Industrial construction is a building method in which components or complete building units are prefabricated in series and under controlled conditions in a factory, and only assembled on the building site. Instead of building every part in place, as much work as possible is moved into a controlled factory environment.
How does it work?
The core of industrial construction is the separation of manufacturing and assembly. In the factory, components — from facade elements to complete bathrooms — are made using machines and fixed work processes. On the building site these elements are joined together in a short time.
There are different levels:
- Element building — individual flat elements (walls, floors, roofs) are prefabricated and connected on site
- Modular building — complete three-dimensional room units (modules) are delivered ready-made
- Concept building — a fixed, repeatable building concept that is only adjusted to a limited extent per project
Application
- Housing — especially for large numbers of similar homes, serial production saves time and cost
- Commercial building — offices, schools and care buildings with repeating floor plans
- Retrofitting — prefabricated insulation shells are mounted onto existing facades and roofs
Advantages
- Shorter construction time — manufacturing and groundwork can take place simultaneously
- Consistent quality — factory work is less weather-dependent and easier to control
- Fewer failure costs and less waste — accurate dimensions and more efficient use of materials
- Safer and cleaner — fewer operations at height and on the building site
Points to note
- Design choices must be fixed early; changing them during construction is harder
- Transport of large elements sets requirements for accessibility and crane capacity
Related terms
- Prefab
- Element building
- Construction method
- Assembly building
- Failure costs
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