Although prefabrication is not a new concept in the AEC industry as it has been around for centuries, it has recently reinvented itself with BIM’s growth. Building Information Modeling has enabled the use of prefabrication, making it more beneficial and feasible for construction projects. Keep reading to learn a few essential ways prefabrication can benefit your next AEC project. But first, what is prefabrication?
Prefabrication: A Brief Overview
Prefabrication, or ‘prefab,’ involves assembling components or buildings at a location other than the construction site. For instance, modular prefab entails building entire sections of a construction project before shipping the pieces to the site. Or panelization, which involves roofs, floors, and walls being constructed in factories before being transported to the construction site. The components are then attached to the existing structure on the construction site.
How does Prefabrication ADDMORE Value?
Prefabrication helps streamline an average of 26% savings in scheduling, 11% in cost, and up to 6% reduction in the need for re-work. In addition, it helps reduce hazards and increases safety by 17%. Site organization and coordination among teams are enhanced, and clients end up with higher-quality buildings in terms of how the structure is constructed. Here are a few not-to-be-missed benefits offered by prefabrication.
#1- Improved Safety
Construction is a hazardous sector to work in. Organizations strive to implement safer processes. There’s up to a 19% reduction in MEPF rack fall hazards, 52% reduction in roof decking fall exposure, 18% reduction in masonry arch-related hazards, and 51% decrease in wall panel hazards, considering most work is done closer to the ground with prefabrication. There’s also less risk for problems related to moisture, wind, dirt, dust, and environmental hazards as the sub-assemblies are manufactured in factory-controlled, standardized environments.
#2- Enhanced Quality and Consistency
Prefabrication allows working in controlled environments, using standard procedures. It helps set up standardized quality assurance checks, allowing the construction of better-quality buildings with uniform components.
#3 Accelerated Construction Process
It takes considerably less amount of time to construct after prefabrication compared to on-site construction. This can be attributed to the elimination of on-site conditions, precise planning, and simultaneous construction of multiple assemblies. The shorter construction times enable contractor companies to take on more projects simultaneously, allowing the business to grow immaculately.
#4 Eco-friendly Building
Prefabricated construction is way more environmentally friendlier than traditional methods in both the long and short term. Conventional building processes require more material, leading to increased waste. In contrast, prefabrication has a lower environmental impact. Waste directly goes to landfills in most traditional sites, whereas it gets recycled in factory-controlled environments. There is also room for better wall insulation and air filtration in controlled environments, which increases energy efficiency.
#5 Increased Cost-Efficiency
Fewer errors and greater efficiencies result in over 11% cost savings for each project. Using BIM, the construction industry can become more environmentally stable, economical, and sustainable. BIM is an incredibly helpful tool that helps companies and contractors visualize the project’s scope. It enables the designing of material flows and assembly processes suited for the particular project through precise measurements.
When change orders are significantly reduced, it helps visualize the material and cost differences, further reducing wasted labor hours or material costs. Knowing how long each component takes to fabricate after design translated into about 26% schedule savings. It allows contractors to turn over buildings to the owners sooner, enhancing their revenue stream – the sooner they can put their building to use, the quicker they can start generating revenue.
Virtually any AEC project can benefit from prefabrication, ranging from smaller repetitive units such as door trim assemblies to complete modular spaces with furnishings in place before installation. At ADDMORE Services, we help contractors take the benefits offered by prefabrication to another level with cost-effective prefab drawings for components manufactured off-site. It helps on-site installation become easier, eco-friendly, and less costly for contractors.
Firms interested in boosting profitability can also connect with us to learn more about several other offshoring and outsourcing solutions. We work with a team of highly qualified experts with extensive experience working with clients across various industries. Team ADDMORE has successfully helped businesses of all sizes and types thrive with a variety of services, including Primavera modeling services, BIM services, 2D and 3D CAD drafting services, Revit design services, takeoff estimating services, quantity surveying services, real estate rendering, construction project management, architectural drafting services, contract administration, construction planning, FF&E and OS&E solutions, and more.
We offer services to clients worldwide, but mainly in the Middle East, the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. Connect with us to learn more.