Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)

Why Choose Modular Construction?

由专筑网邢子，小R编译

正如建筑业的每一位专业人员所知道的那样，建筑是一项耗资、耗时巨大的工作，延迟完成施工几乎比按时完成更频繁，而且可能被大量的其他要求、天气和意外情况、规划不足、人员太少等因素影响。冗长的建设项目还可能在项目建成之前就对公众对项目的看法产生负面影响，特别是当项目出现延误而给生活或工作在建筑工地附近的人带来不便。此外，有些项目只是需要按照比传统建筑项目通常可行的更快的时间表进行建设。值得庆幸的是，对于那些寻求大幅缩短施工时间的人来说，存在一种解决方案，即模块化建筑。

As every professional in the building industry knows, construction can be a costly and endlessly time-consuming endeavor. Delays are almost more frequent than on-time construction, and can be induced by extensive bureaucratic requirements, weather and other unexpected circumstances, inadequate planning, too few personnel, or a whole host of other causes. Lengthy construction projects can also negatively impact public perception of a project even before it has been built, especially if the projects experience delays or inconvenience those who live or work close to the building site. Moreover, some projects simply need to be built along a faster timeline than is typically feasible for a traditional construction project. Thankfully, there exists a solution for those seeking to drastically reduce construction times: modular construction.


© Jesus Granada


© Dennis Lo

模块化建筑到底是什么？

模块化建筑研究所是这一主题的最重要的资源，根据该研究所的说法：“模块化建筑是一个过程，在这一过程中，建筑是在非现场且受控的工厂条件下建造的，使用相同的材料，并按照与传统建筑设施相同的规范和标准进行设计，但只需一半的时间”。模块化建筑也有点像一个总称，它包括了几种不同类型的建筑。

• 体积式模块化建筑（模块化建筑协会的首选）是一个过程，在这个过程中，整个房间或部分房间——包括墙壁、地板和天花板，都在工厂环境中建造，然后运输到最终地点进行组装。这种类型的建筑既适用于永久性的模块化项目，也适用于可移动的模块化项目，其中包括不能移动的建筑与可以移动的建筑；如酒店与临时教室。
• 板式建筑是指在工厂环境中建造内墙/外墙板，然后运输到建筑工地并在工地上布置的过程。建筑物的其余部分在现场建造。
  

What does 'modular construction' mean exactly?
Per the Modular Building Institute, the foremost resource on the topic, “modular construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time." Modular construction is also a bit of an umbrella term that includes a couple of different types of construction:

• Volumetric modular construction (preferred by the Modular Building Institute) is a process in which entire rooms or sections of rooms—complete with walls, floors, and ceilings—are built in a factory setting and then transported to a final site for assembly. This type of construction is used for both permanent and relocatable modular projects (buildings that aren’t designed to be moved versus those that are; think a hotel versus a temporary classroom).
• Panelized construction is a process in which interior and/or exterior wall panels are built in a factory setting and then transported to and arranged on the building site. The rest of the building is constructed on-site.
  

Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)


Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)

与传统施工方式相比，模块化施工有什么好处？真的能节约成本吗？

模块化施工当然可以节约成本，但这不是它的主要好处。模块化建造的主要好处是节省时间，加快投资回报。由于模块化建筑允许工业化装配与现场准备同时进行，因此可以大大缩短建筑结构的总时间。通常在场地准备好的时候（地基平整、管道铺设、混凝土浇筑等），工厂建造的模块就可以放置了。例如，一个模块化建造的酒店可以比传统建造的酒店提前30%-50%的时间开业，并开始创收。

其他好处包括提高工人的安全性（工人都在安全、可控的环境中工作，而不是在不稳定的高空或不太可控的环境中工作），提高生产率，增加进度的确定性（通过模块化施工，延迟变更和天气延误的机会被大大减少），以及提高成本的可预测性。

What are the benefits of modular construction compared to traditional construction methods? Is it really cost-saving?
Modular construction certainly can save costs, but that isn’t its primary benefit. The primary benefit of modular construction is time saving and faster return on investment. Since modular construction allows for industrialized assembly that happens concurrently with site preparation, the total time it takes to build a structure can be dramatically reduced. Often by the time the site is ready (foundation levelled, plumbing in place, concrete poured, etc.) the factory-built modules are ready to be placed. A modularly-built hotel, for example, can open its doors and start generating revenue 30%-50% sooner than a traditionally-built hotel.
Other benefits include greater worker safety (workers are all working in a safe, controlled environment as opposed to working at precarious heights and/or in less controlled environments), improved productivity, increased schedule certainty (late change orders and weather delays are greatly minimized with modular construction), and improved cost predictability.


