In this case, the client’s architect may carry out some of the outline design, and may be novated by the client to work for the contractor. Guidance on transportation on major roads is given by the Road Haulage Association, based on the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations[2]. Modular units may be designed to be supported by a primary structure at a podium or platform level. Attachments between modules are made in both horizontal and vertical directions, primarily to transfer in plane forces, but also for structured integrity. Modules exceeding 4.3m width require additional speed restrictions and may require police escort. Structural frame of a corner supported module – end view, Longitudinal edge beams of a corner supported module. However, you might still have questions or be unsure about whether modular is right for you. Means of escape should be considered early in the scheme design in order to ensure that the module design and layout can satisfy these requirements. For this reason, fully open ended modules are not often used for buildings more than three storeys high. Floors. People are most familiar with this type of construction in the use of bathroom pods, which is a common method of construction … ‘Hybrid’ modular and panel building showing planar floors and walls attached to the modules, Load-bearing bathroom modules were used to support the floor cassettes at Lillie Road, Fulham(Image courtesy of Feilden Clegg Bradley). For example, homes built for final assembly in a hurricane-prone, earthquake or flooding area may include additional bracing to me… When … For modular construction, it is appropriate to include whole life measures, such as potential re-use, or re-location which are not properly reflected in conventional measures of sustainability. A welded fin plate to which the edge beams are bolted is shown. Traditional construction projects require that all work be completed on-site and from the ground up. Foam in the center … Overall stability is provided by additional bracing located in the walls of the modules. Insulation in the line of the roof pitch is used where a ‘warm roof’ is created. The actual width will vary between 200mm for insulated render and board materials to 320mm for brickwork. Module lengths depend on the overall building configuration, square footage requirements, and site layout, although they typically range from 30-72 feet long. The modules are arranged in a ‘spine’ through the building and the floors are attached to it. Floors and ceilings in modular construction are deeper than in more traditional construction. A column spacing of 7.2m is suitable for below ground car parking. Mineral wool is generally used. Modular structure construction is done using different types of materials such as wood framing, cold-formed steel framing, hot rolled steel, concrete, or a combination of these material assemblages. This results in a high-quality, cohesive structure that will last for decades to come. Design of joints. Integrated balconies within an open sided module. 'Design and Build’ process, in which the module manufacturer provides the detailed design and construction responsibilities. The following general design issues are reviewed below: The factors that influence the dimensional planning of modular systems in general building design may be summarised as: Brickwork design is based on a standard unit of 225mm width and 75mm depth. The process and design method of modular construction … The effect of transportation logistics on costs and module sizes. The horizontal distribution of services between modules varies, depending on the building type. The following basic requirements for transportation should be considered when designing the sizes of modular units: Stricter limits may be required for local roads, particularly in urban areas. Technical delivery conditions. This form of construction is very suitable for mixed retail, commercial and residential developments, especially for residential units above commercial areas or car parking, etc, particularly in urban projects. This will enable the parties to work together from inception to completion. Permanent Modular Construction (PMC). These buildings provide an alternative option to meet the broad, long-term space needs of businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and more. Cavity barriers are required within the cavity in the external wall between the module and the cladding at intersections with compartment walls. An example of a mixed development in Manchester is shown. The three structural cases of side supported (4-sided modules), corner supported (open sided) and frame supported modules require different overall ceiling floor dimensions for planning purposes, as follows: In most cases, 450mm may be adopted as a standard for the floor-to-ceiling dimension, although many systems provide shallower depths. These must resist the spread of smoke and flame and are required between all separate dwellings or fire compartments. