Modular Solutions to Resilience

A recent post on a related site cites numerous literature references describing the advantages and disadvantages of modular construction, as a way to achieve goals related to maximizing project cost and schedule.  It includes a section, summarized below, regarding the benefits of a modular approach in achieving goals tied to sustainability and resilience.

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Traditional building techniques offer a variety of ways to achieve a sustainable and resilient final product—both in terms of construction and operation. 

Sustainability

For the right building type, a modular approach can achieve levels of sustainability (or “green,” if you will) equal to or, in some categories, beyond that possible with a stick-built facility.  A variety of excellent articles (including this one) point out the following advantages of modular construction through the lens of sustainability:

Waste Control. Individual modules are produced in factory settings, which allows better control over inventories. The leftover materials are recycled for future projects, reducing the construction waste that ends up in landfills. Materials are protected from moisture and weather conditions, and the risk of theft is greatly reduced.

Construction Quality. The bulk of a modular structure is completed in a controlled factory environment, using dry materials to prevent trapped moisture. This improves construction quality, while preventing issues like moisture damage and mold infestation.

Modular Buildings are Reusable.  Modular buildings can serve multiple purposes during their service life, and can be deconstructed without generating demolition waste.

Recycle and Reuse.  A key advantage of modular structures is that they can be dismantled, relocated, and reused with minimal modification. As a result, modular construction allows for double waste reductions. First, the amount of waste is minimized initially with controlled modular construction methods. Also, by reutilizing modules, the need for new materials is reduced. This also minimizes the amount of energy required for a new construction.

Increased Adaptability.  Modular construction allows for modifications or alterations in existing building, with minimal disruption for adjacent buildings or locations. In conventional buildings, renovations produce a large amount of waste that is difficult to reuse.

Reduced Site Disturbance.  Since most of the construction process takes place offsite, there is less impact on the project surroundings. Modular construction reduces the amount of vehicles and heavy equipment required on site, which translates into reduced pollution and less site disruption.

Energy Efficiency.  Modular construction also provides an opportunity to incorporate energy efficiency measures directly in modules. The following are some examples: Energy efficient windows with low-emissivity coating; LED lighting with occupancy sensors; and High-efficiency HVAC systems.

In a world with a growing concern about the environment, industries are developing methods to reduce their footprint on Earth… Modular construction plays a major role in making the building sector more sustainable.

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Resilience

A paper delivered recently at a University of Florida conference on Tropical Architecture included an excellent summary of the benefits and drawbacks of modular construction in general, then cited a number of key reasons modular construction may benefit vulnerable coastal (flood-prone) areas. 

Modular design provides not only a quicker way to rebuild following a climate event, but can also help create a more resilient community for the future. Specifically, the paper mentions the following:

·       Faster replacement of damaged buildings: The controlled factory-environment facilitates the construction and assembly of components. If the design of the project is already completed, the factory can start the construction of the components before or right after a natural disaster occurs. However, since the building industry usually responds on a project-by-project demand, possibilities of up-front investments for prefabrication projects should be debated.

·       Affordability: Prefabricated projects typically are cheaper than conventional projects. Financing is also available for manufactured housing and can be extended to modular construction.

·       Resistance and durability: Prefabricated construction has specific building codes and requirements for high-risk areas, such as hurricane-prone areas and floodplains. Building materials used for modular buildings do not differ from conventional buildings, but the method of assembly of elements in prefabrication might increase the resistance of the whole building. While building codes for manufactured homes have been updated, there should be continuous research of methods to improve those buildings. 

·       Environmental benefits: A system that combines the techniques of prefabrication with sustainable principles has the potential to be efficient and responsive. Prefabrication has the potential to reduce waste of materials and site disturbance. A substantial advantage would be the ability to disassemble and reuse components at the end of the project life. For example, modules or components could also be returned to the factory where materials could be recycled and reused for new projects.

·       Community resilience: Incentives for regional manufacturing can also encourage the establishment of community-based resiliency and provide a tool to enhance participation.

·       Innovation: Conventional construction methods create a building that must be stable enough to resist any external force. However, this method does not always work, especially when referring to natural disasters. In the face of constant changing conditions, buildings should be equipped with mechanisms that allow flexibility and reconfiguration. Recent ideas, such as movable buildings and floating architecture, allow buildings to interact with the environment and adapt to different circumstances. The same principles that also govern sustainable development and resilience.

Another industry document, here, includes the following:

Labor to fill modular building factories “could come from ‘non-traditional’ sources that the construction industry has not or cannot tap. Imagine a new automated facility in your town, employing men, women, minorities, and the disabled. Swinging hammers would be a thing of the past, replaced with programmers monitoring the automated equipment utilization for wall assemblies.

“Imagine a whole new generation learning about 3D modeling and animation on computer screens to simulate actual projects in order to prevent costly on-site errors. Doesn’t this sound much more appealing to young people than what the construction industry is currently selling? This is not a fantasy.

“Imagine a whole new army of construction professionals focused on reducing CO2 emissions and construction debris waste while building more energy efficient buildings in a safe, indoor working environment.”

 

The authors of the U of Florida paper conclude that

Coastal areas are much more vulnerable to the severe consequences of climate change. Those areas are at constant risk of sea level rise, coastal surges, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and storms. It is evident that the building environment must become more resilient to extreme conditions since the population at those areas is expected to increase in the following years. In this context, prefabrication has emerged as an alternative way not only to rebuild homes affordably, efficiently, and quickly, but also as a potential construction method that could integrate sustainable and resilient principles.