FEATURE SAFETY IN ENGINEERING TIME TO MAKE IT MODULAR
Chris Shepherd, product manager from Rexel, explains why contractors are turning on to off-site manufacturing
A
recent Future of Construction survey cited prefabricated building
components as a new technology set to have a very high impact on the industry over the coming years, and it’s easy to see why. There are many benefits to using off-site concepts, the clearest, and most attractive to project managers, being the cost savings. Off-site construction is shown to
provide clear cost reduction across the whole-life cost of the product. Recent studies have shown despite the increased construction costs associated with one-off offsite construction projects, savings of 7 per cent were achieveable due to the decreased lead time achieveable with the shortened construction time. Firstly the product is specified to meet
detailed requirements resulting in less wastage and snagging and therefore savings for the manufacturer. Installation is also easier thanks to the product being ready to fit and designed for a modular structure. Not only does this reduce time required on site by skilled installers, it also means less skilled people are required during installation. Studies have also shown contractors identifying off-site products as being of an increased standard, again showing why it’s no surprise that in 2016, the offsite construction market contributed 7 per cent to the UK construction GDP, with a total market value of £6bn. Currently, the key growth areas for off-site prefabrication or a modular building approach include a number of commercial applications such as hotels, healthcare facilities and student accommodation, where the replication of a model or design is advantageous. Big infrastructure projects like Cross
Rail, are utilising modular products too. Unistrut, a key supplier to Rexel, worked directly on the project to deliver a high voltage containment system for the Rail scheme which included swaged tray, ladder, trunking and accessories utilising alternative materials on some components. Many of the modular products were custom designed for the client, including the delivery of a curved cantilver cable management system, which would be easily installed along the tunnel walls. Going forward other major infrastructure projects, such as HS2, are
16 DECEMBER/ JANUARY 2019 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
off-site manufacturing was cited again in the Government’s Housing White Paper, as a high quality, energy efficient, reliable and more productive way of building new homes. However, there is still a lot of room for this sector to grow. The Government’s focus on increasing
the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) will no doubt support the evolution of modular building. The use of BIM will enable exact detail in the early stages, opening the door for off- site construction – where precise specification is key. The ability, via the use of BIM, to
likely to specify the ‘presumption for offsite’ in future tenders, which means the opportunities for modular products particularly in the commercial market are even more significant for pipeline projects. And in 2015 the Department for Business Innovation and Skills awarded a grant in excess of £22million to develop advanced methods for the manufacture of homes, buildings and infrastructure. In 2016, ministers also re-emphasised the need for the industry to consider “new methods of construction such as offsite” to improve productivity in construction. A year later, the use of
Big infrastructure projects like Cross Rail are using modular products
closely monitor the project from start to finish also supports off-site construction. With a close digital handle on the project in its entirety specific products can be requested only when needed, any changes can be captured as soon as they arise to alert third parties not on site, and it is easy to track and record all products used throughout a build. The importance of greener construction sites also shouldn’t be overlooked. Off- Site construction could lead to less wastage on site and the possibility of less direct deliveries, leading to a potential reduction of construction site traffic, therefore reducing local pollution, noise and disruption. Rexel are working closely with Unistrut to deliver an offsite prefabricated service to the construction industry. This can range from 2-dimensional frames such as trapeze or H-frame which can be supplied complete or in a flat pack kit form to larger 3- dimensional populated modules featuring containment and services requirements. The key is to have an interaction with the contractor at design stage of the project so the correct solution can be reached. Ultimately, the electrical industry needs to adapt and embrace the move to modular if it is to remain relevant and productive, and help build a stronger construction industry. Rexel believes that sales of its modular products represent a positive step in the right direction, but the pace will need to increase significantly if prefabrication is to really make its mark on the building industry.
Rexel
rexel.co.uk
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