Introduction
The modular construction of apartments is increasingly adopted as the best option for building multi-family apartments in a timely and environmentally friendly manner. While the traditional construction of buildings is carried out on-site, modular construction is a process where the majority of the building parts or units are fabricated in a factory setting. Later, these units or parts are transferred to the site and then pieced together, much like children’s toys.
This innovative way of constructing buildings has great merits that include a quicker construction procedure and reduced costs among many other factors. In this article, we will cover a modular apartment, the construction type, what are the advantages and why it is getting more and more common in all parts of the world.
What Is Modular Apartment Construction?
Due to outside weather conditions or to the increased demand for a speedy building completion, the making of prefabricated elements of a building is referred to as modular building construction. Usually the off-site construction entails spraying of concrete layers which take any shape ranging from beams or walls. The prefabricated units can be in the form of walls holding structures, electrical, plumbing and furnishing. Student apartments, affordable houses and deluxe apartments are all possible with modular construction techniques.
There are basically two kinds of modular construction:
- Volumetric Modular Construction: Volumetric Construction makes use of fully enclosed, pre manufactured and pre-furnished three-dimensional modules that on-site are assembled into an entire building (Volumetric modular construction, 2012).
- Panelized Modular Construction: Prefab panels, such as floors and walls, are first constructed off-site and then installed at a location to provide the complete structure.
Benefits of Modular Apartment Construction
Modular construction has a set of advantages that make it appealing to both developers and contractors, more so when it comes to the multi-family housing projects.
- Reduced Scheduled Time for Construction
Speed is one of the prime benefits of using modular construction. Because while preparing the site and laying the foundation the modules will be built off the site, the amount of time dedicated to site construction activities will be greatly reduced. Mobile buildings as known can be completed in a span of about 30% -50% less time than would otherwise be taken by traditional construction methods. This is especially advantageous in the case where the project timeline is very short or where the developer wishes to let out their units as soon as they can.
- Reduced Costs
For example, modular apartment building construction is observed to help in reducing cost substantially. There are fewer material costs because the manufacturers can source the materials in bulk due to the fact that they are working from a factory. Normally, labor costs are less since controlled environments save a lot of haul labor populations effectively out in the field. On top of that, there is low poverty on the construction site as a result of the high-velocity of the construction work as lower costs are assorted for temporary construction activities such construction workers paid for site watch, hiring construction machinery, and other activities of standing by due to unfavorable weather conditions.
- Enhanced Quality Assurance
Industrialization satisfactorily addresses that problem since every single module is made within a factory setting, and thus built with precision and uniformity. This setting reduces the chances of factors outside quality affecting the work as seen in conventional building sites, for instance, climatic patterns. In that case, with modular buildings, quality is enhanced and the defects are fewer.
- Environmentally Friendly and Carbon Neutral
It is worth noting that since a substantial portion of the building components is mass produced in a factory and levels of waste are minimized, there will be less toxic waste production. Improved energy efficiency in a modular building type is attributed to precision construction and installation of energy efficient materials. Because these modules are put together, the processes do not have a high level of disturbance to the environment that surrounds the site of construction.
- Less Site Unearthings
Partly because there is a large percentage with on-site construction processes, the effects of noise, pollution and disruption to surrounding locations are minimal with modular apartments construction. This is of high significance for instance when the development is within cities because several activities such as building in the normal way takes a longer time because of noise regulations and restrictive traffic conditions.
- Design Flexibility
In contrast to the views of many practitioners, there is considerable design flexibility in modular construction. The layout can be moved in the way that the architects and developers want, different finishes can be applied and even multi-story buildings can be skeletally designed. There are endless ways the modules can be stacked and or arranged to meet the needs of the project in hand.
- Higher Safety Standards
Construction of buildings in the factory setting allows for more focus on construction site safety. The risks of building accidents as compared to the other construction’s site building, is smaller thanks to the constructions’ factory workers where the center’s construction activities are under strict health and safety measures.
Challenges of Modular Apartment Construction
Despite the plentiful advantages associated with modular building, there are hurdles too. Within ambiguous ambit of obstacles are primarily:
Transport and Logistics
Moving large sized modules from the factory to the site for construction can be a logistical problem particularly in cities where there are narrow roads or traffic restrictions. Furthermore, the transportation of individual modules can incur high costs especially with the distance between the factory and the construction site.
