Advantages and Disadvantages of Temporary Buildings
Temp-Re Build Ltd
What is a Temporary Building?
Temporary buildings, also known as modular or prefabricated structures, are buildings made up of components manufactured on assembly lines in factories and then assembled on site. Temporary buildings are built using modular parts such as walls, frames, doors, ceilings or a number of complete prefabricated modular building units. Essentially, “modular” is a method of construction differing from other methods such as off-site construction.
Temporary buildings becoming increasingly popular as businesses and entrepreneurs look to lower the cost of construction and hasten the construction timeline so they can generate revenues earlier. Temporary structures can be constructed in as little as several hours to a few weeks. McGraw-Hill’s Encyclopedia of Science and Technology defines a temporary structure as “a structure erected to aid in the construction of a permanent project”. However this only applies where the temporary building is only required for a certain period of time. It doesn’t apply to all cases, because temporary buildings could be the end project in themselves. The above definition is therefore not universally applicable. There are temporary buildings all around us, even though you may not really take notice of them unless you’re actually looking out for them. Examples include portaloos, Portakabins, kiosks, marquees, amusement park rides, market stalls, warehouses, icerinks, sports event seating, showrooms, marketing suites, exhibition stands, etc. This is why the definition put forward by McGraw-Hill’s Encyclopedia of Science and Technology may be somewhat too limiting in its scope. Temporary buildings differ from mobile homes, which are also known as manufactured homes. 2
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Advantages of Temporary Buildings
It has been argued that temporary or prefab modular buildings have considerable advantages over conventional buildings for a variety of reasons: Quicker to Build – Temporary buildings are quick to erect and dismantle because they don’t require foundations and all the parts can be quickly manufactured. Once the modules are constructed and transported to the building site, the modular building can be completed in as little as a single day. Cost Effective – Construction of a temporary building is much cheaper because all of the planning, designing and building take much shorter times and will save you a great deal of money when compared against a rented or purchased conventional buildings. Conventional site construction can cost from £150 to£200 per square foot. On the other hand, modular construction can range from to £90 to £150. Flexibility - The configuration of the structure is very easy to change of to add to at a later date. If you want to have a more spacious structure, you can easily add sections, or even entire levels. It is very easy to relocate or reassemble the buildings. They are also much faster to manufacture since they are frequently built on an assembly line. Work Efficiency - Assembly of modular buildings is unaffected by the weather which significantly increases work efficiency and protects the building materials from being destroyed. Less Waste - Construction of temporary buildings generate less waste because the same plans are used over and over again, so the manufacturer has logs of exactly what quantity of materials are required for a specific job. Materials are greener and healthier to work with – It is healthier to work with the materials even though they are built inside a factory. There is reduced risk of the materials having mould, mildew, rust or sun damage which can easily cause respiratory problems. 3
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Disadvantages of Modular Buildings
Inasmuch as there are several advantages of modular buildings, there are also disadvantages. Listed below are disadvantages of modular buildings: Limited Customization: Even though modular buildings can be customized to a certain degree, they will be unable to deliver an appearance that is truly unique and original. Limited Service Area: Given the fact that the modules are manufactured in a factory and then shipped to the building site, it is essential that the target site is within 500 miles of the factory. Distances over 500 miles will cost significantly higher, and will increase transportation difficulties. Financial Plans: In most cases, financial institutions may be hesitant to finance the construction of a temporary building until it is actually built. This means you may have to secure financing from the modular builder which may carry higher interest than a traditional mortgage. Room Sizes Are Limited: Since they are transported from the factory to specified locations by road, the module sizes can be limited, which may affect room sizes. If you are building a modular home, the room sizes usually can’t be more than 14 to 16 feet wide and 60 to 75 feet long. Length usually isn’t a limitation, but the width usually is. 4
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Health & Safety Considerations – CDM 2015
Under the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, if you are buying or selling a modular building, you are responsible for managing the health, safety and welfare of construction projects from start to finish. If you do not comply with CDM 2015, this could ultimately lead to construction work being terminated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Depending on the specific circumstances, in the most serious breaches you can be prosecuted. Under CDM, buyers are responsible for the following: 1. Appointing the right people. This means if you have more than one contractor involved with your project, you are required to appoint a principal contractor who will plan, manage and coordinate the planning and design work, and a principal designer whose role is to plan, manage and coordinate the construction work. 2. Ensuring adequate allocation of time and resources. 3. Prepare and provide relevant information to your designer and contractor 4. Communicate with your designer and building contractor to ensure they carry out their duties. 5. Providing welfare facilities for all workers Unlike conventional buildings that are often exposed to unpredictable weather during their construction, modular buildings are assembled in a controlled factory environment where health and safety procedures are more likely to be strictly adhered to. This ensures that minimal on-site construction activity are required, resulting in the use of less construction related contaminants. Modular buildings are also unaffected by adverse weather conditions during their construction. 5
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