"Time to embrace a new way of building"
ARCHITECTURE | ENVELOPE | DFMA | COMPUTATION
Design for Manufacture & Assembly :
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is a design approach that focuses on ease of manufacture and efficiency of assembly. By simplifying the design of a product it is possible to manufacture and assemble it more efficiently, in the minimum time and at a lower cost.
Traditionally, DfMA has been applied to sectors such as the design of automotive and consumer products, both of which need to efficiently produce high quality products in large numbers. More recently, construction contractors have begun to adopt DfMA for the off-site prefabrication of construction components such as concrete floor slabs, structural columns and beams, and so on.
DfMA combines two methodologies – Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA):
Modular Design :
'Modular construction' is a term used to describe the use of factory-produced pre-engineered building units that are delivered to site and assembled as large volumetric components or as substantial elements of a building.
Modular construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time. Buildings are produced in “modules” that when put together on site, reflect the identical design intent and specifications of the most sophisticated site-built facility – without compromise.
Volumetric & Flat-pack :
Volumetric modular construction is defined as the stacking and joining of factory-finished modules to form a substantially complete building. Ideally, only bolting and interconnection of building services is required at the site. Manufacturing buildings in a well-organized factory is better than building on a site. The achievable percentage of off-site completion is a key metric of modular process excellence.
In reality, the degree of factory completion varies across the industry, with many modular systems requiring the façade to be installed at the site, covering the connections between modules and hiding dimensional irregularities. Likewise, hallways, finishes etc. are often conceived as site-installed.
The success and appeal of volumetric module manufacture rests in the repeatability of units and design. Volumetric modular units are large building elements that can be linked together to form complete buildings without the need for an additional superstructure. Modules can be steel or timber-based and are pre-fitted with electrics, plumbing, heating, doors, windows and internal finishes. They are commissioned prior to leaving the factory, ensuring that defects are minimised, and quality control is high. The units are then transported to the site and carefully craned into position on prepared foundations.
Offsite concrete solutions range from whole building and structural
systems, to precast construction components including walls, stairs
and floors. They can be of bespoke design or standardised components
offering the opportunity for creativity and efficient construction
best suited to the project criteria.
The use of precast concrete elements is a well-established construction method and provides solutions with a great variety of use, location, shape and finish. Precast concrete can be incorporated into any building type, below or above ground or water, enclosed or outside. In fact, precast concrete is virtually unlimited in its potential application, for
both single and multi-storey construction and can be considered as an option for any construction project.
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