MODULAR BUILDINGS
DRLC staff member Gary next to air handling unit.
faster delivery times, reduced waste, improved quality control through factory production, and significant reductions in carbon emissions. In addition, because the process is replicable, once a design has been proven it can be rolled out across multiple sites with a high degree of efficiency. This combination of environmental, economic, and practical benefits means that modular buildings are increasingly being viewed as an essential part of the future of construction, particularly in sectors such as healthcare where demand for new facilities is both high and urgent. However, the author suggests that the adoption of such a new and innovative method of constructing buildings necessitates a parallel rethink of how compliance checks are conducted. Traditional compliance processes were developed with conventional, on-site construction in mind, where inspectors
DRLC staff member Christian testing air flows for compliance.
can observe the building as it is progressively assembled and intervene if necessary. Modular construction, by contrast, transfers much of the activity away from the site and into the factory, where key systems and components are completed before delivery. This shift requires a reconsideration of when and how compliance inspections should take place to ensure that the same standards of safety, functionality, and regulatory adherence are being met. At present, compliance inspections typically begin once the modules arrive at site, when they are already assembled or near completion. This timing creates a significant challenge: by the time issues are identified, it may be too late to resolve them without major disruption or prohibitive cost. The author therefore argues that amendments to the current inspection regime are essential. A crucial improvement would be the addition of a
DRLC MD David Livingstone checking compliance of plant.
preliminary stage focused specifically on the factory environment. In this approach, inspectors would visit the manufacturing facility while the modular components are being designed, assembled, and fitted out. Such early-stage inspections would
provide an opportunity to confirm that the systems and materials being used are appropriate for the intended context – in this case, a healthcare environment. By verifying compliance at the factory stage, inspectors can ensure that modules are being built to meet the strict standards required, such as those relating to ventilation, fire safety, and infection control. This proactive approach would not only reduce the likelihood of non- compliant buildings being delivered to site, but also provide greater assurance to clients and regulators that modular construction is capable of meeting the highest levels of performance demanded in critical sectors.
IFHE
New Medical Equipment Training
This 3-day course prepares experienced engineers to become Authorising Engineers in medical engineering, focusing on UK healthcare regulations and real-world responsibilities.
Authorising Engineer Medical Engineering
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training@eastwoodpark.co.uk 33 e
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