New trends are always emerging in the building and construction industry, especially in the sustainable building sector. As builders grapple with increased pressure to be efficient amid industrial disputes, unpredictable weather events and increased regulation, one trend is gathering momentum; prefabricated construction.

Master Builders’ Sustainable Building Adviser Dr Phillip Alviano says major Australian developers like Australand, Hickory and Lend Lease are already starting to see the wide-ranging benefits of this system, and word is spreading.

“Prefabricated building manufacture means that most of the process happens in the controlled environment of a factory so there are a range of increased efficiencies,” Dr Alviano said.

“Inside a factory you don’t have to worry about the traditional impediments to efficient building like inclement weather and traffic disruption,” he said.

“Workers also operate in one, level workspace with better facilities and utilise manufacturing principals making it a much safer environment than a typical construction site. There are also the added environmental benefits of less waste and better more energy efficient buildings.”

“This also has the added benefit of less disruption to the local community in terms of noise and truck traffic.”

Dr Alviano has recently been awarded an International Specialised Skills Institute Fellowship to undertake a research study into prefabricated building in the more advanced overseas markets. He said the trend has already taken off in America and Europe partly to compensate for the loss of other manufacturing industries.

“Prefabricated building seems to be coming to a head here as there’s this push from all different areas to kick-start the industry,” Dr Alviano said.
“As the Australian car industry collapses, prefabricated building may be an opportune alternative for those skilled, unemployed manufacturing workers.

“My research will focus on the sustainability aspects and what types of jobs roles and skills will be required by this industry and the pathways to them, particularly around vocational training and apprenticeships.”

Lend Lease’s 10-storey Forté apartment building in Melbourne is a shining example of how well prefabricated construction can work. Touted as the tallest timber apartment building in the world, the 23-apartment complex was manufactured from cross-laminated timber (CLT) which is created using layers of timber to create solid panels.

Prefabricated building can use a variety of other materials including tilt concrete panel slabs, pre made timber frames and roof trusses and structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Innovators like Hickory Group’s Unitised Building even create prefabricated ‘pods’ that are fitted with plumbing, tiles, joinery and appliances can also be made entirely within a factory and then simply taken on site, and dropped in to place.