The document discusses modern methods of construction (MMC) as an alternative to traditional construction methods. It notes that building regulations in the UK have expanded to consider thermal and acoustic performance. Some house builders are looking to MMC to more predictably meet higher performance standards. MMC refers to off-site manufacturing techniques like volumetric, panelized, and hybrid construction where components are factory-produced and assembled on-site. Specific MMC methods like structural insulated panels are highlighted. Benefits of MMC include increased quality, efficiency and performance.

1. MODERN METHODMODERN METHOD
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Revisions to Building RegulationsRevisions to Building Regulations
 Building Regulations in the past were onlyBuilding Regulations in the past were only
concerned only with the health and safetyconcerned only with the health and safety
of people in and around buildings.of people in and around buildings.
 More recently the Regulations have beenMore recently the Regulations have been
broadened to cover the performance ofbroadened to cover the performance of
buildings.buildings.
 This includes thermal and acousticThis includes thermal and acoustic
performance.performance.

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House builders are concerned withHouse builders are concerned with
meeting higher standards, but withmeeting higher standards, but with
the prospect that performance mightthe prospect that performance might
be tested after construction.be tested after construction.
This can lead to costly remedial workThis can lead to costly remedial work
if performance falls short of theif performance falls short of the
standard required.standard required.

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Some house builders are lookingSome house builders are looking
at MMC as a potential way ofat MMC as a potential way of
providing more predictableproviding more predictable
performance in the completedperformance in the completed
dwelling.dwelling.

5. WHAT ARE MODERN METHODS OFWHAT ARE MODERN METHODS OF
CONSTRUCTION?CONSTRUCTION?
 Modern methods of construction is aModern methods of construction is a
collective term used to describe a numbercollective term used to describe a number
of construction methods.of construction methods.
 The methods being introduced into UKThe methods being introduced into UK
house building differ significantly from so-house building differ significantly from so-
called conventional construction methodscalled conventional construction methods
such as brick and block.such as brick and block.

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Housing Corporation-classificationHousing Corporation-classification
system for dwellingssystem for dwellings
 Off-site manufactured – VolumetricOff-site manufactured – Volumetric
 Off-site manufactured – PanellisedOff-site manufactured – Panellised
 Off-site manufactured – HybridOff-site manufactured – Hybrid
 Off-site manufactured – Sub-assembliesOff-site manufactured – Sub-assemblies
and componentsand components
 Non off-site manufactured modernNon off-site manufactured modern
methods of constructionmethods of construction

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 Definition based on attributes such asDefinition based on attributes such as
efficiency and quality.efficiency and quality.
 Most MMC being constructed at present isMost MMC being constructed at present is
subject to Housing Corporation grants.subject to Housing Corporation grants.
 The information in this PPT is thereforeThe information in this PPT is therefore
based on that systembased on that system

8. Volumetric constructionVolumetric construction
 Three-dimensional units produced in aThree-dimensional units produced in a
factory, fully fitted out before beingfactory, fully fitted out before being
transported to site and stacked ontotransported to site and stacked onto
prepared foundations to form the dwellingsprepared foundations to form the dwellings

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 VOLUMETRIC / MODULARVOLUMETRIC / MODULAR
CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION
Volumetric construction (often referred toVolumetric construction (often referred to
as modular construction) involves theas modular construction) involves the
production of three-dimensional units inproduction of three-dimensional units in
controlled factory conditions, prior tocontrolled factory conditions, prior to
transportation to site.transportation to site.

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 Modules can be delivered to site in aModules can be delivered to site in a
variety of formsvariety of forms
 some may simply be a basic empty shellsome may simply be a basic empty shell
awaiting on-site finishingawaiting on-site finishing
 others may have already been completelyothers may have already been completely
fitted out with all the necessaryfitted out with all the necessary
internal/external finishes and services, andinternal/external finishes and services, and
be purely ready for on-site assembly.be purely ready for on-site assembly.

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 The maximum size of a volumetric unit isThe maximum size of a volumetric unit is
only really determined by the practicalitiesonly really determined by the practicalities
of transportation, road and site access.of transportation, road and site access.
 The strength and rigidity of the modules isThe strength and rigidity of the modules is
a very important factor and must bea very important factor and must be
sufficient enough to allow them to besufficient enough to allow them to be
securely transported and craned intosecurely transported and craned into
place on-site without being damaged.place on-site without being damaged.

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 The majority of the volumetric constructionThe majority of the volumetric construction
in the UK to date has been used in:in the UK to date has been used in:
 HotelsHotels
 student accommodationstudent accommodation
 health authoritieshealth authorities
 NHS Trusts and fast food sectors.NHS Trusts and fast food sectors.

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 Family-sized accommodation is becomingFamily-sized accommodation is becoming
increasingly popular.increasingly popular.
 Terraced ‘town-house’ might typically beTerraced ‘town-house’ might typically be
broken down in four basic modules, plus abroken down in four basic modules, plus a
roof and even possibly a dormer windowroof and even possibly a dormer window
module.module.

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 Weatherby Building System (WBS’s)Weatherby Building System (WBS’s)
range of systems are ideal for use withrange of systems are ideal for use with
volumetric modules and include traditionalvolumetric modules and include traditional
polymer cement renders, thin-coat siliconepolymer cement renders, thin-coat silicone
& acrylic finishes and brick slip cladding,& acrylic finishes and brick slip cladding,
which can all be applied either prior to sitewhich can all be applied either prior to site
delivery or after the modules have beendelivery or after the modules have been
finally positioned on-site.finally positioned on-site.

