Modular construction defined
Modular construction, or offsite construction, is a method of construction that relies on the components being assembled in a factory under controlled conditions and then being finalised on-site. The initial process is also called off-site fabrication for construction or OSM.
It's a practice that was less-used a decade ago, but has become more commonplace as housing shortages have taken hold in the U.S., UK, and many other regions. In fact, Yahoo Finance predicts that modular construction will have a global worth of around $155 billion by 2031, and could play a big role in creating affordable homes over that time.
The modular building construction process
Modular construction has been around for a surprisingly long time. Its first recorded use was back in the 1600s. In 1624, an English fisherman brought a house with him to Cape Ann in what is now the United States. It was disassembled and reassembled several times after this.
Modular construction has evolved incrementally over time since it began to gain traction in the 1970s. In the 1970s, modular construction began to be used among businesses enough to the point where it started to be chosen over more traditional construction. Offices, schools, medical buildings, and more were able to use modular construction to benefit their business and meet high demand. In the past 50 years, modular construction has become the model used for roughly 6% of all new construction. Considering that its impact and reach are only continuing to grow, modular construction is an extremely viable and robust option to benefit both consumers and businesses and combat climate change.
