Modular

building

MODULAR BUILDING
-Modular buildingsandmodular homesare sectional
prefabricated buildings, orhouses, that consist of multiple
sections called modules.
- "Modular" is a method of construction (v. "stick-built" and
other methods). The modules are six sided boxes
constructed in a remote facility, then delivered to their
intended site of use. Using acrane, the modules are set
onto the building's foundation and joined together to make a
single residential, or commercial, building. The modules can be
placed side-by-side, end-to-end, or stacked up to 6 stories in
height, allowing a wide variety of configurations and styles in
the building layout.
-Modular buildings, also called prefabricated buildings,
differ
frommobile homes,
which
are
also
called
manufactured homes, in two ways. First, modular homes do
not have axles or a frame, meaning that they are typically
transported to their site by means of flat-bedtrucks.
-Modular buildings must conform to all local building
codes for their proposed use, while mobile homes, made in
the United States, are required to conform to federal codes

Uses
-Modular buildings may be used for long-term,
temporary
or
permanent
facilities,
such
as
construction camps, schools and classrooms, civilian and
military housing, and industrial facilities. Modular buildings
are used in remote and rural areas where conventional
construction may not be reasonable or possible, for
example, the Halley VI accommodation pods used for a
BAS Antarctic expedition.[2]Other uses have included
churches, health care facilities, sales and retail offices, fast
food restaurants and cruise ship construction.

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Modular components are typically constructed
indoors onassembly lines. Independent building
inspectors are on site to supervise the construction
and ensure that the company adheres to all building
codes during assembly.
Modules' construction may take as little as ten
days but more often one to three months.
Completed modules are transported to the building
site and assembled by a crane. Placement of the
modules may take from several hours to several days.
Once assembled, modular buildings are essentially
indistinguishable from typical site-built structures.
While mobile manufactured buildings often decrease
in value over time, a well-built modular building
should retain value similarly to site-built structures.

Ceiling dry walled in spray booth

Walls attached to floor

Bulk materials

Roof shingled and siding installed

Roof set in place

Ready for delivery to site

ADVANTAGES
Modular buildings are often priced lower than their site-built
counterparts, for a variety of reasons.Manufacturers cite the
following reasons for the typically lower cost/price of these
dwellings:
Speed of construction/faster return on investment.
Modular construction allows for the building and the site work
to be completed simultaneously, reducing the overall
completion schedule by as much as 50%.
Indoor construction. Assembly is independent of weather,
which increases work efficiency and avoids damaged building
material.
Favorable
pricing
from
suppliers.
Large-scale
manufacturers can effectively bargain with suppliers for
discounts on materials.
Ability to service remote locations. Particularly in countries
in which potential markets may be located far from industrial
centers, such as Australia, there can be much higher costs to
build a site-built house in a remote area or an area
experiencing a construction boom such as mining towns.
Modular homes can be built in major towns and sold to regional

 Low waste. With the same plans being constantly built, the
manufacturer has records of exactly what quantity of materials
are needed for a given job. While waste from a site-built dwelling
may typically fill several large dumpsters, construction of a
modular dwelling generates much less waste.[6]
Environmentally friendly construction process. Modular
construction reduces waste and site disturbance compared to
site-built structures.
Environmental benefits for used modular buildings. Preowned modular buildings in particular are recognized by the UK
Government as being extremely environmentally friendly
compared with an equivalent new manufactured building. When a
used modular building is relocated with minimal alterations, then
the amount of energy used is approximately 3% of the energy
that is required to manufacture a new equivalent modular
building when minimal alterations are made. The reason for this
is that the embodied energy contained within a modular building
is transportable and is locked within the fabric of the building.
Flexibility. Conventional buildings can be difficult to extend,
however with a modular building you can simply add sections, or
even entire floors[8]
Healthier. Because modular homes are built in a factory, the

DISADVANTAGES
Whilst there are many advantages to all forms of
modular buildings, there can be limitations also.
Volumetric: Transporting the completed modular
building sections take up a lot of space. This is
balanced with the speed of construction once
arrived on site.
Flexibility: Due to transport and sometimes
manufacturing restrictions, module size can be
limited, affecting room sizes. Panelised forms
and flat pack versions can provide easier shipment,
and most manufacturers have flexibility in their
processes to cope with the majority of size
requirements.

MATERIALS
The materials used in modular homes are the same
as site constructed homes. Wood-frame floors,
walls and roof are the most typical. Some
modular homes include brick or stone exteriors,
granite counters and steeply pitched roofs. All
modulars are designed to sit on a perimeter
foundation or basement. In contrast, mobile homes
are constructed with a steel chassis that is integral to
the integrity of the floor system. Mobile homes often
require special lenders. Most companies have
standard plans. However, all modular buildings can
be custom built to a client's specifications. Today's
designs include multi-story units, multi-family units
and entire apartment complexes. The negative
stereotype commonly associated with mobile homes
has prompted some manufacturers to start using the
term "off-site construction."

BUILDING STRENGTH
According to manufacturers, modular homes are
designed to be stronger than traditional homes by, for
example, replacing nails with screws and adding
glue to joints. This is supposed to help the modules
maintain their structural integrity as they are transported
on trucks to the construction site. However, it is difficult to
predict the final building strength since the modules need
to endure transportation stresses that traditional homes
never experience.
When FEMA studied the destruction wrought by
Hurricane Andrew in Dade County Florida, they concluded
that modular and masonry homes fared best compared to
other construction.[13]
Typically, a modular home contains about 10 to 20 percent
more lumber compared to traditional stick-built homes. This
is because modules need to be transported to the job site
and the additional lumber helps keep them stable.