Yes, I am sure that three storey building could be dismantled and re-erected elsewhere, but is that a likely scenario?
Don’t get me wrong, Blue Sky thinking is a really good thing. The idea of mass manufactured housing, a’ la the car industry is going to be a wonderful thing when it becomes an accepted and practical solution for the majority, but most of the world don’t think that way right now, and who has the financial assurance to set up a manufacturing facility of that enormity and run it until we do? Recent history is scattered with the failure of those who have tried to push that envelope too quickly.
For what it’s worth, I believe that we would be better placed using the experiences we have gained so far to develop Blue Collar Solutions: Firms who can start small, but who have a vision beyond the manufacture of bathroom pods for the latest project like the Olympics or the South Africa games, and can see the potential of taking the experience they gain from bathroom pods to move into modular construction, or construction firms who can see the potential of setting up their own modular wiring workshop, the possibilities are numerous and the potential enormous.
I have seen them; they are already out there, quietly beavering away, evolving and becoming the future of prefabricated construction.
The other commonality is that the industry seems to be obsessed with “selling” Offsite, or Off-site, or off site, or prefab………..whatever we want to call it. Why don’t we just tell our client that they are getting the quickest, greenest and (if we have done our jobs properly), the most cost effective building he could possibly buy? They may not even care that it has been manufactured in a factory rather than put together on a building site………..just a thought."
Bob is travelling to Philadelphia in November as part of the UK Trade & Investment mission to Greenbuild USA. He can be contacted through www.bmproffsite.com or directly at me@bmpr.co.uk or on +44 (0) 1952 840421.
|
|
Editorial title
First European World of Modular Conference:
Quality Rather Than Quantity
|
MBI and Bob Mears of bmpr Offsite have been working together for some time to bring the event to the UK, and when the Modular and Portable Buildings Association (MPBA) came on board, the ball began to roll.
Whilst the expectation for the first World of Modular Conference in Europe was that numbers would be limited, 100 attendees maybe, the number who registered, 45 was disappointing. With 11 different nationalities in attendance from Canada to Korea the surprise was that more of the UK Modular manufacturing supply chain wasn’t able to foresee the potential benefits of attending the event.
That said those who did make the effort were rewarded with a list of presenters who included academics from both the UK and USA and two of the biggest names in Modular manufacturing, Waco and Portakabin.
The programme had everything from case studies demonstrating success achieved in the education sector, a guide to selecting a suitable modular manufacturer, an outline to securing funding for those wishing to export goods and IP, information on BIM and the practicalities of carbon reduction and energy compliance.
The format of the two day event held at the Hyatt Regency in Birmingham was similar to that used to great effect by MBI in the US for the past 30 years. It meant that delegates could attend as many of the presentations, networking opportunities and exhibition elements as they wished without the risk of missing any of them.
Connections were made between potential supply chain partners that were a natural fit, but also ones that were less obvious. Conversations between a manufacturer in Ireland and one in South Africa for example, who found that they shared the same successes and difficulties and are now exchanging mutually beneficial information.
Next years’ venue is yet to be determined, but if the comments of the majority who attended this year, and word of mouth is anything to go by, then it will have to be able to cope with substantially more numbers than it did this year.
If anyone would like copies of the presentations from the Birmingham event, please send an e-mail to Bob Mears
|
|
Editorial title
Realising a premium for modular
Lessons from the UK |
The UK’s modular construction industry is flourishing, with offsite methods of construction being incorporated into myriad developments to deliver time and cost savings as well as significant sustainability improvements. Discussed here is what the United States might learn from overseas about these building techniques to start reaping the same economic & ecological benefits.
In the UK, the benefits of modular building technologies, are widely acknowledged and used to provide manufacturers with a premium when selling their systems and products: the shorter build times ensure less time is spent on site and a more immediate return on investment, and the reduced work required on site lessens health and safety issues and limits delay through inclement weather. In addition, increasing engineering within a controlled environment ensures the highest levels of accuracy and, therefore, fewer costly snagging issues. Perhaps more significant for a US industry facing implementation of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) are the substantial sustainability improvements that offsite construction methods can achieve, both during manufacturing processes and the building’s in-use performance.
