MODULAR

VOLUMETRIC
CONSTRUCTION
INDTRODUCTION
The purpose of this seminar is to review the
feasibility of using modular construction
techniques for hotel, housing and worker
accommodation developments.
We believe that a volumetric modular
construction has the potential to be one of
the key solutions to rapidly construct hotel,
housing and worker accommodation
developments.
One big advantage is that the developer
can be given a clear fixed construction
budget for the majority of the building due to
the modular factory process.
Other advantages are speed of
construction, environmental impact and
quality control.
Modular Construction - what is it?

Factory production of a fitted out room.

Pre-engineered building units.

Delivered to site as modular units and

assembled on site to form a building.

It may comprise highly serviced rooms

such as plant, bathrooms or kitchens
or bedrooms, lounges, stairwells.

It is a self supporting structure

Modular Construction why to use it?

Benefits include:

Short construction time/programme

High early return on capital investment
Significant cash flow advantages over
traditional build
Reduced need for skilled workforce on site
Less waste
High quality control
Reliable delivery timescale
Price certainty
Sustainable - can be relocated or recycled
Light weight gives foundation savings
Modular construction - when to use it?

Short programming required

Repetitive building type

Skill shortage on site

Certainty of delivery

High quality

Future relocation

Weather conditions have limited effect

Security issues

Price certainty
Architectural aspects
Rectangular or A high degree of
repetition is required
High quality factory finished rooms
Fully serviced rooms "ready to plug in"
via risers and corridor distribution
routes
90 minutes fire rating available with
double boards
Outstanding sound attenuation
Low rise or high rise projects
Thermal insulation easily upgraded
Maximum standard room width is
variable
Cladding choices
Variety of building shapes - usually
rectilinear but could be jutted out or
with balconies
Roofing Variety of methods and
products
Logistical requirements

Rooms must have repetition and preferably

be rectangular
For transportation, room sizes are flexible
Rooms wider than 5m may need to be
subdivided into smaller width units
Modules are lifted into place via a 4 or 6 point
lifting frame
Sequence of design, fit out and delivery to
site to suit installation sequence to avoid
double handling.
Durability and design life of
Modular units

Hot dip galvanised coated G275 g/m

steel

Minimum 100 year design life expected for

most buildings

A design life over 200 years can be

achieved with additional insulation

In all cases normal building maintenance

is required to fabric and cladding
Acoustic performance

This Modular building system can be super

insulated with higher than usual building
regulation requirements for both thermal and
acoustic insulation.

In addition to this, the system incorporates a

method of separating each individual module
acoustically which means that noise cannot be
transmitted easily through the structure.
The benefits of using the modular system for overseas construction

The ability to template all designs and specifications for generic types of
buildings

Fast-track set-up and operation of assembly plants.

Consistency of quality and build

Cost benefits of design and specification consistency

Reduction in design cost

Plants can be utilised for other purposes

Module fabrication

Following the building

design freeze the
modules are
fabricated in jigs
made from
galvanised LGS
cages

They have a design

life in excess of 100
years
Module fit out

Following delivery of
the modules to the fit-
out plant assembly is
commenced

The modules are fitted

out in accordance with
the building system
standard processes

Kitchens and
bathrooms are
installed along with
plumbing and
electrical systems

Doors, windows and

flooring are also
installed to clients
requirements
Module placement

Following assembly, the

modules are delivered to
site

Modules are lifted into

position and connected
together

All modules are

waterproof and
weatherproof immediately

System design satisfies

Building Regulations
progressive collapse
requirements
Module services connection

Once installed, the modules are

plugged and plumbed in
Module cladding and roofing

Following placement of the modules:

The cladding and roofing go on

simultaneously
Cladding could also be fitted in the
factory reducing on site programme.
Balconies can be fitted
External works are completed
Services are commissioned
Modular construction - summary

Volumetric systems

Standard size units

Load bearing three dimensional frames

Prefabricated and fitted out under factory conditions

Each module self-contained

Ideal for re-locatable applications

Identical units, e.g. Villas, apartment units or hotel rooms

Room sized units may serve as main structural components of an entire

building
Modular construction - summary

Light gauge steel frames provide:

Inherent rigidity
Can be built to strict tolerances
Advantages over timber frame systems
Dimensional stability
Durability
Modular systems are super-insulated
Walls and floors typically give 53dB reduction for sound
Typical u-values achieved for external walls are 0.21 W/m2k
Chaucer Street

Building type: Modular student accommodation

Located in the heart of Nottingham, this modular
project consists of a 6-storey, 300 bedroom,
student accommodation building, and the smaller
70 flats 4-storey Belgrave Suite.
.
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Student accommodation
Located on the tight site in central
Manchester is the 600 bedroom a hall of
residence for the Royal Northern College of
Music, comprising single and double
bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and
kitchens for each flat and common rooms.

The nine-storey block was totally

prefabricated off-site using the light gauge
modular system.
North Pole Road, London
This site was extremely confined, with the
proposed construction filling the entire 12m wide
by 100m long
North Pole Road, London - key worker housing
Rodney Road, Twickenham - social & private housing

This site lies directly between a mainline railway

and a busy road and thus required high levels of
sound insulation, this was easily provided with
the modular framing solution. Offering very good
acoustic performance both against external
noise and also the transmittal of sound between
units internally.
Rodney Road, Twickenham - social & private housing
Rodney Road, Twickenham - social & private housing
RNCM, Manchester
Wilmslow, Manchester
Wilmslow, Manchester
South Chase, Harlow - social & private housing
South Chase, Harlow - social & private housing

Traditionally clad to resembles traditional housing

Modular & Volumetric Ltd
Image House
72 Madison Ave
Birmingham, B36 8EQ, UK.
Tel: 0044 (0) 7753 675716
philwdm@aol.com