As per a McKinsey & Company article, construction has lagged behind other sectors for decades in terms of productivity. Prefabricated construction offers a welcoming change – shifting several aspects of building activities away from conventional construction sites into factories. According to Inkwood Research, the global prefabricated construction market is set to reach $269.02 billion by 2032, projecting a CAGR of 8.70% during 2023-2032.
Prefabricated
construction, with its origins in post First
World War period and European colonial period, is not a novel concept. However,
changing mindsets, economic demands, and technological advancements have
enabled unprecedented investment and interest in prefabricated construction.
If
optimized, prefabricated construction could facilitate an enormous productivity
boost in the construction industry, solving major and minor housing crises.
Our blog examines two interesting success stories
of prefabricated construction from around the world.
Time is Life: Wuhan Huishenshan Hospital China
built in Seven Days
Wuhan
City, Hubei Province, bore the largest brunt of the pandemic in China. The
Wuhan municipal government proposed to follow the ‘XiaotangshanHospital‘
model built in Beijing during SARS 2003.
The
Huishenshan Hospital project adopted the integrated reinforced concrete movable
slab house equipped with bathing and toilet facilities and the pre-processing
standardized production mode. The project was designed by CITIC
Architectural Design Institute. It was designed in 24 hours and
delivered in 7 days. Over 500 construction machinery and
equipment and 1500 construction personnel were put together with a
reserve team of around 2000 people to ensure the construction was
carried out 24 hours a day.
Built between January
23 and February 2, 2020, Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital became a
national attention project due to its construction efficiency, recognized and
acknowledged by international communities. The project reflected the resilience
of the construction industry alongside healthcare during COVID-19.
Further,
the project adopted the ‘three sides’ mode, i.e., survey, design, and
construction, significantly reducing each stage’s processing time. It adopted
the prefabricated movable board house method to produce installation,
transportation, and prefabrication. Keeping time constraints in check, many
semi-finished materials or products were used. For instance, a prefabricated
movable board equipped with basic decoration, reserved wires & cables, and
suspended ceiling and ground PVC.
The
first batches of box-type prefabricated houses were upraised from January
27, whereas the hosting of prefabricated houses was completed on January 31.
Over 600 box-type prefabricated houses were installed in
approximately 100 hours.
Moreover, China
Construction Third Engineering Bureau used Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology
for Huishenshan Hospital construction. The central application points were the
use of BIM for modular design and construction site layout.
Also, the BIM model simulated the project’s complete picture through its visual
characteristics conveniently for design clarifications and finding design
errors.
Standing Tall: Avenue South Residence –The Tallest
PPVC Residential Building Worldwide
Singapore’s
architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry faces several
challenges. Among these are manpower shortages and limited land. As a result,
there is a growing need to streamline work, minimize construction-related
disruption and waste (to reach carbon targets), and accelerate construction
time.
The
Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) approach was considered, which the
government targets to reach 70% by 2025. Prefabricated
prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) is the most efficient method under
DfMA today. It is the Lego-like assembly of 3D volumetric modules that are completely
built in off-site factories before being transported to the installation site.
One
such PPVC project is the 56-story Avenue South Residence, initiated in February
2022 and to be fully completed by 2023. At 192 meters, it is
estimated to be the tallest PPVC residential development globally. The two
apartment towers comprise over 3000 modules stacked atop one another
on Silat Avenue.
Yet
again, Building Information Modeling (BIM) was crucially aligned with the
residence’s architectural, structural, and mechanical services.
Approximately 31 different room modules were manufactured and cast
together to make up a single floor.
Furthermore,
PPVC is evaluated to meet most environmental criteria compared to other
construction methods like assembling 2D prefabricated panels or cast-in-place
concrete. It also had the lowest impact (around 6%) with regard to cycle
assessments of the greenhouse gases released, the toxicity of chemicals
emitted, and the impact on ozone layer depletion.
Moreover,
the PPVC method minimized noise and pollution for Avenue South Residence since
the apartment modules were built off-site, thereby enhancing the safety &
health of construction workers working and living near the project.
Additionally, the method facilitated higher quality control since the modules
were made in a controlled factory environment. Besides, the project boosted
productivity by 40% due to time & manpower efficiency.
Developing
Economies: Booming Centers for Modular Construction Market
Developing countries in regions like Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, South America, and Latin America are lucrative pockets for prefabricated construction. Governments in these countries are introducing policies to enhance public service infrastructure, develop affordable housing, and facilitate reduced down payment. Similarly, some important factors driving the global modular construction market growth in these countries include increasing urbanization, improving economic aspects, and growing renovation activities.
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