Modular Construction - An Introduction

Ever since I started my first article about modular construction almost two decades ago, I was asked by many people to describe modular. Many thought they were mobile homes like those built in the early days of mobile home parks. Some thought they came with axles and wheels and could be towed like travel trailers. So explaining a modular home has always been a comparison to what it wasn’t.

Funny thing though. Even with all the press, modular construction gets, more people than you would believe are still confused. So let’s take a look at modular construction and see if we can’t clear up the mystery of modular housing.

Modular construction is the process of using units constructed off-site, in a factory environment, to form a complete building.  The units can be newly built for purpose or converted from old shipping containers, giving a new lease of life to otherwise unused pods. The units, called modules or floors in the trade, are six-sided boxes completed with every possible procedure that can be completed in the factory. 

Everything from insulation, interior and exterior walls, windows, doors, cabinetry, flooring, bathrooms, and all the mechanicals, electrical, and plumbing.

 

The units are transported to the site and craned into place.  However, modular units can be freestanding structures in themselves, taking the form of entire houses or office pods, delivered directly to the site, ready for placement.

The high level of detail on air tightening and insulation measures undertaken on each unit in the factory aids the reduction of carbon emissions, contributing to the government-mandated target of net zero by 2050.

There is a lesser time constraint, as construction can be brought to site very quickly following the completion of groundworks, limiting build and disruption times on-site.

There is a reduced risk of defects, as units generally undergo a more rigorous quality assurance process than a traditional build may do, before being delivered to a client.

Modular construction is not dependent on environmental factors, such as weather conditions, therefore lowering the overall risk level of the project.

Modular units comply with the same building regulations as traditional buildings.  As the modules are manufactured in factory conditions, they are easier to inspect for compliance with building regulations, as multiple modules can be inspected at the same time, at the same stage of construction, and any snags can be dealt with in the factory.

As modules are stacked to form multi-story structures, the connection details between units and fire-stopping methods are more complicated than in traditional builds. Preparation in the design and the use of BIM by some modular factories help make sure all these multi-story buildings, both residential and commercial, fit together smoothly with minimal problems.

Modular is not your grandfather’s mobile home or RV. Modular is simply a better way to build traditional housing and commercial buildings that are equal and in a lot of instances better than buildings built at the jobsite.

With the lack of skilled labor available to general contractors, most of the work of building a home or housing project can be finished faster using modular construction.

Modular is a method of construction, not a type of building.