A Discussion Around Modern Methods of Construction
We examine the advantages of MMC, why we’re not as far ahead as we could be with it and what are the barriers to this.
Despite the know-how around Modern Methods of Construction among industry professionals, the question is why aren’t they used more? This is especially pertinent when MMC clearly have so many advantages, among them quality, sustainability and labor efficiencies.
MMC can refer to a number of processes including volumetric or offsite manufacturing, the production of offsite panelized systems and offsite hybrid systems. Implemented in the right place during the most appropriate projects, they can deliver on budget and program. It's the initial perception of how much a bespoke built solution for a particular requirement is going to cost as you’re in effect paying for research and development at that point. But the end result could yield dividends far beyond the life of that particular project.
The watchword here is standardization and to what extent the industry can start to accept this, while not losing that ability to create a building that is bespoke and special. It’s about getting the balance between 80% of the functionality from your standard details but then having the rest of the operation dealt with in a different, more customized way. And to that end, cost gradually becomes less of an issue as you build on economies of scale in manufacturing as you take away that initial learning curve. And if you can save money on the standardized sections of the build that then allows you to spend more on the remaining 20% part. After all clients often want something that's specific to them, that sells their brand or creates their environment,
The issue with MMC becoming more mainstream is the perception of risk. But the reality is that there’s risk in a number of elements from the prototype being the finished design down to the availability of labor at the right site at the right time and whether people working there have the correct tools, even down to factors such as the weather hindering construction.
There needs to be an agent for change, whether that’s government legislation or proving to our peers in the construction sector of the advantages of this way of doing things. There's change which is required from both sides of the construction table from the design team through to the contractors. Everyone needs to understand what the capacity for standardization is and what the end scenarios are, plus the benefits. Hopefully over the next few years, we will start to see more factories being established to enable MMC to become more available on a greater number of projects.
MMC can achieve a greater speed of construction by delivering the product to site in a more managed way that then requires fewer people to travel to site to perform certain tasks because they will have been completed in the factory where the parts or modules have been prefabricated. And with the cost of materials going up, any efficiency gains have to be welcomed. Also, by being able to make modifications at the factory rather than leaving it till much later in the process on site, you should achieve a better quality end result as well.
The concept of MMC brings with it other benefits, among them a more sustainable approach to construction. If you create something in a factory, it's going to be more design efficient, and you can work with the various stakeholders towards zero carbon goals. Given the fact there are thousands of buildings in cities around the world that are decades old and may otherwise become obsolete, MMC can be a key part of retrofitting these structures, saving on embodied carbon and making them fit for purpose again. In essence, MMC can help drive a sustainable future and might be the deciding factor in whether this practice is more widely adopted.
MMC may also help to address the labor and skills shortage in the construction sector. It could mean less labor is required on site if components are already manufactured off site. This requires a mindset change from the reliance on subcontracting and casual labor associated with the traditional methods of construction but would still need investment in training and development in the factories where modularized components are made. These employment opportunities may prove more attractive in terms of stability, better pay and conditions compared, not only to construction site work but also other growing sectors of employment such as online shopping fulfilment centers.
There’s a number of reasons to continue the drive towards standardized products and modern methods of construction. It’s about everyone from the funder to the contractor becoming better educated. We’ve got to change mindsets.
To watch the full roundtable recording please visit the PBC Today website.