Permit and Compliance
Local building codes and zoning restrictions may not be adapted to accommodate most features of modular construction which in turn prolongs the process of obtaining the necessary permits. Preparation of permits requires working closely with each of the seasonal home building regulatory authorities.
Lack of Local Expertise
In some places, there are no contractors or architects who have worked with modular buildings. This results in difficulties to source for the qualified manpower for both the production facilities and for the assembly at the construction sites.
Modular Apartment Construction vs. Traditional Construction
Bring it on. Modular apartment construction is investment wise and time efficient. Let us dissect some of the underlying advantages:
| Factor | Modular Construction | Traditional Construction |
| Speed | 30-50% quicker erect of building | More slowly weather delays, site work etc. |
| Cost | Fewer costs in the long run because of bulk orders and quicker turnaround times | Excessive labor and material costs |
| Quality Control | More thanks to factory-controlled environment | Quality varies more, reliant on site conditions |
| Sustainability | Less wasteful, more energy efficient | Boost to waste and the environment |
| Design Flexibility | Options of finish and layout customization. | Variety of design options, but more expensive |
| Safety | Greater Construction Site Safety | Higher accident rate in the principle site Hazards of traditional construction sites |
| Weather Impact | Minimal impact from weather | Weather related delays and quality issues |
Modular Apartment Construction Projects Around the World
Less than fifteen years after predictions began to make the leaps to this sort of change. Urban settings have indeed begun to change through the use of modular construction, as can be seen examples that include:
Citi Tower New York City USA: A 32-story modular apartment tower in Brooklyn which is among the tallest modular structures in the world.
Ten Degrees London. UK: Standing high at 44 storeys, this modular residential tower in London consists of 546 homes.
3333 Main Vancouver Canada: A 13-storey modular apartment which was built in less than half the time as compared to normal construction methods.
These projects evidence modular construction can be applied in the performance of the works to deliver good quality every module houses for the cost incomparably lower and in less time till the construction completion.
The Future of Modular Apartment Construction
As many residents occupy urban areas and few housing options emerge, modular apartment construction has become the future of city shaping. It has proved easy to bring construction costs down and cut buildings construction time without increasing wastage. Also, with the evolution of technology and design more flexibility and customization in the design of modular buildings are observed enhancing the scope of modular buildings.
Governments too are understanding the merits of modular construction as a result, many of them have adopted measures and policies to catalyze its usage. It’s only a matter of a few years when we will start seeing modular apartments and making cities more efficient and sustainable by solving the housing crisis.
Modular Apartment Construction: FAQs
A few suggestions are provided below which might help in better grasping the concept of modular apartment construction:
1. What is modular apartment construction?
Modular Construction means to manufacture any sections of the building virtually in a factory. These modules are then sent to the site and all of them are put together to form an apartment block. This approach is quicker, cheaper, and has better environmental effects than conventional methods of construction.
2. How long does it take to build a modular apartment?
Modular construction incorporates a Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach. Way faster than the traditional way of construction. The duration of construction depends on the scale of the work but building the modules in the factory and trying to prepare the site on the side at the same time shortens the duration of construction to a considerable extent.
3. Are modular apartments durable and high-quality?
So that is a yes there is permanence in the modular apartments and buildings one can find them even in high rise buildings which are designed to meet more than the required local building code. Because of the controlled environment at the factories, there is less variation in the final quality of the constructed units. Such buildings tend to perform better than the normal structures.
4. Are modular apartments more affordable than traditional buildings?
Any modular construction can make cost savings that are substantial. Manufacturers avoid unnecessary expenses of construction fatigue such as purchasing raw materials since they can produce the construction off-season in bulk. Also, through a speedy building process, financing costs, management of the construction site and other project overheads are reduced.
5. Can modular apartments be customized?
Modular apartments certainly provide a very flexible approach to design. Architects and developers can manage custom layouts, select materials and complete the finishing according to the needs of a particular project. Modular units can be configured and stacked in different ways to suit various designs.
Conclusion: modular apartment construction
Building modular apartments is quicker and cost-effective with less negative impact to natural resources than the conventional building methods. With positive aspects like reduction in time taken for construction and quality improvement of structures making such parties astound in a few words, it is not hard to tell that such modern ways are becoming viral. As the technology progresses, modular construction will become the preferred mode of construction for durable, high-quality housing in the 21st century.
