Offsite construction refers to the planning, design, manufacture and assembly of building elements at a location other than their final installed location to support the rapid speed of, and efficient construction of a permanent structure. Such building elements may be prefabricated offsite in a different location and transported to the site or prefabricated on the construction site and then transported to their final location. Offsite construction is characterized by an integrated planning and supply chain optimization strategy. Offsite manufacturing (OSM), offsite production (OSP) and offsite fabrication (OSF) are terms used when referring primarily to the factory work proper.[1]
Building configurations
Off-site construction (like on-site construction) can be used for a variety of purposes including residential, educational, health care and commercial applications. Buildings can range from a few modular units to several hundred. They can be arranged in architectural configurations and can be many stories in height.
Advantages of off-site construction
Boston Consulting Group writers Romain de Laubier et al. identify six advantages of offsite construction:
- Shorter timescales
- Reduced risk
- Higher quality
- Reduction in costs
- Preferable working environment
- Lower environmental impact.[2]
Where these factors are measurable, they suggest, for example, that best-in-class offsite construction operates with a defect-free rate for new buildings at over 95%, and that construction waste and emissions can be reduced by 50% in comparison with onsite construction.[2]
Similarities
Off-site construction is very similar to modular construction, but it is focused primarily on permanent construction; modular construction can be either permanent or relocatable. Also known as offsite construction, or OSC, and also incorporates many MMC - or Modern Methods of Construction technologies.
See also
References
- ↑ Smith, Ryan (2017). Offsite Architecture. Oxon and New York: Routledge. p. 264. ISBN 978-1-138-82137-8.
- 1 2 De Laubier, R. et al., The Offsite Revolution in Construction, Boston Consulting Group, published 8 May 2019, accessed 1 January 2024
External links
- Design Innovation in Modular Construction
- Drone Aerial Survey Company
- Advanced Offsite Construction in Perth/Australia