Innovative prefabrication construction methods are a hot topic of conversation in the development industry, and when we’re seeing 57-storey high-rises go up in 19 daysthere’s no question why.
A developer’s approach to prefabrication doesn’t have to be ‘all or nothing’, and some of the most creative uses of prefab are garnering the best results for projects across the country.
According to Cameron Monks, Business Development Director at Interpod Offsite, using modular prefabrication in residential projects can provide exciting levels of project efficiency and certainty – especially when it’s used unexpectedly and in difficult parts of the construction phase.
“The thing that prefabrication does, particularly when developers use modular prefabrication, is that it streamlines the construction process – allowing developers to bring a project to completion quicker,” Mr Monks said.
“Prefab is a simple way for developers to tackle particularly difficult to manage phases, and those developers using it creatively are getting tangible results in the form of time and money saved.”
The Interpod team use strict quality management systems.
Using Modular Bathroom Pods
Developers are now opting to take the headache out of one of the most notoriously problematic areas of large-scale residential construction – the bathroom – by using prefabricated modular bathroom pods.
“Imagine the ease of construction when your bathrooms are all being built offsite, to strict standards, and simply slotted into the project in line with an extremely tight construction schedule – it’s this type of innovative prefab use that really saves developers time and money,” Mr Monks said.
“By using a modular bathroom pod, developers can take their project to market quicker, while reducing their construction costs and streamlining the bathroom construction process.
“There’s no question that the bathroom is a tricky room for large-scale developers to get right, but an end-to-end bathroom solution provides unseen levels of cost and time certainty to the project.
“Since this is a unique and innovative approach to bathroom construction, it’s hard to cover all the in’s and out’s briefly – that’s why I recommend developers read up about it in our comprehensive industry guide: Designing for Pods Manual.”
A recently completed bathroom by Interpod Offsite for Duo Apartments, Melbourne.
Saving Time By Using Pre-Designed Prefab
As a quick and easy approach to a project, developers have begun looking toward standard pre-designed prefabrication solutions as an alternative of going through the lengthy custom design process.
“When trying to meet extremely tight project deadlines, developers need to be thinking out of the box and trying to save as much time as possible during the project design phase,” Mr Monks said.
“Choosing pre-designed prefabrication solutions is the best of both worlds: it saves developers time and money while providing an end-result that is in line with the overall project design.
“For example, if a developer has a standard student accommodation, hotel, aged care or residential project – a pre-designed modular bathroom can be quickly chosen, constructed and inserted into the project in a matter of months.”
An Interpod bathroom being craned into place
Strategically Choosing Either Sub-Assemblies Or Volumetric Modules
Taking into account the specific project requirements, developers have the choice between either sub-assemblies or volumetric prefabrication and choosing the right option will save both time and money and ensure a streamlined construction process.
“Volumetric modular construction, which is delivering the complete building as prefinished modules, is probably the most well-known form of prefabrication, with some very impressive and well publicized projects recently completed. This is unquestionably the fastest way to build, however it can be quite restrictive in terms of design, making it unsuitable for many projects,” Mr Monks said.
“Alternatively, if a developer is after a customised solution, and still wants to fast-track their construction and improve quality, they’re generally choosing to use sub-assemblies such as prefabricated service modules, bathroom pods, and plant rooms.
“These sub-assemblies arrive on site almost fully complete, bringing many of the advantages of full volumetric construction to a much wider range of projects. This is a great way for multi-level residential developers to save time and money on their projects without compromising on design or quality.”
The surge in developments using prefabrication in creative and unexpected ways goes to show the impact innovative approaches to construction have on the bottom line of even the most complex projects.
Cameron Monks is the Business Development Director of Interpod Offsite, Australia’s industry leading manufacturer of prefabricated modular bathroom pods. Interpod’s approach to prefabrication provides Australia’s largest developers with new levels of project certainty and efficiency by streamlining their clients’ projects.
Cameron Monks speaks with attendees at Sydney Build 2016.
Interpod Offsite are passionate about educating the industry on the possibilities of modular bathrooms and have created ‘Designing For Pods’, a CPD workshop offered in conjunction with Refuel and the Australian Institute of Architects.
Source: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com