Barry's Advanced Construction of Buildings, 4th Edition

2Offsite Construction

‘Offsite’ is a term used to describe the preassembly of buildings and building components at a location, or locations that are remote from the building site. A wide range of terms are used to refer to offsite, ranging from offsite manufacturing (OSM) and offsite production (OSP) to industrialised building, prefabrication and modern methods of construction (MMC). Offsite enables a high degree of accuracy (precision) and quality control of the component parts, which are then transported to the site to a precise timetable and erected in position in a clearly defined sequence. This is primarily a dry form of construction, with the majority of skilled trades being applied in a factory environment. To undertake this process effectively and efficiently requires clear design decisions and planning input early in the design process. Component parts need to be accurately designed, as do the joints between, and attention must be given to fixing and positioning tolerances. On a large, and usually highly repetitive, scale, offsite may prove to be a more cost efficient alternative to more traditional site‐based construction methods. For commercial applications, the saving in time on the site is an important economic consideration, allowing a faster return on investment and earlier occupation of the building. Improvements in accuracy, quality, environmental impact and safety are other important considerations.

Construction is essentially a process of assembly, fixing ...