The focus on efficient modular buildings is growing, highlighting the need for a review of weatherproofing methods and materials. The popularity of modular buildings is partially caused by the increasing pressure to deliver buildings faster and more cost-effectively. Fast-changing regulations that mandate significant improvements to the building performance are also a factor. The Department for Education (DfE) modular framework agreement announced at the beginning of 2020, with an investment of £3 billion, indicates a wider government shift toward modern methods of construction (MMC). This means that other traditional construction methods, such as weatherproofing, will need to be reviewed to ensure they are compatible with the modular approach and reflect the same values.

What are the benefits of modular construction and what are the challenges to wider uptake?

The need for more schools, hospitals, and other commercial buildings in the UK, whilst ensuring their impact on the environment and its resources is reduced, requires a shift within the construction industry to deliver an increased number of commercial spaces using fewer resources. Compliance with regulatory standards and the quality of these structures is also crucial to ensure performance, longevity, and an environment pleasant for building users. Modular building’s streamlined design, manufacture, and installation processes, using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), makes them well placed to ensure the UK’s needs can be quickly and efficiently met.

MMC aims to streamline the most skill and labour-intensive stages of manufacture and installation and is key to the success of modular buildings within the commercial sector. Moving as many construction processes as possible into a controlled manufacturing environment has the potential to improve efficiency and protect resources, however, challenges with compliance and a lack of understanding of application has meant uptake was initially slow. Growing financial support from both UK Government and private investors, changes to legislation, and increasing needs for commercial structures is now opening doors to an increased use of modular buildings.

The impact of weatherproofing on the building performance

High performance weatherproofing is vital to the function of any building type and to maximise its lifecycle. Many traditional weatherproofing methods that worked well in conventional construction, however, do not necessarily fit modular assembly and may not align directly with the modular value of efficiency. Demands on labour and materials, lack of speed and flexibility and the resources and processes established weatherproofing use, are some of the issues causing this disconnect.

Improved planning and improvements to traditional weatherproofing application methods, or systems, may alleviate some of the issues. In the long run, improvements to existing methods are not sufficient. Weatherproofing systems will need to be evaluated in terms of the whole design, manufacture, and assembly of the building. A purpose designed weatherproofing solution can therefore provide the right platform to streamline the construction of modular buildings in the future.

Jones and Woolman UK have over 40-years of experience in the design, manufacture and installation of weatherproofing solutions on some of the most challenging and exciting projects in the UK and abroad. The experience and reputation as industry innovators has placed Jones and Woolman UK well to work with developers and contractors to improve the delivery of weatherproofing for modular buildings. This innovation started within the initial planning process. Incorporation of weatherproofing into the initial design of modular buildings allowed for better allocation of on and off-site application of weatherproofing. This meant the final stage of projects, usually the most resource intensive, is handled more time and cost effectively and the finished weatherproofing is of the highest quality.

To find out more about the benefits of modular construction and the considerations for weatherproofing of modular building construction, download our whitepaper ‘Streamlining weatherproofing in modular construction’. For advice on building penetrations and weatherproofing systems and how these can be designed for your next project, contact our team of technical experts.

The increase in specification of modular buildings is driven by the construction efficiency and quality it promises. Effective weatherproofing is a crucial steppingstone to achieving the efficiencies modular buildings set out to deliver.

The need for additional housing, schools, hospitals, and improved infrastructure is increasing across the UK. This need has resulted in pressure to speed up project delivery and reduce the cost of construction to cope with demand. This is intensifying project scheduling and straining the supply chain whilst performance targets for buildings are becoming more stringent.

The impending changes to Part L and Part F, as part of the Future Homes Standard, reflect Government plans to improve the energy efficiency of buildings to reduce primary energy demands and lower carbon emissions, with the overall aim to decarbonise the grid by 2050. Effective weatherproofing has a huge role to play, as it is a prerequisite for a well-performing building envelope.

Modular buildings and a net-zero future

There is an obvious need to increase the energy efficiency of our buildings to combat climate change and deliver zero carbon buildings of the future. The focus of the construction industry is shifting towards the use of more sustainable methods and materials in order to reduce the carbon footprint further. New UK legislation also sets compliance targets for the design of healthy buildings. Provisions for sufficient fresh air and daylight [EN17037] for the occupants are especially important for both wellbeing and performance of occupants. In the ever-changing landscape of construction, the industry now finds itself in a position where traditional construction methods simply cannot deliver projects matching all performance markers.

The call to revolutionise the ‘underachieving’ construction industry was at the heart of the Egan report, summarised as: “..the Task Force wishes to emphasise that we are not inviting UK construction to look at what it does already and do it better: we are asking the industry and Government to join with major clients to do it entirely differently” [Rethinking Construction, 1998].

