Modern methods of construction (MMC) refer to the use of innovative, offsite manufacturing techniques to construct buildings and infrastructure. MMC is a departure from traditional construction methods that rely on on-site, labour-intensive construction processes.
There are several modern methods of construction:
- Offsite construction: This method involves constructing building components offsite in a factory-controlled environment, which are then transported and assembled onsite. This technique allows for precision manufacturing and reduced waste, resulting in quicker and more cost-effective construction.
- Prefabrication: Prefabrication involves the production of building components such as walls, floors, and roofs offsite, which are then assembled onsite. This method allows for greater flexibility in design, increased speed of construction, and reduced waste.
- Modular construction: Modular construction involves the manufacturing of entire building modules offsite, which are then transported to the construction site and assembled into a finished building. This method can significantly reduce construction time and costs, while also allowing for high levels of quality control.
- 3D printing: 3D printing is a relatively new method of construction that involves using a robotic arm to deposit layers of material to build a structure layer by layer. This method has the potential to reduce construction costs and increase design flexibility, as well as allowing for the creation of complex shapes and structures.
- Sustainable construction: Sustainable construction methods aim to reduce the environmental impact of construction, through the use of renewable materials, energy-efficient designs, and reduced waste. This method can help to reduce the carbon footprint of construction and create buildings that are more environmentally friendly.
Overall, modern methods of construction offer many advantages over traditional construction methods, including increased speed, reduced waste, improved quality, and increased sustainability.
The modern methods of construction (MMC) spectrum can be categorized into three main categories:
- Off Site manufactured products: This category includes building components that are manufactured offsite and then assembled onsite. Examples include precast concrete panels, timber frame systems, and steel frames.
- Offsite manufactured building systems: This category includes complete building systems that are manufactured offsite and then transported to the construction site for assembly. Examples include modular buildings, volumetric buildings, and panelised systems, and includes Qube Buildings’ innovative garden studios.
- Onsite manufacturing using advanced techniques: This category includes construction methods that use advanced techniques such as 3D printing, digital fabrication, and robotics to manufacture building components onsite. This category is still in its early stages but has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by allowing for greater customization and reducing waste.
Each category of MMC has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of MMC used for a particular project will depend on a range of factors, including project requirements, site conditions, and budget. The main benefits of MMC include reduced construction time, increased quality, improved sustainability, and reduced waste.
Modular buildings including Qube Buildings’ garden studios
Modular buildings are a type of building that is constructed offsite in modules or sections, which are then transported to the construction site and assembled to create a finished building. The manufacturing process for modular buildings typically involves the following steps:
- Design and engineering: The first step in manufacturing a modular building is to design and engineer the building using computer-aided design (CAD) software. The design must take into account the site conditions, building codes, and client requirements.
- Offsite manufacturing: Once the design is finalized, the modules are manufactured offsite in a factory-controlled environment. The modules are typically constructed using steel or wood frames and are finished with walls, ceilings, and flooring. We use our innovative and fully sustainable Bio-SIP’s in the construction of our garden studios and modular buildings, which do not require a structural frame, but instead are themselves, structurally reliable, in much the same way as existing SIP’s on the market today.
- Transportation: After the modules are manufactured, they are transported to the construction site using flatbed trucks, delivered on pallets to the customer. The modules are usually designed to fit within standard transportation dimensions to minimize shipping costs.
- Onsite assembly: Once the modules arrive on site, they are assembled by a team of skilled workers. The modules are typically stacked and bolted together, and the roof and exterior finishings are added.
- Connection of utilities: The final step in the manufacturing process is to connect the utilities such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. The connections are usually made using standardized connectors to ensure compatibility between modules.
Advantages of Modular buildings vs traditional construction
Modular buildings offer several advantages over traditional construction, including reduced construction time, improved quality control, and increased flexibility in design. The manufacturing process also allows for greater sustainability by reducing waste and energy usage compared to traditional construction methods.
Sustainability is a key consideration in modern methods of construction (MMC), and is of paramount importance to us here at Qube Buildings. MMC aims to reduce the environmental impact of construction through the use of renewable materials, energy-efficient designs, and reduced waste.
Some of the ways that sustainability is addressed within MMC include:
- Use of sustainable materials: MMC can use a variety of sustainable materials, such as recycled steel, sustainably-sourced timber, and recycled plastic. These materials have a lower carbon footprint than traditional building materials and can help to reduce the environmental impact of construction.
- Energy-efficient designs: MMC can incorporate energy-efficient designs, such as passive solar heating, natural ventilation, and high levels of insulation. These designs can help to reduce energy usage and lower the carbon footprint of the building.
- Reduced waste: MMC can significantly reduce waste during the manufacturing process by optimizing material usage and reducing excess. This can help to reduce the environmental impact of construction and save costs.
- Recycling and reusing: MMC can also incorporate recycling and reusing of materials, such as using recycled steel or reusing modular units from previous projects. This can help to reduce waste and lower the carbon footprint of construction.
- Life cycle analysis: MMC can use life cycle analysis to assess the environmental impact of a building throughout its entire lifespan, from manufacturing to demolition. This analysis can help to identify areas where sustainability can be improved and inform decision-making throughout the construction process.
Overall, sustainability is a core consideration in MMC, and for Qube Buildings, sustainability continues to drive our passion to create superior, innovative and high performance modular buildings.
The industry as a whole is continuously exploring new ways to reduce the environmental impact of construction and create more sustainable buildings. Our hope is that Qube Buildings contribute towards a cleaner, greener future for generations to come, through playing our part in developing MMC.
If you want to know more about how Qube Buildings contributes towards modern methods of construction, contact us at justin@qubebuildings.co.uk
