Social Housing and Industrialized Construction: Why do they go hand in hand?

Wed 18/09/2024 - 14:42

Industrialised construction offers the possibility of building sustainable and quality housing at a lower cost and with a shorter waiting time, which can contribute to reducing the housing deficit and improving the living conditions of many people.

In this article, we are going to delve into industrialised construction, explaining what its main differences are compared to traditional construction and what advantages this innovative system brings, especially from the point of view of social housing.

Need advice?

Send us your details and we will contact you

What is industrialized construction or industrialized architecture?

Industrialized construction is an approach to building that applies processes and techniques to improve efficiency, quality, and speed in construction projects. Unlike traditional construction, which is mostly carried out on the construction site, industrialized construction is characterized by the production of components in a factory or workshop to obtain complete structures. These components are then assembled at the construction site.

The industrialization of a construction can be total or partial, since it may be the case that an entire house is manufactured outside the construction site or only some of its elements, such as the façade, the enclosures or the interior finishes.

TYPES

Difference in construction typologies

However, one of the most characteristic details of industrialized construction is its much broader approach, as it encompasses the use of industrial techniques and processes in construction, including prefabrication and modularity, but is not limited to these. The objective of this system is to produce in the factory or workshop the maximum number of elements that will later shape the construction.

Sin embargo, uno de los detalles de la construcción industrializada más carácteristicos es su enfoque mucho más amplio, ya que abarca el uso de técnicas y procesos industriales en la construcción, incluyendo la prefabricación y la modularidad, pero no se limita a estos. El objetivo de este sistema es producir en la fábrica o taller la máxima cantidad de elementos que posteriormente darán forma a la construcción.

Types of industrialized construction

Industrialized construction encompasses various methodologies that optimize efficiency, quality and sustainability in building projects. Below, we highlight the main types:

Prefabricated Construction: It consists of the production of components outside the construction site, mass-produced in factories. These components are transported and assembled on site, which reduces time and costs.
Modular Construction: A subgroup of the prefabricated, where the building is composed of complete modules that are assembled on site. This method allows you to create custom spaces quickly and flexibly.
Panelization: This approach involves fabricating structural panels in the factory, such as walls or ceilings, which are then assembled on site. It is ideal for projects that require speed and precision in construction.
Volumetric or 3D: Here, entire volumes, such as rooms or entire sections of a building, are built in the factory. These volumes are transported and assembled on site, allowing for total quality control and very agile assembly.

These methods can be combined to create hybrid solutions, adapting to the specific needs of each project, from single-family homes to large social housing developments.

Advantages of the Industrial Construction System

Industrialized construction provides several advantages in all types of constructions, which is why it is becoming an increasingly deep-rooted trend in current construction processes with several differential characteristics:

By prefabricating components off-site, the time required to assemble the homes on site is drastically reduced. In addition, site preparation and component manufacturing can be carried out at the same time (even by sea freight), further speeding up the process. All this reduces delivery times and also the chances of unforeseen events.

Being manufactured in a controlled environment, the components of the house can maintain high quality standards, which ensures the durability and safety of the homes.

Manufacturing in a controlled environment allows for optimized material usage, waste reduction, and debris generation. This translates into lower construction costs.

By reducing material waste, you also decrease your environmental impact. In addition, manufacturing protocols in controlled environments come with a number of requirements regarding CO2 emissions, recycling and waste management. On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that industrialised construction can better integrate energy efficiency into the design itself.

Since labor is reduced and lead times are shortened, industrialized construction allows for a considerable reduction in costs.

The application of advanced technologies, such as the BIM system for the organization and digital management of project information, speeds up the work process as much as possible.

By standardizing and automating the production methodology, the possibility of errors, unforeseen changes is minimized and the specialization of workers in the handling of the machinery used is promoted. Indirectly, this translates into a revaluation of the construction sector with better conditions for workers.

These advantages have a significant impact on all types of construction, but in this article we want to highlight their role in social housing, since it is aimed at offering affordable and quality housing solutions for low-income sectors. Industrialised construction has the potential to revolutionise social housing by providing fast, economical and high-quality solutions, adapted to the specific needs of all types of profiles and aligned with the objectives of sustainability and efficiency.

Its impact on social housing

A clear example of how most industrialised construction in the Community of Madrid can become a model for the future to achieve new affordable housing is the VIVE Plan, implemented by the Community of Madrid and in which, from SOCOTEC, we have participated by reviewing the entire structural system. As engineering specialists, we have contributed our experience and knowledge to ensure the safety, quality and efficiency of this work.

The Vive Plan aims to build 1,137 affordable rental homes in three municipalities of Madrid: Boadilla del Monte, Pinto and Colmenar Viejo. All homes will have an A energy rating, large spaces, choice of top quality materials and common areas such as gardens, children's play areas and sports spaces. However, a great particularity of this project is the absence of pillars in the homes, something common in traditional construction. In this case, the pillars are only located at the ground level (the garage area) due to the use of self-supporting walls. This innovative system makes it possible to optimise the interior space and offer more open-plan and functional homes.

In short, this plan to build affordable rental housing through industrialised systems is already a reality and represents a step forward towards the future of the construction sector. At SOCOTEC, we have been fortunate to participate in this project, demonstrating once again our technical excellence and ability to solve complex projects. It should not be forgotten that engineering such as SOCOTEC is essential to face the new technical challenges posed by industrialised construction.

Do you want us to advise you on our Engineering services for Industrialized Construction?

Need advice?

Send us your details and we will contact you

Associated keywords