Going Global – Impact Measurement
I have worked in a global capacity in the public and private sectors, experiencing how different countries view, manufacture and implement fast-track construction methods.
In every case, it’s been clear that a method for properly determining the environmental performance of modular construction compared to that of traditional building methods has been essential. The most credible way to measure the environmental improvements of a building method or product is to conduct a cradle (extraction) to grave (re-use and/or recycling) Life Cycle Assessment based on the UK’s Building Research Establishment (BRE) or worldwide Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) methodology.
For example, measuring the environmental impact of modular construction for housing in this way and comparing it to traditional back-to-back building methods, shows that prefabrication can typically lower the overall carbon footprint of a project by an impressive 38%. It can also deliver a 42% reduction in CO2 and yield a 21% improvement in the use of energy for building and maintenance (RSL Collaborative_Research). The US has a strong history of modular house building, demonstrating that the domestic sector has recognised the significant gains of offsite construction.
The popularity of prefabrication hasn’t filtered across to other US construction sectors as much as expected, however. Perhaps because of the prevailing popularity of Design & Build, or due to a convoluted procurement process, construction in the States has remained largely craft-based. The way a nation builds is a result of its social, political and economic history, and areas that have traditionally been heavily unionised can find it difficult to introduce new construction methods if a Union does not support them. However well-intentioned the motivation for not backing emerging techniques - whether job preservation or economic vigilance in a time of global recession - this could stifle innovation, which is the lifeblood of sustainability.
And, although craft-based construction can be a financially and socially sustainable way to build, figures show that it is certainly not the most environmentally sustainable. Using a typical prefabricated module-based apartment build as an example, there were 90% fewer vehicle deliveries to site than when using traditional, non-prefabricated building methods.
Waste reduction is another significant sustainability advantage feature of deploying offsite construction techniques. Research conducted with the UK government’s waste reduction department, WRAP, shows that factory-based construction methods can reduce material waste by up to 90% (WRAP ModernMethodsConstruction Report.pdf).
Spreading Sustainability through Modular Construction
So, how to convince built environment sectors in the US to adopt these construction methods that are already benefiting the UK and the rest of Europe? In the public, private and commercial arenas, repeatability and predictability are of huge importance, as is time certainty and, of course, sustainability. Modular construction certainly delivers on each of these requirements, and if adopted early in the design process can slash build times in half depending on the project.
When it comes to domestic dwellings, typically up to three weeks of an 18 week build schedule can be shaved off using offsite methods. And, when faced with an epidemic housing shortage in an area such as New Orleans, any time saving is a positive one.
What Next?
To some extent, the US procurement process needs to change its model to fully accommodate these technologies. Manufacturers of these systems really need to be consulted at design stage, because the earlier in the process offsite construction methods are specified, the greater the time and cost savings, and the more impactful the environmental benefits.
The future for modular construction in the UK and across the globe is certainly looking bright. Innovations such as bathroom pods and modular bedrooms complete with curtains, wallpaper, tiles and taps for use in hotels, student accommodation and the like – give the option of reducing or adding to a building with complete repeatability in line with demographic demand and are becoming increasingly popular. Ultimately, it is this standardisation that means modular construction will work so well for the US market. What’s more, the factory environment is best placed for furthering other developments, such as the use of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials, and methods for building more while using less.
The UK’s advances with offsite construction have already positioned it as the worldwide ‘centre of excellence,’ with many countries across the globe watching its progress in trialling new systems. With the UK’s drive towards innovation gathering speed, now is the ideal time for the USA to capitalise on the advances being made. The UK and the US have been powerful partners throughout history, and the offsite sector presents a great opportunity for setting the construction agenda while occupying an influential thought leadership position on both sides of the Atlantic.
Read a case study on Modular Zero Carbon School Buildings in the UK here.
|
|
