How Modular Construction Is Disrupting The Industry

Today’s construction industry is very competitive and faces some formidable challenges. One of the ways the industry is coping with the challenges and needs is by using modular construction methods. Its benefits are encouraging more companies to adopt its practices and let’s see why.

What Is Modular Construction?

Modular construction is a building method where individual components of a structure are prefabricated in a factory under controlled conditions. The house, building, or other structure is built in modules rather than building them entirely on-site. The components are transported to the construction site for assembling together. This process often creates structures faster and more cost-efficiently compared to traditional building methods. It is revolutionizing and disrupting the industry in many positive ways.

Modular Construction Benefits Are Welcomed

Modular construction methods produce benefits that can improve the overall quality of houses, buildings, and many other structures, including:

  • The components are created in a controlled environment that produces higher quality control and consistent standards.
  • There’s no waiting on the weather to improve or components getting wet from the rain or snow.
  • Material waste and labor costs are reduced compared to traditional methods.
  • The modules are made for easy and fast assembly on the job site.
  • Structures are often built faster to meet or exceed construction timetables.
  • There is little need to store building materials on site.
  • This method of construction often produces higher profits for builders.
  • Modular construction is flexible and adapted to homes, apartments, hotels, schools, and commercial structures.

Modular construction is revolutionizing and disrupting the industry in other ways. Labor processes can be streamlined with robotic and cobotic building methods. It can be easier to customize some components for complex projects with intricate designs. Modular construction also provides some protection from a labor shortage in the industry. This method can contribute to sustainability goals by minimizing waste and potentially using recycled materials.

“One of the ways the industry is coping with the challenges and needs is by using modular construction methods.”

Examples of This Construction Approach

Modular construction is gaining traction in several markets that are worth noting. Modular homes are becoming more popular for affordable housing solutions. This method is used for office buildings, retail spaces, motels, and hotels because they are suited for quicker build-outs, add on rooms, and reduced disruptions to business operations.                                                        

Modular buildings and housing can also be rapidly deployed to provide temporary housing in disaster areas due to their quick assembly capabilities. Some other specific examples of successful modular construction include:

  • Makoko Floating School: This school was built with local materials and resources in modular components.
  • Mini Living: Modules can be stacked and arranged in different ways to create compact living spaces, such as studio apartments and multi-bedroom homes.
  • Nakagin Capsule Tower: A 13-story building in Tokyo was the first permanent example of plug-in architecture. It was made with 140 prefabricated concrete capsules.
  • Portable Offices: These easily transportable structures can be used for temporary space at events, festivals, and building sites.
  • Relocatable Building: The buildings can be moved to different locations and for different purposes.

Limitations and Challenges

Although modular construction provides many benefits for the industry, there are some limitations and challenges that companies face and must overcome.

  • More Upfront Complex Decisions: Modular construction demands that more complex decisions about design and engineering be completed up front in the process.
  • Transportation Logistics: Moving smaller modular components is easy enough but moving large components to construction sites can be complex and costly.
  • Design Limitations: Highly customized designs may not be as easily adaptable to modular construction. Hotels and apartment buildings are the type of structures where this method works well. Creating distinct or non-repeatable modules reduces and defeats this method.
  • Regulatory Hurdles: If building codes are more restrictive than the factory engineers understand, some components may be rejected on job sites. The local approval process can be complicated and lengthy. Local building codes may need to be adapted to fully embrace modular construction practices.
  • Construction Risk: The risk for a project is concentrated on one or a few suppliers rather than spread across all parties involved in its construction                       

The Future And Success Of Modular Construction

The future of modular construction looks promising to make it a likely dominant force in the construction industry. It has significant potential for growth due to its advantages in speed, cost-efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability. Its limitations and challenges can be addressed with advancing technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. As the demand for faster building processes mounts, modular construction will be at the forefront. 

ITI Technical College is a great place to earn an Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree in our Construction Management Program. Learn more about modular and traditional construction methods from our talented faculty.

For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website: https://iticollege.edu/disclosures/