What is a Modular Building?
Many of us went to school in modular buildings, like those made by Northgate Industries Ltd., called portables because there weren’t enough classrooms in the regular school building. Modular buildings are not a new idea, and many people are realizing the benefits of a modular building for more reasons than classroom overflow. A modular building is a building that is constructed off site, in a controlled environment where the same materials are used and the same codes are adhered to as a regularly built structure. Here are a few pros to a modular building and its economic benefits to the customer.
Modular buildings are manufactured off site, in a dry facility where weather does not affect the building of the project. Site preparation occurs during this time, saving the builder precious overall building and labor time. When a structure is built on site, one must wait until the site is prepared before any building occurs, and if weather becomes an issue this can delay building, thereby costing the builder more time and money.
Portability and Flexibility
Modular buildings can be moved from one location to another, allowing you to reuse them time after time. For businesses that need temporary office space or living space, this is a great option. The buildings can also be expanded and added to as needs change, making them more flexible with the growth or changing needs of a business.
Modular buildings create less waste than conventional building because the building process takes place in a controlled environment where all specifications are figured out before the building begins. Materials are not subject to weather conditions and waste is minimized due to more precise building projections in the design process. The ability to recycle the buildings also make modular building a more environmentally conscious choice.
Since most of the construction occurs within the factory, the time it takes to build the structure on site is greatly reduced. All the materials arrive at approximately the same time and can be assembled in nearly half the time. Money spent on labor force is greatly reduced as well because those putting the structure together are trained by the company for the specific construction of modular buildings.
Sustainable Design and Construction
Modular building designs can be just as sophisticated as traditionally built buildings, with the ability to withstand time and weather conditions just as well or even better than traditional buildings. Advances in computer technology have made modular building structures easier to construct and the design of the building is just as intricate as their stick built counterparts.
The modular building industry provides a more environmentally conscious product that improves upon the design, construction and use of materials. They are of a high quality, and they are an innovative and cost-effective alternative to conventional building practices.