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): Picture a cream cheese sandwich. The majority of modular construction work occurs off-site inside of a manufacturing facility. The module manufacturer acts as a specialist sub-contractor. Various forms of other modular components have been used in major building projects. The units are designed to be installed either as the construction proceeds or slid into place on the completed floor. The installation of electrical, plumbing and heating services in modular buildings can be largely carried out in the factory with final connections made on-site. The module design is similar to that described for 4 sided modules. In such cases, the role of the client’s architect will depend on the particular procurement process. SHS posts and bracing can be introduced in the walls to provide for overall stability. However, many common modular building myths remain. There are several ways of procuring modular buildings: A Design and Build contract is often used for modular construction. Plus, they’re more affordable than new buildings. The second option would be steel and concrete (Type II B non-combustible). Open-sided modules use deeper floor joists or lattice joists of 250 to 400 mm depth. Alternatively, they can be supported entirely by the modular structure. All walls and floors that provide a separating function between compartments require 60 minutes fire resistance. If the module configuration is repeated from other projects, then design time is much reduced. Ultimately, modular prioritizes efficiency, durability, and quality control. Balconies or other components can be attached to the corner or internal posts. Where the 4 sided modules are designed to be supported by steel or composite beams and the typical line load per supported floor is 15kN/m, columns are placed at 6 to 8m spacing. Two generic systems of facade construction may be considered: Cavity barriers must also be incorporated into any cavity that occurs between the external cladding and the modular structure. Each module is typically 12-14 feet wide to ensure it can be transported over-the-road to your building site. Placing the module in a recess in the floor of the main structure. It is typically used in residential buildings, particularly of terraced form, comprising modular ‘cores’ for stairs, and highly serviced areas. BSI, Modules supported by a primary structural frame, Approved Document B (Fire safety, Volume 2 – Buildings other than Dwellings), 2019 Edition. Modular construction provides a high level of acoustic separation because each module has separate floor, ceiling and wall elements, which prevents direct transfer of sound along the members. The beams are designed to support the combined loads from the modules above (normally a maximum of 4 6 storeys). Both options have their unique benefits. Floors of modules comprise C sections of 150 to 250 mm … In all cases, the maximum height of the load is 4.95m for motorway bridges. This solution … Shallow pitch roofs can be designed to be supported directly by the modular units and are easily dismantled. However, there are a variety of permanent modular construction (PMC) choices available. The responsibility for design and coordination usually lies with the building designer. The depth of the podium type structure is 800 to 1000mm, and spans of 10 to 18m can be created below the podium, which are suitable for commercial applications and car parking. Modules are manufactured from a series of 2D panels, beginning with the floor cassette, to which the four wall panels and ceiling panel are attached generally by screws. These factories can build walls, rooms, or entire multistory buildings using … Modular buildings are engineered and fabricated to meet the same building codes as traditionally-built structures. Non load bearing modules are of similar form to fully modular units, but are not designed to resist external loads, other than their own weight and the forces during lifting. In modular construction, the procurement process involves the specialist manufacturers. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, SCI P129 Building design using cold formed steel sections: Fire protection, SCI P299 Mini-Piles and Composite Ground Floors for Housing, SCI P302 Modular Construction using Light Steel Framing. Further information on pile foundations is given in SCI P299. In this blog, we’ll answer questions about modular construction methods, types of modular construction, modular construction materials, and much more. Other types of cladding, such as clay tiles or metallic finishes, have their own dimensional requirements, but generally they can be designed and manufactured to fit with window dimensions etc. Cladding requirements, including alignment with external dimensions of cladding, Planning grid for internal fit out, such as kitchens, Transportation requirements, including access to the site, Building form, as influenced by its functionality, Modules exceeding 2.9m external width require 2 days notice to the police, Modules exceeding 3.5m width require a driver’s mate and 2 days police notice. Along with your choice of framing, some other common materials used in modular building construction include: In most cases, you can completely customize the layout and floor plan of your modular building. Suitable for buildings with multiple repeated units, Size of units is limited by transport (3.6m x 8m is typical), Open sided units can be created (by changing the floor orientation), Modules are stacked with usually no independent structure, 4 to 10 storeys (6 is usually the optimum), Designing the depth of the floor of the module to be the same as the raised floor or. Claddings for modular buildings can be self supporting vertically and only supported laterally by the units. There are two main structural materials used in any type of modular construction: While steel and concrete are stronger building materials, wood-framed options are often a less-expensive option. ‘Modular construction’ is a term used to describe the use of factory-produced pre-engineered building units that are delivered to site and assembled as large volumetric components or as substantial elements of a building. BSI, BS EN 1993-1-8:2005 Eurocode 3. Internal walls comprising the walls of adjacent modules may be designed for a standard 300mm face face overall width, incorporating the sheathing boards, internal