Off-site ticks the boxes

Since 2002 the the Modular & Portable Building Association (MPBA) has played a role working with the government on behalf of a major contributor to off-site construction, assisting the industry sector to have a fair playing field in competing against its traditional counterparts.

With the requirements for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for modular buildings in the new regulations there was a need to consider the impact this would have on companies that have existing buildings and the way forward for the future, in particular to what is known as distress purchase to serve the health and education sector of the market.

Controversial buildings
Prefabricated buildings as they were known historically (and still so in many people’s eyes) have not always enjoyed good press in the past. More often than not they have attracted or been associated with controversy and it is fair to say that when used in the education sector they have had their share of criticism.

Considered by many to be a poor substitute for the real thing before they arrive – this has also been compounded by local authorities choosing the most basic models anticipating a trouble free building for the rest of its life. Not so today!

Nowadays everyone is being asked to consider sustainability, reduction of carbon emissions, reduction of waste, and embodied energy. These are four major factors that play great parts in the products that our industry produces today.

Permanent solutions
Our industry has proven the sceptics wrong – for many years now we have been providing temporary schools and colleges, which still today remain as a permanent feature.

The current trend of off-site construction is not new to the manufacturers and hirers of modular buildings. For some 20 years plus the industry has been filling the need for additional classroom facilities throughout the UK. With the current government campaign to redevelop and rebuild the benefits of modular buildings can be of great assistance.

Setting standards

To ensure that the industry can still be able to respond MPBA has put in place a compliance scheme for both member’s and non-members to continue to be able to provide quick solutions for clients as in the past. The industry has always been able to offer a fast track solution to providing equipment; the scheme enables this to still apply.

With the assistance of Local Authority Building Control (LABC) and the Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors (ACAI) guidance document has been written by the MPBA and sent to all building control offices. This incorporates flow charts to enable ease of understanding of the requirements.

Modular classrooms
As an industry modular buildings are now increasing used in the education sector for a variety of reasons.

Classroom modules used as a temporary measure can be added or removed (dependent on design) when a particular school new build is ready for occupation, this enables buildings to be removed to be reused if required.

All buildings fully comply with the required building regulations, and are carefully planned by specialist personal that have many years’ experience in this type of facility. Soundproofing was an issue for many years,
but with the new modern materials used this has now been overcome. The same principle applies to heating and lighting.

With limited space available, which is often the case for existing school facilities, the advantage of modular buildings gives clients the opportunities of making use of every space available.

Planned delivery

Consideration needs to be taken with regards to term times in order to avoid disruption to surrounding buildings on locations. It is always worth remembering that with modular buildings, ground works and production can take place at the same time.

The modular and portable building industry has many companies who will be able to meet the quality and needs of any project and will perform to a high standard of service and reliability.

Consider all the factors and you have an ideal solution to solving your problems of new or replacement buildings. If in doubt the industry is supported by its very own industry association and will answer any questions that you may have.

Modular buildings in record time
To expand their school facilities quickly and cost-effectively local education authorities are turning increasingly to factory built, modular construction. Not only are great savings achieved in construction costs and site development times, but the steel framed buildings look just as pleasing and are as equally robust as those that are built using traditional building techniques.

The King’s School in Ottery St Mary is just one such a case. Its new two-storey building, designed and built by Neath Abbey-based Wernick Buildings was delivered over four days, which is fast for a 723 square metre, 15 room building.

The decision to construct the school’s latest building using this modern method of construction was influenced by several key factors.

Firstly – less disruption on site. The school’s authorities did not want lorries passing through the front gates of the school at any time. Modular construction minimises health and safety risks because much of the construction is done at the factory, yet the 28 modules that comprise the new building were delivered while the school was open. This was achieved by craning the modules into position, from their delivery lorries drawn up in the school’s coach park on the other side of the school from the main gates.

A modular building is generally highly competitive in price when compared to the cost of conventional construction methods, though this building looks as though it has been built using traditional methods.

Internal and external finishing work took 20 weeks to complete from the date of delivery to site. The work included a pitched tiled roof with a vented Dutch gable at each end, and a brick and rendered exterior wall. The new building is positioned on the site of an old swimming pool, which required some thorough site preparation work before the new building’s ground works could be completed.