© Amy Barkow


Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)

模块化建筑是否具有可持续性？

模块化建筑被认为是比传统建筑方法更可持续的选择，原因有几个。

• 更好的灵活性和再利用性。模块化建筑可以拆卸，模块可以重新安置或翻新，以满足新的用途，从而减少对原材料的需求，并尽量减少为满足新的需求而消耗的能源。
• 减少材料浪费。在工厂建设时，通过回收材料、控制库存、保护建筑材料，避免浪费。
• 改善空气质量。由于模块化结构基本上是在工厂控制的环境中使用干燥材料完成的，因此消除了新建筑中可能存在的大量湿气。
  

Is modular construction sustainable?
Modular construction is considered a more sustainable option than traditional construction methods for a few reasons:

• Greater flexibility and reuse. Modular buildings can be disassembled and the modules relocated or refurbished for new use, reducing the demand for raw materials and minimizing the amount of energy expended to meet the new need.
• Less material waste. When building in a factory, waste is eliminated by recycling materials, controlling inventory, and protecting building materials.
• Improved air quality. Because the modular structure is substantially completed in a factory-controlled setting using dry materials, the potential for high levels of moisture being trapped in the new construction is eliminated.
  

© Jan Bitter


Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)

它可以用于任何类型的建筑吗？在哪些情况下选择模块化建筑比传统方法更方便？

任何类型的建筑都可以用模块化方式建造。但要做到这一点，必须对建筑进行这样的构思和设计。在时间紧迫或空间有限的情况下，往往会选择模块化建筑。例如，在欧洲，城市地段往往受到道路和其他建筑物的限制，因此传统的建筑方式（将材料和工人长时间运到现场）可能会非常困难。而采用模块化建筑，你只需要一台起重机和较少的人员，就可以在更短的时间内把建筑搭建起来。而且，在狭窄的城市中，减少噪音污染也是一大优势。

Can it be used for any type of building? In which cases is it convenient to choose modular construction rather than traditional methods?
Any type of building can be built modularly. But to do so, the building has to be conceived of and designed as such. Modular construction is often chosen when time is of the essence or space is at a premium. For example, in Europe, urban lots are very often constrained by roads and other buildings, so building traditionally (bringing materials and workers onsite for an extended period of time) can be prohibitive. With modular construction, you need a crane and far less personnel to erect the building in less time. And, in tight urban locations, the reduction of noise pollution is an added benefit.


Courtesy of Ola Roald Arkitektur


Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)

采用它的具体技术要求是什么？例如，是否有安全要求或设计限制？

传统的施工可能是一个比较流畅的过程，在这个过程中，设计变更甚至在施工开始后才被引入，这通常会造成工期延误，而模块化施工则需要专业设计人员进行合作，并在前期完成他们的工作。正是在这个过程中，最值得注意的是，模块化建筑通常依靠先进的BIM来评估能源性能，并确定最具成本效益的效率措施，然后将设计交给制造商进行工业化预制和施工。

What are the specific technical requirements to adopt it? For example, are there security requirements or design constraints?
Whereas traditional construction can be a more fluid process wherein design changes are introduced even after construction has begun (often causing delays), modular construction requires design professionals to collaborate and complete their work upfront. It’s during this process that modular construction—permanent modular construction, most notably—usually relies on advanced BIM to assess energy performance and identify the most cost-effective efficiency measures. The designs are then turned over to the manufacturer for industrialized prefabrication and construction.


© Guilherme Jordani

就设计限制而言，模块化建筑是按照与传统建筑相同的建筑规范和规格建造的，与普通建筑几乎没有区别。从单户住宅到多层办公楼，模块化的建筑方式可以在任何地方使用。

As far as design constraints, modular buildings are built to the same building codes and specifications as traditional buildings and are virtually indistinguishable from their “stick-built” counterparts. From single-family homes to multi-story office buildings, modular construction can be used anywhere.


Courtesy of Modular Building Institute (MBI)


© Dominique Wehrli