plasterboards and insulation between the C sections. Because modular construction takes place simultaneously in a factory and on-site, it can be completed in half the time of traditional construction. Various interfaces between modular units and other components in the building may not be under the control of the modular manufacturer. The benefits of modular construction, relative to more traditional methods, include: Modular construction is most commonly associated with cellular type buildings such as student residences or key worker accommodation. On the other, it is a building erected in a more efficient and sustainable way compared to a traditional construction. Your Ultimate Guide. Structural connections between modules are required for integrity and robustness but details vary depending on the form of the module and the particular application. These modular homes are intended … Modules using hot rolled steel framework can be designed to support concrete floors for use in medical and other applications, where strict control of vibrations is required. Special care needs to be taken around openings for service pipes or other penetrations, because sound attenuation is particularly affected by air pathways between spaces. The largest markets for modular construction are in student residences, military accommodation and hotels, but the health sector is significant as it requires highly complex services and medical installations that can be commissioned and tested off-site. A variety of foundations can be used, including strip, trench-fill, pad and piled foundations. Typical dimensions for planning in modular construction are presented in the table. This includes things like excavation, grading, foundation work, and utility installation. Longitudinal walls are usually load-bearing and the end walls provide for stability. Inspections are also performed at the project site during assembly to further verify the building’s structural integrity. Importantly, the ‘lead-in’ time required for prototype, design and manufacture of bespoke module units should be considered, although detailed design of the modular units can be carried out in parallel with other design activities. There are a variety of used modular buildings that are available for leasing. Walls. With strips, rafts or ground beams, the modular units can be designed to be continuously supported around the perimeter of each unit. Cladding that is completely or partially attached in the factory; infill pieces or secondary cladding may be fixed on-site. The modules are constructed in a similar way to that described for open-sided modules, but the loading applied to the side of the modules is significantly higher. As modular construction has continued to grow in popularity and usefulness, the industry has rapidly improved its products. The edge beams may be connected to these posts by fin plates, which provide nominal bending resistance. Once all of the piles have been screwed in per plan, they are levelled off to laser precision. Either a translift or a crane is used to set the modules and construct the completed building. This thesis will attempt to address the potential impact of high rise modular construction … Additional intermediate posts are usually square hollow sections (SHS), so that they can fit within the wall width. Designing the modules to be supported on the bottom flange of, Balconies supported by a self standing steel structure that is ground supported, Balconies attached between adjacent modules, Balconies that are attached to corner posts in the modules. Floor boarding, plasterboard and sheathing boards are attached using self drilling, self-tapping screws. Walls of modules comprise C sections of 75 to 150 mm depth. Modular construction generally achieves these requirements by the use of fire resistant plasterboard conforming to BS EN 520[4], Type F. Alternative materials, such as cement particle board and gypsum fibre board may also be used in combination with plasterboard as the facing layer. Guidance on the design and detailing of the most common connection types is given in BS EN 1993-1-8[5]. The walls and floor of these ‘pods’ are relatively thin (typically <100mm). Open-sided modules can be created by longitudinal floor and ceiling joists – end walls become load bearing. 4 sided modules can be designed with partially open sides by the introduction of corner and intermediate posts and by using a stiff continuous edge beam in the floor cassette. Depending on location and exposure to wind action, the height of buildings in fully modular construction is in the range of 6 to 10 storeys. Standardisation of the planning grid is important at the scheme design stage, as the planning grid will be controlled by other building components and fitments. In traditional construction, such activities are labour intensive on-site and are often on the critical path, so that any difficulties can cause delays. Designing the module without a floor (possible in small modules in which fitments are attached to the walls). For these applications it has the following features: The following table describes the various structural elements used in walls and floors of modules. It comes in several forms – the principal focus of this article is volumetric modular systems. Roofs may also be designed as modular units for habitable space, and ease of installation, especially in taller buildings. Modular units are lightweight and therefore foundations may be smaller than in traditional construction. For low rise buildings, in plane bracing or diaphragm action of the board materials within the modules provides shear resistance, assisted by the module to module connections, which transfer the