The Many Benefits of Prefabrication

The term prefabrication is now becoming more common in construction. Despite seeming new, this practice has actually been around for many years. Such a method, in which the component-making process is done in a spot separate from the construction site, is proven to be a highly feasible option. Here are the many benefits of prefabrication and why it’ll be the future of construction.

1. Cost-Saving

Since prefabricated construction often has mass-produced components, sometimes it’s thought of as an expensive construction mode. This, however, is a misconception. In reality, as stated by Construction World, one of the greatest benefits of prefabrication in construction would be financial savings.

Prefabrication creates an affordable option in terms of cost where we can optimize the prices and budgets. It’s highly possible to reduce total project costs if provided with the proper plan and execution. Moreover, prefabrication can also reduce the cost of labor as well as lower the chance of unproductive and unreliable site workers. 

2. Safety

At a construction site, workers are likely exposed to uncertain weather-related conditions and environmental hazards. Although companies and workers prioritize safety in construction sites, both risks and dangers can still occur. With prefabrication, however, there is less risk and hazard because the sub-assemblies are made in the factory. This practice will provide more protection to the workers compared to a whole regular on-site construction. 

3. High Quality and Consistency

Since sub-assemblies are created in a separate location, prefabricated buildings also have a specific standardization under quality check control. With skilled workers in factories, prefabricated components will have higher quality and accuracy as they are built by using heavy machine equipment. This allows contractors to easily monitor the entire process without having to worry about weather-related conditions or components exposure. In addition, the FMI Prefabrication Survey has shown that contractors using prefabrication on more than 50% of their projects achieve more effective results compared to those who do less prefabrication.

4. Eco-Friendly

In building construction, prefabrication also implements a more ‘green’ construction method than the traditional practice, which means it has a lower environmental damage. This is not surprising as almost all the sub-assemblies are made inside a factory. It results in little waste that won’t reach the landfill. Moreover, while the traditional methods require extra materials that increase waste, prefabrication extra materials are generally recyclable.

Due to these reasons and many other benefits of prefabrication, manufacturers and developers in Indonesia have now started implementing this method in their projects. A recent example is an elevated ‘microlibrary’ named The Warak Kayu in Semarang, all made from prefabricated timber. Designed by SHAU and prefabricated by Kayu Lapis Indonesia (KLI), the construction of The Warak Kayu microlibrary is proven to have less harmful impacts on the direct environment and a faster construction time during assembly. It also has a safer construction process, which in return, produces less waste. 

Source: Construction World; FMI; Nearby Engineers