NAME: BHUPINDER

CR: 1914125

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
 ● Modular Units.
● Modular Construction.
● Types of Modular Construction
● Material Used.
Topics to discuss ●
●
Sectors of its applications
Some Modular Buildings
● Advantages and Disadvantages
● Conclusion.
Modular Units
What are Modular
Units?
Modular units or modules are
the sections that are joined
together to make a
prefabricated building or
house. The number of units
required differs depending
on the size and style of the
finished project.
Modular Construction
What is Modular Construction?
Modular construction is the process in which a building (whether it be an
apartment, business building, and even homes are now starting to be built with
shipping containers) is constructed off-site, under controlled conditions, using
the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as
conventionally built facilities - but in about half the time. The process consists of
buildings produced in modules to be later put together on site.

This type of construction, which is a common method of construction in many

residential and hospitality projects.
When was Modular Construction Invented?

The first recorded instance of modular construction came in the 1830s, when a
London carpenter called John Manning made a prefabricated home for his son.
This home was made in parts before being shipped from England to Australia
and assembled.

This construction method was also popular during the 1840s California Gold
Rush in the United States, when it was used to build the ‘Crystal Palace for
Britain’s Great Exhibition of 1851, and grew in popularity with the creation of
prefab structures both during World War Two and for rapid rebuilding of
homes following the end of the war. The popularity of modular construction in
the U.S.A. has led to the creation of the Modular Building Institute.
Types of Modular
Building Construction
Relocatable building:

Most of the reputation that modular buildings have as temporary buildings

comes from relocatable buildings. They are partially or completely assembled
building modules that are designed for multiple use.

This means that they can be used in one place, then removed from there and
used elsewhere as needed. Modules of this nature include construction site
offices, medical clinics, sales centers and pretty much any type of building
that meets a temporary space need.

The fact that these buildings are relocatable does not mean they’re “cheap” or
“flimsy” either. All relocatable buildings are designed and built to code. They
are just as strong as buildings erected on-site but with the added advantage
of fast delivery, easy relocation and wonderful flexibility.
A Relocatable Building
Permanent modular construction:
Permanent modular construction (PMC) constitutes the next phase of the
development of modular construction. It is with PMC that modular construction is
now challenging the space of traditional construction.

Contrary to relocatable buildings, PMC involves the creation of innovative modular

building that is meant to stay in one site. It delivers sustainable construction using a
method that involves prefabrication of buildings in deliverable modules.

As such, PMC enables the use of modules to construct a building project “piecemeal”,
module by module. When the construction is done, the result looks just like any other
house or office on the street, only with the distinction that it’ll seem to have sprung
up in the night!
They are virtually the same with traditionally constructed buildings. However, they
use more sustainable “green” materials, allow for more innovative solutions and
provide limitless design opportunities.
A Permanent Modular Building
What materials are used in modular building
construction?
There are two major framing types used in modular construction. Instead of
brick and mortar, modular buildings use either a standard wood-frame
construction made of lumber or steel and concrete. Both have their unique uses
although, steel and concrete are generally stronger and less combustible.

Apart from these, modular construction uses many other materials, especially as
the modules come with full interior finish. The materials include:
● Acoustical ceiling
● Drywall or VCG (vinyl covered gypsum) interior wall finish
● CPVC, pex, or copper piping/tubing
● Wood trusses used for roofing
● VCT (vinyl composite tiles) or ceramic tiles
Applications of
Modular Designs
The main sectors of application of modular construction are:

● Private housing
● Social housing
● Apartments and mixed use buildings
● Educational sector and student residences
● Key worker accommodation and sheltered housing
● Public sector buildings, such as prisons and MoD buildings
● Health sector buildings and hotels.
Advantages and
Disadvantages
Advantages of Modular Construction:
● Less Materials Waste
● Less Material Exposure to Inclement Weather
● Less Site Disturbance
● Safer Construction
● Rapid installation on site (6-8 units per day)
● High level of quality control in factory production
● Low selfweight leading to foundation savings
● Cost-Effective
Manufacturing building components off-site:
● More controlled conditions for weather, quality control, improved
supervision of labor, easier access to tools, and fewer material
deliveries.
● Fewer job-site environmental impacts
● Compressed project schedules
● Fewer conflicts in work crew scheduling and better sequencing of
crafts persons.
● Reduced requirements for on-site materials storage and fewer losses
of materials
● Increased workers safety.
Disadvantages of Modular Construction:
● Size Constraints (Specific dimension or loading limitations due
to transportation)
● Site Constraints (An irregularly shaped site may pose design
issues since modules are usually rectangularly shaped)
● High transport cost and Risk / Geographic location of the factory
● Skilled labour and supervision is required.
● Changes in design during manufacturing can be difficult and
expensive to accommodate.
● Low Resale Value
Modular Buildings over Construction
Conclusion:

The module-to-module combination of the units appears to

have provided an inherently rigid system that performed much
better than conventional buildings.

This concept incorporates skilled labor, assembly line

production, high efficiency, consistent quality, and speed. Work
is completed at each station along the assembly line by skilled
professionals.
It generates a lot less waste than stick-built construction.
Because modular construction is completed inside a controlled
environment, there is no risk of having materials damaged by
moisture penetration.

This gives modularly built projects an interior air quality that is

greatly superior to stick-built construction. Because of all of
these things, modular construction is considered much
"greener".
 REFERENCES:

1. Wikipedia
2. Pinterest
3. SlideShare
4. Google