applied wind forces to the group of modules. Don’t want to own your modular building for business purposes? In plane forces can be transferred by suitable connections at the corners of the modules. The levelling of the foundations or ground beams is crucial to the subsequent installation and alignment of the modular units. We recently released a podcast series called, “Built Modular”. transporting and assembling building elements for rapid site assembly to a greater degree of finish than in traditional piecemeal on-site construction Comments on how modular construction contributes to these indicators are given against each indicator. Electrical sockets penetrate the plasterboard layer, so they should be carefully insulated using quilt at their rear. Modular structure construction uses an inside-out approach to manufacturing a building. Construction speed. We’ll debunk a few of the most common misconceptions below. The screwpile method can be not only economical, but quite speedy in that a foundation for a modular … Where used, infill walls and partitions within the modules are non load bearing, except where walls connected to the columns provide in plane bracing. The podium structure is generally braced to resist wind loads and a separate braced core is often used to stabilise the group of modules above the podium level. The compression resistance of the corner or internal posts controls the maximum height of the building, but 6 to 10 storeys can be achieved, as for fully modular construction. construction methods, streamlined construction process, reduced material waste and higher construction quality. Two methods of specification by the architect are most commonly used: It should be recognised that each manufacturer undertakes the construction of their modular units differently and they will be prepared to offer advice and provide drawings at the concept stage. Flat roofs can also be constructed with a variety of weatherproof finishes. Nevertheless, the cladding options and building height may dictate the foundation design. For taller buildings, a steel podium frame may be provided on which the modules are stacked and supplemented by a concrete or steel core. In this case, the supporting columns are positioned at a multiple of the width of the modules (normally 2 or 3 modules). The maximum width of opening is limited by the bending resistance and stiffness of the edge member in the floor cassette. Robustness is provided by the ties between the modules with a normally assumed minimum tying force equivalent to half the loaded weight of the module (minimum value of 30kN). Overall stability is provided by the modules themselves, or by an external structure. Compatibility of the floor depth in the module and in the floor elsewhere is achieved by one of four methods: Balconies may be attached to modules in various ways: Atria may be created by attaching a lightweight steel roof to the upper modules or by by spanning the roof between the modules as shown. The gap between the floor and ceiling is a variable depending on the number of boards and the joist size. The most important zones that manufacturers have to take into consideration are local wind, heat, and snow load zones. Ready to move/modular (RTM) homes refer to modular homes that are constructed on our site and moved fully completed to customer sites on a truck. They are used as toilet/bathroom units, plant rooms or other serviced units and are supported directly on a floor or by a separate structure. Alternatively, non load bearing modules can be supported by a primary frame, and are installed as the construction proceeds. Flat Slab Construction. Roofs are designed to support the weight of the roof covering, snow loads, services and tanks stored on the roof space, and occupancy loads from habitable use. But the advantages do not stop there, so we are going to list all the benefits of a modular construction: 1. If you find yourself facing […], © 2015 Vanguard Modular Building Systems. However, conventional trussed rafter or purlin roofs are mostly used. Wind loads can be transferred horizontally through the corridor floors. Strip or trench-fill foundations are most common. Home construction projects can be completed 30-50% faster than using traditional construction methods. These factories can build walls, rooms, or entire multistory buildings using the same materials, codes, and standards as conventionally built construction. The main sectors of application of modular construction are: Thousands of modules are manufactured annually in the UK. Manufacturers use the method which best suits their manufacturing process and for which appropriate test data are available. PMC solutions are affixed to permanent foundations, which are custom-installed to precisely meet the specifications of each modular building. Span horizontally over a damaged area by acting as a deep beam ,or. For corner supported modules, a standard overall floor and ceiling depth of 600mm may be used. The form of construction is similar to that of 4 sided modules, except for the use of additional posts, generally in the form of 70 x 70 to 100 x 100 SHS members. The framework of the module is often in the form of hot rolled steel members, such as Square Hollow Section (SHS) columns and Parallel Flange Channel (PFC) edge beams, that are bolted together. Modular stairs may be designed as fully modular units and generally comprise landings and half landings with two flights of stairs. As open sided modules are only stable on their own for one or two storeys, additional vertical and horizontal bracing is usually introduced. | Privacy Terms, What Is Modular Building Construction? 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