My question is will prefabricated building systems have a positive impact on buildings design and city quality? For example, prefabricated building system would increase efficient systems of recycling which permitting to include LCA in building process.
Well as I am the first to answer on this topic, I will try to stay broad in my answer.
I do see two aspects of sustainability that are definitely influenced by prefabrication in general terms:
(1) Waste and Material Efficiency: While producing most of the edification off-site, which normally implies to be a construction site of high(er) control, waste in primary and secondary materials should be reducible, and consequently all materials can be used in a more efficient way (up to their limits). One could say that risk factors can be reduced as well, which would allow for further efficiency increase.
(2) Energy and Cost Efficiency: While some part of the Energy Efficiency is contributed to the off-site construction, most part of the Cost Efficiency is contributed by the quick on-site construction, involving less people for less time.
Resuming I would like to say that the biggest influences are on the economical and ecological pillars of sustainability. It is important to highlight though one more aspect: Sustainability is a very complex and integrated construct and we have to be careful to over interpret the advantages (or disadvantages) of the influence these really have on the complete and final product. In other words, there is still a lot to be done right with the rest of decisions left for the designer / planner / architect to accomplish a sustainable city!
Shanghai has recently introduced a new policy aiming to increase pre-fabrication for new construction in the inner City in steps to almost 100% within some years.- One of the reasons is to reduce pollution from construction activity in the city.- Less dirt, dust, traffic, noise etc. - ressource Efficiency and controlled quality might be an other aspect.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Asia
- India