Keith Beverley, key account manager at Wavin UK, discusses
the five most prevalent threats experienced by modular construction today
There’s no question that the modular construction industry
in the UK faces a number of significant challenges. From the reluctance to
adopt this ‘new’ construction method, to the current pandemic and its profound
impact on all aspects of the industry.
Coronavirus
The Covid-19 pandemic has delivered a heavy blow to the UK
construction industry. During the initial phases, we saw construction sites
close and jobs cut across the country. Work in the sector slowed and overall
activity fell to an extent not seen since April 2009.
Now, as we strive to recover, the coronavirus pandemic has
forced a rethink of the way that buildings are designed and built.
When we eventually break the cycle of lockdowns and adapt to
the ‘new normal’, there is one area where there is widespread agreement: social
distancing measures are here to stay, in the short term at least. While they’re
designed to minimise the spread of the virus, they pose a number of issues when
it comes to construction.
In order to operate effectively while maintaining social
distance, developers need to reduce their reliance on labour-intensive
traditional construction and look to new methods. There is a real opportunity
here for modular construction to offer a solution.
Modular construction requires much less manual labour,
making it easier to ensure safer social distancing. The factories also offer
health and safety benefits because they are controlled environments where order
and process take precedence. Modular construction is also up to 50% quicker
when compared to traditional processes, with buildings created in around four weeks.
This quick turnaround time is key for helping the
construction industry offset delays in project timelines.
With the impact of coronavirus threatening the future of the
UK construction industry, the challenge now is to encourage widespread modular
construction. This will help to get the industry back on its feet and push
forward with new developments.
Reluctance to adapt to change
Construction is a hugely traditional industry and change is
often approached with a level of scepticism. For years, developers have
remained on the fence when it comes to modular buildings, meaning uptake has
been slow.
However, we are now seeing a shift in attitude when it comes
to offsite building techniques, largely driven by increased awareness of the
time and cost-saving benefits. This in turn is leading to an increase in
adoption. According to Forbes, 7.5% of the homes built in the UK in 2017/18
were modular, and increased growth was forecast for 2020 even prior to the
pandemic and its influence on socially distant building requirements. The need
for new, affordable homes isn’t going away and modular construction offers a
solution.
Skills shortage
The skills shortage is an ongoing issue across the
construction industry and is made more acute by technological developments, as
well as the implications of Brexit. Across traditional construction, there’s a
real shortage of bricklayers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers, with
demand continuing to outstrip supply. Reduced access to a pool of skilled
European workers will further exacerbate this issue.
The different skillset required for modular construction
means there is a real opportunity to tackle the housing crisis without
increasing the pressure on these more traditional trades.
Within offsite construction, there’s a demand for
specialised engineers, architects and contractors that are familiar with the
intricacies of modular fabrication and the erection stages of a build.
Increased education and outreach are crucial if we’re to impress the importance
of modular buildings and encourage uptake of these roles.
Renewed focus on quality and regulation
Following the Grenfell tragedy, there is quite rightly a
renewed focus on the quality of materials and the processes involved in
creating buildings. Again, this is where modular construction can offer some
much-needed assurances, chief of which being that the supply chain needs to be
much more connected with modular builds.
Not only does this ensure smooth delivery within a tight
timeframe, but it also limits the opportunities for materials to be spec’d out
and allows for a high level of accountability throughout the build process.
Climate change and sustainability
Although other issues have dominated the headlines of late,
there’s no escaping the fact that we’re still tackling a climate emergency and
sustainability remains a key concern across the built environment. Buildings
and the materials used in their construction account for a large proportion of
energy consumption in the UK.
Compared to a traditionally built project, up to 67% less
energy is required to produce a modular build. In addition, not only is the
actual construction ‘greener’, but more modular builds are now being installed
with energy-efficient systems such as solar panels and energy-efficient glass.
Offsite construction also has a positive impact on the
carbon footprint of the building as it allows for a reduction in the total
number of deliveries to sites by 90%.
Although there are a number of big challenges facing modular construction, there’s no doubt that it’s time to readdress how things are done. In light of the global crisis, it is now more important than ever for the industry makes the changes that are needed to make a strong recovery and futureproof the sector.
Original Source: PBC Today
