Modular volumetric construction in the field of civil engineering

1. MODULAR
VOLUMETRIC
CONSTRUCTION
June 2009

2. The purpose of this document is to review
the feasibility of using modular construction
techniques for hotel, housing and worker
accommodation developments.
We have highlighted the advantages and
disadvantages of a modular method of
construction. We believe that a volumetric
modular construction has the potential to be
one of the key solutions to rapidly construct
hotel, housing and worker accommodation
developments.
One big advantage is that the developer
can be given a clear fixed construction
budget for the majority of the building due to
the modular factory process.
Other advantages are speed of
construction, environmental impact and
quality control.
Executive summary

3. Modular Construction - what is it?
• Factory production of a fitted out room.
• Pre-engineered building units.
• Delivered to site as modular units and
assembled on site to form a building.
• It may comprise highly serviced rooms
such as plant, bathrooms or kitchens
or bedrooms, lounges, stairwells.
• It is a self supporting structure

5. Benefits include:
• Short construction time/programme
• High early return on capital investment
• Significant cash flow advantages over
traditional build
• Reduced need for skilled workforce on site
• Less waste
• High quality control
• Reliable delivery timescale
• Price certainty
• Sustainable - can be relocated or recycled
• Light weight gives foundation savings
Modular Construction - why use it?

6. Modular construction - when to use it?
• Short programming required
• Repetitive building type
• Skill shortage on site
• Certainty of delivery
• High quality
• Future relocation
• Weather conditions have limited effect
• Security issues
• Price certainty

7. Architectural aspects
• Rectangular or A high degree of
repetition is required
• High quality factory finished rooms
• Fully serviced rooms "ready to plug in"
via risers and corridor distribution
routes
• 90 minutes fire rating available with
double boards
• Outstanding sound attenuation
• Low rise or high rise projects
• Thermal insulation easily upgraded
• Maximum standard room width is
variable
• Cladding choices
• Variety of building shapes - usually
rectilinear but could be jutted out or
with balconies
• Roofing – Variety of methods and
products

8. • Rooms must have repetition and preferably
be rectangular
• For transportation, room sizes are flexible
• Rooms wider than 5m may need to be
subdivided into smaller width units
• Modules are lifted into place via a 4 or 6 point
lifting frame
• Sequence of design, fit out and delivery to
site to suit installation sequence to avoid
double handling.
Logistical requirements

9. • Hot dip galvanised coated G275 g/m²
steel
• Minimum 100 year design life expected for
most buildings
• A design life over 200 years can be
achieved with additional insulation
• In all cases normal building maintenance
is required to fabric and cladding
Durability and design life of Modular units

10. Acoustic performance
This Modular building system can be super
insulated with higher than usual building
regulation requirements for both thermal and
acoustic insulation.
In addition to this, the system incorporates a
method of separating each individual module
acoustically which means that noise cannot be
transmitted easily through the structure.

11. The benefits of using the modular system for overseas construction
• The ability to “template” all designs and specifications for generic types of
buildings
• Fast-track set-up and operation of assembly plants.
• Consistency of quality and build
• Cost benefits of design and specification consistency
• Reduction in design cost
• Plants can be utilised for other purposes

12. • Following the building
design freeze the
modules are
fabricated in jigs
made from
galvanised LGS
cages
• They have a design
life in excess of 100
years
Module fabrication

13. • Following delivery of
the modules to the fit-
out plant assembly is
commenced
• The modules are fitted
out in accordance with
the building system
standard processes
• Kitchens and
bathrooms are
installed along with
plumbing and
electrical systems
• Doors, windows and
flooring are also
installed to client’s
requirements
Module fit out

14. Module fit out

15. • Following assembly, the
modules are delivered to
site
• Modules are lifted into
position and connected
together
• All modules are
waterproof and
weatherproof immediately
• System design satisfies
Building Regulations
progressive collapse
requirements
Module placement

16. Once installed, the modules are
plugged and plumbed in
Module services connection

17. Following placement of the modules:
• The cladding and roofing go on
simultaneously
• Cladding could also be fitted in the
factory reducing on site programme.
• Balconies can be fitted
• External works are completed
• Services are commissioned
Module cladding and roofing

18. Modular construction - summary
Volumetric systems
• Standard size units
• Load bearing three dimensional frames
• Prefabricated and fitted out under factory conditions
• Each module self-contained
• Ideal for re-locatable applications
• Identical units, e.g. Villas, apartment units or hotel rooms
• Room sized units may serve as main structural components of an entire
building

19. Modular construction - summary
Light gauge steel frames provide:
• Inherent rigidity
• Can be built to strict tolerances
• Advantages over timber frame systems
• Dimensional stability
• Durability
• Modular systems are super-insulated
• Walls and floors typically give 53dB reduction for sound
• Typical u-values achieved for external walls are 0.21 W/m2k

20. Building type: Modular student accommodation
Located in the heart of Nottingham, this modular
project consists of a 6-storey, 300
bedroom, student accommodation building, and
the smaller 70 flats 4-storey Belgrave Suite.
.
Chaucer Street

21. Student accommodation
Located on the tight site in central
Manchester is the 600 bedroom a hall of
residence for the Royal Northern College of
Music, comprising single and double
bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and
kitchens for each flat and common rooms.
The nine-storey block was totally
prefabricated off-site using the light gauge
modular system.
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

22. This site was extremely confined, with the
proposed construction filling the entire 12m wide
by 100m long
North Pole Road, London

23. North Pole Road, London - key worker housing

24. This site lies directly between a mainline railway
and a busy road and thus required high levels of
sound insulation, this was easily provided with
the modular framing solution. Offering very good
acoustic performance both against external
noise and also the transmittal of sound between
units internally.
Rodney Road, Twickenham - social & private housing

25. Rodney Road, Twickenham - social & private housing

26. Rodney Road, Twickenham - social & private housing

27. RNCM, Manchester

28. Wilmslow, Manchester

29. Wilmslow, Manchester

30. South Chase, Harlow - social & private housing

31. South Chase, Harlow - social & private housing
Traditionally clad to resembles traditional housing

32. Modular & Volumetric Ltd
Image House
72 Madison Ave
Birmingham, B36 8EQ, UK.
Tel: 0044 (0) 7753 675716
philwdm@aol.com