The notion of revolutionising construction is at the heart of the Construction 2025 document produced by the Government in collaboration with industry. The report sets out a vision for the future of UK construction:

1. A 33% reduction in both the initial cost of construction and the whole-life cost of assets
2. A 50% reduction in the overall time from inception to completion for new build and refurbished assets
3. A 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment
4. A 50% reduction in the trade gap between total exports and total imports for construction products and materials

A failure to follow through with these changes would further jeopardise our path to a low-carbon future.

What steps have been taken so far?

The modular approach to construction is not a completely new approach. We have seen previous attempts in the 1950s through to the 1970s, but a lack of supply chain stability and the perceived temporary nature and reduced life expectancy meant uptake was slow. More recently, we saw a more widespread deployment of BIM modelling to streamline design and provide a blueprint for a more efficient construction phase. Although improvements have been made, these are incremental and do not satisfy the objectives of the report. A completely new approach was required and contractors and clients in the UK are now getting to grips with MMC with a focus on off-site fabrication and modular methodologies.

Jones and Woolman UK have been at the forefront of innovation for over 40-years and are well positioned to take on the challenges of MMC. Our recent involvement in large modular projects across a variety of sectors has demonstrated that early involvement of a weatherproofing expert is crucial to realising the benefits of modular methodology for any project.

Our whitepaper ‘Streamlining weatherproofing in modular construction’ focuses closely on the role of modular buildings and how effective weatherproofing is helping to improve the efficiency of our buildings to deliver net-zero carbon by 2050. If you would like to find out how effective and flexible weatherproofing can help improve the energy efficiency of your project without impact on your scheduling, contact one of our industry experts.

The challenges construction (and weatherproofing) face in order to achieve 2050 net-zero targets are considerable. It is no longer enough to do things better; the industry needs to look at innovating and doing things altogether differently. The ‘Construction 2025 Document’ outlines the joint strategy from both government and industry for the future of UK construction through four pillars:

• 33% reduction in both the initial cost of construction and the whole life cost of assets
• 50% reduction in the overall time from inception to completion for new build and refurbished assets
• 50% reduction in green gas emissions in the built environment
• 50% reduction in the trade gap between total exports and total imports for construction materials

Modular construction offers solutions that can help achieve the targets across all pillars.

Cost of construction

Prefabrication of the most resource intensive areas of construction allows for better use of materials and better allocation of resources, and as a result is more cost-effective than traditional on-site construction.

A high level of prefabrication means that the end-to-end quality is guaranteed, mitigating risks and reducing defects in buildings. As a result, building efficiency is greatly improved providing long term savings by reducing energy demand and the need for frequent maintenance.

The implications for the lifecycle cost of the building lie in the flexibility of the modules that can be exchanged. This could be used to upgrade a plant room that is coming to end-of-life but also to change the design of the building if required. Operational maintenance and repurposing of buildings become considerably more cost-effective.

Speed of delivery

Modularisation leads to standardisation of processes which in turn lead to improved efficiency and productivity on site. As we know, the construction phase can be subject to lengthy delays caused by unpredictable events that impact the delivery schedule of projects. A high level of prefabrication shortens the less predictable construction phase and as a result, more development can be delivered on schedule.

Energy efficiency & sustainability

The increased focus on carbon reductions and primary energy targets are driving factors in modern construction. Volumetric modular buildings are designed and constructed to higher sustainability standards and are capable of far superior energy performance if the building envelope is weathertight and thermally efficient.

Use of modern materials, reduced site traffic, less waste and the possibility of building recycling reduce the embodied carbon of construction. The Current Practices and Future Potential in Modern Methods of Construction quote that overall, when comparing the energy used to construct a building, modular methods can deliver the same building using 67% less energy than the traditional method.

Import and export trade gap reduction

In the current context of Brexit, which is still causing some uncertainty, and the impact of the Covid-19 crisis across industries, it is difficult to project where the priorities will lie in the months ahead. For off-site construction to be efficient, a large-scale operation is required, and this is only possible with the support of UK government. There is a need to unite the sector, upskill the workforce and strengthen the supply chain. Department Government infrastructure strategies are expected to focus on construction with a promised increase in spending to £5.6bn. A large part of this strategy is faster project delivery, led by the newly created ‘Project Speed’. The Department for Education announced an investment of £3bn in off-site school procurement in England aiming to deliver over 30 schools in the next four years. Modular construction will undoubtedly play a central part in the UK economy.

Modular construction holds answers to many of the challenges that the construction industry faces. Weatherproofing modules off-site and on-site is one of those challenges that need to be overcome to ensure modular benefits, such as increased thermal efficiencies, are retained. Jones and Woolman UK have been involved in numerous modular projects and through 40-years of innovation are able to work with their partners to devise weatherproofing systems and streamline construction strategies. Materials, techniques and completed systems have been vigorously tested across various climates and applications to deliver a long-lasting, thermally efficient building envelope for modular buildings.

To read more on the considerations for weatherproofing of modular buildings and their benefits, download our whitepaper ‘Streamlining weatherproofing in modular construction’. Contact our team of experts for help with specification and design or any other advice on building penetrations and weatherproofing systems.