Prefabrication ARCH.
3 Reasons Why Prefabrication Is the Future of Architecture:
Boost the quality of every detail in a project in record time
A majority of production is done in a controlled environment specifically designed to manufacture and assemble the individual prefabricated components. This allows for quality checks and review–much more thorough than can be done if these components were to be assembled directly at a job site.
Unlike a project site, warehouses and factories where prefab components are built aren’t subject to the limitations of geography, so going prefab can be especially beneficial for projects in dense urban areas. Prefab production lines also allow for an optimized workflow and process, because the objects are being built by the same staff in a controlled line.
And as a bonus point, prefab helps keep the site safe and organized. Because components were already individually assembled at a separate warehouse, this keeps the actual project site clean and clutter-free, and tidy working space not only increases productivity, it also reduces the risk of accidents.
Address the labor shortage issue
The prefabricated production process frees up time for field workers (who are generally more expensive) to cover more projects, which can help mitigate the skilled labor shortage issue the industry faces. We recently visited a project site where workers were in the process of building hundreds of bathroom pods for a hospital using prefabricated technology.
They were able to install the tile in bathroom pods before shipping it to the site. Imagine the amount of field work avoided, the number of tiles saved from breaking on-site, and the amount of time saved from not having to go back and forth because of a small measurement miscalculation (though if you’re already using BIM, this should be unlikely to happen.
Save time and money by standardizing components
Pairing prefab construction with VDC is an intelligent process that limits project variability and allows for one to manage schedule and budgets better.
And what else helps save time? The opportunity to standardize. If more project owners embrace prefab, then the industry together can establish standards, whether its the building components, or the combination of components. With less unique parts floating around, this means more efficiency for more projects in the long run.