Towards adoption of prefabrication in construction

TLDR: In this article, a feasibility analysis of prefabrication in construction activities is provided based on a questionnaire survey and a financial analysis is also investigated by a local case study, which shows that wastage generation can be reduced by up to 100% after adopting prefabrics, in which up to 84.7% can be saved.

About: This article is published in Building and Environment.The article was published on 2007-10-01 and is currently open access. It has received 489 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Prefabrication.

Figures

Table 15: Project Details

Table 2: Landfill life expectancy [13]

Figure 3: Hindrances on applying prefabrication

Table 10: Details of the interviewed construction projects

Figure 4: Future development for prefabrication applications

Table 1: Landfill void space consumption [13]

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What contributions have the authors mentioned in the paper "Towards adoption of prefabrication in construction author" ?

Lack of the environmental supports from construction stakeholders should not be provided. The current implementation of prefabrication seems can not provide satisfactory results to the construction industry. This paper provides a feasibility analysis in adopting prefabrication in construction activities. The suitability in adopting prefabrication of various project types is also examined. Furthermore, a financial analysis is also investigated by a local case study. 

Q2. What is the need for the industry to adopt new construction methods or technologies?

For sustainable development and to conserve landfill capacity, there is an urgent need for the industry to adopt certain new construction methods or technologies, which can reduce waste effectively [13]. 

Q3. What are the controls in construction waste?

The local government’s controls in construction waste include the implementation of Environmental Management System (EMS), Waste Reduction Framework Plan (WRFP) and various environmental related Ordinances. 

Q4. What is the common method of construction for structural frame?

Although conventional method is recommended by the majority of the respondents, system formwork is also ranked as the second recommended construction method for structural frame for enhancing the performance in terms of productivity and waste reduction; however it should depends on the natures of projects. 

Q5. What is the main reason why Petts promoted the community involvement in implementing waste management?

Petts [2] promoted the proactive community involvement in implementing waste management, and suggested consensus building among the public in order to control waste generation and mitigate the waste impacts to the environment. 

Q6. What are the main construction elements that are recommended for public housing, private residential and commercial projects?

Although the majority of the construction elements, including substructure, drainage and underground services, structural frame, external works, internal works and building services are recommended cast-in-situ, modular prefabrication should also be encouraged in the construction, which should found to be effective and efficient from the experiences of the United Kingdom [19]. 

Q7. What are the main types of construction projects that are considered?

For collecting the experiences and opinions in adopting prefabrication in the construction site activities, four major types of building projects are considered, namely, general project, public housing, private residential and commercial projects. 

Q8. What is the main reason why the waste management is implemented as part of project management functions?

Coffey [3] pointed out that considerable waste reduction can be achieved if waste management is implemented as part of project management functions. 

Q9. What is the role of prefabrication in the construction industry?

The development of the effective prefabrication models for general project, public housing, private residential and commercial projects should also be demonstrated as another waste minimization trend in the construction industry. 

Q10. What are the common construction methods for public housing, private residential and commercial projects?

escalator, lift and distribution ductwork are prefabricated offsite for site installation; however, the majority of the respondents are suggesting conventional construction methods of 76.9%, 67.9%, 63% and 59.3% on plant room, lift, escalator and distribution ductwork construction respectively. 

Q11. What are the main construction methods for public housing, private residential and commercial projects?

Although conventional construction methods are still the major adoption in the construction for housing and commercial developments, the building services on commercial projects are recommended for adopting neither semi-prefabrication or comprehensive prefabrication of 40% and 40%, 25% and 25%, and 16.7% and 66.6% for distribution ductwork, plant room, and lift and escalator construction respectively. 

Q12. What are the main construction types for public housing, private residential and commercial projects?

Public Housing, Private Residential and Commercial ProjectsFor the waste generations on construction and demolition are included in a large amount of the total wastes generated, public housing, private residential and commercial projects are the major construction development in the construction, while industrial, school and other projects are not involved in a large values in the waste generation. 

Q13. What is the main reason why construction waste is running out of space?

Huge quantities of unwanted but useful surplus materials are running out of space to dispose, thus conventional method is quite difficult and not effective to control wastage of building materials on construction site. 

Q14. What is the quantity of materials used in an example of a project?

The quantities of materials used in an example of a project are summarized in Table 15.<Table 15>Four materials are focused in this project, including concrete, reinforcement, plastering and tiling. 

Q15. How long will the landfills be exhausted?

those landfill sites are being running out and exhausted in 10 to 15 years [12] (see Tables 1 and 2).<Figure 1><Table 1> <Table 2>