Bricks to bytes
Rob Norton, UK Director, PlanRadar
EARLIER this year, the UK Government backed an innovative initiative by the British Standards Institution to support modern methods of construction (MMC) through wider standardisation.
Efforts to create infrastructure for experts deploying MMC are being put in place in a bid to improve the scope and success of methods like off-site construction.
However, while MMC has huge potential to improve building quality, safety and efficiency, this success hinges on robust quality control; or more specifically, having the right systems in place to ensure consistency from manufacture through to install.
Efforts to create infrastructure for experts deploying MMC are being put in place in a bid to improve the scope and success of methods like off-site construction. This point is particularly important given the context around the UK’s Building Safety Act.
Given the growing pressures on contractors and developers to meet the legislation’s accompanying regulation, MMC offers a tried and tested approach to deliver buildings which comply with the letter of the law.
Here’s why…
Reducing fire risk
Crucially, adopting a modular approach can help when it comes to building the fire safety case as structural and material safety can be guaranteed before manufacturing is complete and components head to site.
Going further, contractors and developers can also prioritise tested and certified materials, helping to ensure there are no surprises during assembly. With a second round of fire safety legislation introduced in October, imposing stricter requirements for recording and sharing fire safety information, MMC could be part of the recipe the sector needs to meet criteria efficiently, reducing start delays.
Controlling quality
Here, having the right quality control systems in place is crucial, particularly as MMC relies on standardised components. Fortunately, AI detection software has come on leaps and bounds over the past decade. It’s never been easier for developers to scan, log and record product inspections, dramatically reducing the margin for error.
An increasing emphasis on achieving a ‘golden thread’ means no stone can be left unturned when it comes to data management. The digital asset is now as important as the physical one.With a calculated inspection regime in place, it’s possible to create a ‘culture of consistency’, so products leaving the factory floor are fit for purpose, time-after-time. For civil engineers and those planning, designing or managing construction projects, this can instil confidence. Knowing that products have undergone a watertight inspection process is worth its weight in gold, as components arriving to sites will be manufactured to exact specifications – so that structures can stay as close to original design plans as possible.
Achieving consistent, accurate information
n increasing emphasis on achieving a ‘golden thread’ means no stone can be left unturned when it comes to data management. The digital asset is now as important as the physical one. Those commissioning building work now are responsible for maintaining records of information demonstrating safety and quality assurance throughout the entire build cycle. Without this, projects will remain on hold indefinitely.
MMC presents an advantage over on-site from the outset when it comes to meeting these requirements. Its factory setting, and semi-automated production, is ideal for maintaining digital records of each phase as processes take place in a consistently monitored, controlled environment. Supported with the right digital information management tools, the data registered can be correctly collated and analysed, ready for inspection and compliance purposes.
Executed properly, it could transform civil engineering as we know it, offering greater accuracy and speed when building essential infrastructure of tomorrow.This is also an important point for civil engineers who can be sure that their designs will have followed due process. With the understanding that structures will have a digital record for each stage of construction, they can be sure that corners are less likely to be cut during construction and that a more thorough handover process, and increased collaboration between responsible persons (RPs) will be possible post-completion.
Robust record management
Choosing the right management platform is as important as the MMC plant’s physical machinery and those implementing and monitoring it, especially if you want the quality of the data collected to match that of the modular components. There is a lot to choose from on the ConTech market, but the best-in-class will give users the ability to compare and contrast information against historic data, providing room for insights that can improve future builds as well as meet inspection requirements.
They’re also interoperable and userfriendly, making communication with other stakeholders easier to manage as reports can be generated in seconds, not days, preventing unnecessary delays. A joinedup approach can deliver huge benefits to business efficiency as data is no longer siloed, giving users a richer overview of operations and the ability to spot areas of improvement and high performance
Most importantly, they can establish a standardised framework for compliance, helping companies adhere to the latest safety regulations and fire safety management processes.
A better-connected future
MMC stands poised to redefine the global construction industry’s future. Executed properly, it could transform civil engineering as we know it, offering greater accuracy and speed when building essential infrastructure of tomorrow. However, its true potential will only be unlocked with the integration of cutting-edge quality control and data management technology, which can deliver greater precision, consistency, and unwavering quality. With the right digital backbone to compliment the flexibility and adaptability of MMC, we can usher in an era of construction that is not only faster and more efficient but also safer and more sustainable than ever before.
Rob Norton, UK Director, PlanRadar