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Some of the benefits of VolumetricSome of the benefits of Volumetric
ConstructionConstruction
 More cost effective that traditionalMore cost effective that traditional
methods of constructionmethods of construction
 Rapid on-site assembly timeRapid on-site assembly time
 Improved qualityImproved quality
 Reduced defects & snaggingReduced defects & snagging

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 Less disruption on-siteLess disruption on-site
 Better predictability and controlBetter predictability and control
 Good thermal, acoustic and wind resistantGood thermal, acoustic and wind resistant
propertiesproperties
 Fantastic choice of external finishesFantastic choice of external finishes
availableavailable

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Arquitectonica
Trinity Place
San Francisco,
California

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Arquitectonica
Trinity Place
San Francisco, California

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 The buildings are conceived as a series ofThe buildings are conceived as a series of
rectangular prisms that rest on eachrectangular prisms that rest on each
other.other.
 Each building has a different volumetricEach building has a different volumetric
composition that results in an individualcomposition that results in an individual
expression within the common vocabularyexpression within the common vocabulary
of the block.of the block.

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 The arrangement of volumes is intendedThe arrangement of volumes is intended
to form a multidimensional neighborhoodto form a multidimensional neighborhood
of buildings, with some structuresof buildings, with some structures
expectedly anchored firmly on the ground,expectedly anchored firmly on the ground,
some less expectedly suspended abovesome less expectedly suspended above
other volumes, some informallyother volumes, some informally
overlapping.overlapping.
 A large vertical “gateway,” with a grandA large vertical “gateway,” with a grand
staircase, leads up to the interior park-likestaircase, leads up to the interior park-like
courtycourty

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Panellised construction systemsPanellised construction systems
 Flat panel units built in a factory andFlat panel units built in a factory and
transported to site for assembly into atransported to site for assembly into a
three-dimensional structure or to fit withinthree-dimensional structure or to fit within
an existing structurean existing structure

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 Systems can include wall, floor and roofSystems can include wall, floor and roof
panels to create the complete structuralpanels to create the complete structural
shell.shell.
 Factory-made structural floor and roofFactory-made structural floor and roof
panels are known as ‘cassettes’.panels are known as ‘cassettes’.

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There are many different types of panel, theThere are many different types of panel, the
Main-types are:Main-types are:
 Open panels: panels delivered to siteOpen panels: panels delivered to site
where insulation, windows, services andwhere insulation, windows, services and
linings are fitted.linings are fitted.
 All structural components are visible.All structural components are visible.

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 Panels can be structural (transmitting loadPanels can be structural (transmitting load
to the foundations) or non-structural (usedto the foundations) or non-structural (used
as non-load bearing separating walls andas non-load bearing separating walls and
partitions).partitions).

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 Closed panels: panels based on aClosed panels: panels based on a
structural framing system (such as thestructural framing system (such as the
type used for open panel systems), whichtype used for open panel systems), which
can have factory fitted windows, doors,can have factory fitted windows, doors,
services, internal wall finishes andservices, internal wall finishes and
externalexternal
cladding.cladding.
 The internal structural components canThe internal structural components can
only be seen around the perimeter of theonly be seen around the perimeter of the
panel.panel.

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 Concrete panels: structural wall panels,Concrete panels: structural wall panels,
which can include cladding (often bricks orwhich can include cladding (often bricks or
brick slips), insulation materials, windowsbrick slips), insulation materials, windows
and doors.and doors.
 Composite panels: panels made from aComposite panels: panels made from a
combination of different materials that actcombination of different materials that act
together to provide structural support.together to provide structural support.

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 Structural insulated panels are a specificStructural insulated panels are a specific
form of composite panel.form of composite panel.
 Structural insulated panels (SIPS):Structural insulated panels (SIPS):
sandwich construction comprising twosandwich construction comprising two
layers of sheet material bonded to a foamlayers of sheet material bonded to a foam
insulation core.insulation core.
 They do not rely on internal studs for theirThey do not rely on internal studs for their
structural performance.structural performance.

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 Used primarily as wall and roof panels.Used primarily as wall and roof panels.
 Infill panels: non-loadbearing panelsInfill panels: non-loadbearing panels
inserted within a structural frame.inserted within a structural frame.
 Any type of panel can be used althoughAny type of panel can be used although
framed panels are more common.framed panels are more common.
 Masonry can also be used.Masonry can also be used.
 itit

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 Curtain walling: vertical building enclosureCurtain walling: vertical building enclosure
system that supports no loads other thansystem that supports no loads other than
its own weight and the environmentalits own weight and the environmental
loads that act uponloads that act upon

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Volumetric units integrated with panellisedVolumetric units integrated with panellised
systemssystems
 Hybrid construction is also referred to asHybrid construction is also referred to as
semivolumetric construction.semivolumetric construction.
 Highly serviced areas such as kitchens orHighly serviced areas such as kitchens or
bathrooms can be constructed asbathrooms can be constructed as
volumetric units, with the rest of thevolumetric units, with the rest of the
dwelling constructed with panels.dwelling constructed with panels.

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What is SIP's,
Structural Insulated
Panels?

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 Steel SIP's are engineered panels madeSteel SIP's are engineered panels made
from a dense core of EPS (expandedfrom a dense core of EPS (expanded
polystyrene) sandwiched between twopolystyrene) sandwiched between two
exterior layers of galvanized steel,exterior layers of galvanized steel,
resulting in a solid one-piece that providesresulting in a solid one-piece that provides
structural framing, insulation, and exteriorstructural framing, insulation, and exterior
sheathing.sheathing.
 The 200mm wide interlocking panels areThe 200mm wide interlocking panels are
strongstrong

39. First few courses; note theFirst few courses; note the
sandy soilsandy soil

40. Closer View of first few coursesCloser View of first few courses

41. First storeyFirst storey

42. Different wall thicknessesDifferent wall thicknesses
shownshown

43. External ViewExternal View

44. External ViewExternal View