Critical issues stifling the WA building industry like severe labour shortages and escalating material costs can be overcome with modern modular construction according to the experts at Proven Project Management.
Project Director Neill Laurenson says the timeframe and budget blowouts currently being experienced in construction using traditional methods can be prevented using modular, particularly in bulk builds like Defence, Healthcare, Education and Government rent-to-buy schemes.
However, the benefits of modular are not limited to those scenarios. Increasingly, innovative private sector operators are embracing the efficiency of modular as an economical solution for projects like hotels and apartments, specifically focusing on the ‘low-hanging fruit’ opportunities for modular, by using pre-made bathroom pods.
In addition, both nationally and internationally industries including Mining and Tourism, seeking to house large workforces quickly and efficiently, are looking increasingly to high quality modular accommodation.
Mr Laurenson explains that one of the biggest benefits is the vastly accelerated schedules, with reduced construction time up to 65 percent and huge environmental benefits with up to 90 percent reduction in waste.
“Manufacturing in a controlled environment, optimises construction materials and minimises waste,” he explains.
“Modular construction is process-oriented construction which lends itself to be more efficient.
“Being an indoor quality-controlled environment, just like a car assembly line, a prefabricated building module has built-in quality checks and because modular units must be trucked long distances and then moved by crane or another method onto a foundation, they must also be extremely structurally sound.”
Other benefits include no weather delays during fabrication, work sites that are safer and construction undertaken by a workforce that is permanent, diversely multi-skilled and therefore flexible.
In addition, if needs change some modular buildings can be relocated for their next use, further reducing costs.
Modular construction is not a new concept. Post World War II it was embraced as an answer to the skills and labour shortage, and high cost of materials.
Mr Laurenson says with similar challenges facing the construction industry now, Western Australians are quickly realising that modular solutions for commercial and residential projects are a commonsense path out of the building crisis.
“Our team at Proven Project Management has extensive experience in the design and delivery phases of modular systems and we welcome the opportunity to guide clients to smart and super-efficient modular solutions,” he says.