The building’s sprinkler system pump house and reservoir required special attention because there was no available space near the building, so they had to be built 120 metres from the school. Sprinkler outlets were required in the loft space as well as all the classrooms, where concealed heads were used to prevent the system being deliberately triggered. The loft sprinklers required insulation, an electricity supply and walkways, and the pump house is diesel powered.

The King’s School’s history can be traced back to the 14th century, but its attitude to education is certainly up to the minute, with an achievement for all-policy that encompasses a belief that all their students have a unique skill and potential the school has the creativity and ability to unlock.

It’s hardly surprising that with its long history and purposeful attitude to education the school is heavily over-subscribed. It consistently achieves a high examination success rate and also has the kudos of being designated a specialist sports college and training school. The new building, specifically designed to blend in with the older buildings that surround it, houses the expanding geography department and the 6th Form centre and IT room.

The 6th formers are not surprisingly very proud of their purpose designed facilities and the expansion of the geography department’s accommodation will allow for a general increase in student places throughout the school.

Pre-owned modules recycled
Farnborough School in Nottingham, a specialist technology college, has selected a highly sustainable modular building solution from Foremans Relocatable Building Systems to provide purpose-designed accommodation for its Humanities Faculty and Art Department over the next three years.

Following the closure of another school in the area, Farnborough School’s pupil intake was planned to increase by around 170 students. This required a rapid expansion and reorganisation of the teaching facilities as an interim measure until the Farnborough site is redeveloped under the Building Schools for the Future initiative.

Foremans currently has another pre-owned modular classroom building on hire at the school and so following a successful tender, were given the challenge of delivering a second contract to a demanding timescale of just three months from receipt of order to fitting out.

Foremans refurbished and reconfigured a recycled modular building to the school’s exact requirements, creating seven additional general classrooms, two art rooms, a dark room for photography, kiln room and computer suite. Foremans also undertook the foundations and fitting out – and delivered the whole project on time and on budget.

Commenting on the scheme, Martin Sanderson, deputy head teacher at Farnborough School, said: “You would never know this is a recycled building. It looks and feels like a new facility. Inside the classrooms really are as good as a traditionally-built building. The staff, pupils and governors are all impressed with the quality.

“We were delighted with the help, care, support and service we received from the Foremans team. Having used their building solutions before, we were confident in their ability to deliver this challenging and time-sensitive project.

“It was critical that the new building was up and running in time for the new pupil intake. This was achieved with Foremans’ excellent organisation, flexible approach, and willingness to ensure the building met our precise and detailed requirements. We are confident in recommending Foremans without reservation. Their performance was outstanding.”

On hire from Foremans for three years, the two-storey teaching block comprises 34 recycled and refurbished steel-framed modules which were craned into position during school holidays to minimise disruption to the school. The modular approach maximised off-site working which was essential for such a constrained site with limited access.

Established in the 1950s, Farnborough School is a co-educational comprehensive intake specialist day school with around 1,000 pupils. The new building provides a safe, bright, customised, welcoming and efficient environment for staff and students, which also benefits from views over open countryside.

Foremans specialises in the supply of quality recycled and refurbished modular buildings, designed to individual project requirements.

Cost effective

Britspace is once again leading the way forward in offsite manufacture by securing a three-year Education Leeds framework agreement with Leeds City Council worth up to £40million. Following a rigorous application and assessment process, the scheme will see up to 17 schools built within the next year alone, equally split between the three main contractors approved by the framework.

Britspace’s bespoke approach to offsite manufacture gave the client a cost effective solution whilst retaining the look and feel of a traditional build project.

The Britspace ethos towards construction is to approach every project with both methods of construction working in harmony together to achieve the best solution for the scheme. Over the last 12 months Britspace has proven that just because the client is using offsite methods the development should still look and feel traditional.

Able to replicate traditional schemes in terms of layout, appearance and specification made Britspace stand out from the crowd whilst giving the council the added benefits of offsite manufacture, including guaranteed programme, quality and cost assurances.

This contract award by Leeds City Council of the three-year Modular Framework proves first and foremost Britspace’s desire to build schemes that complement the existing school and not compromise it’s character, working alongside a well established independent architect each scheme will be individually tailored to meet the modern day educational requirement and fit naturally into its community.

Case Studies provided by Wernick Buildings, Formans Relocatable Buildings and Britspace, all members of the MPBA.

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