Off-site construction is more than substituting one build technology for another. It is a means of liberating the construction process enabling buildings to be assembled in a wholly different manner, with controls over the process that cannot be easily delivered with the traditional allsite based method.
The benefits of modular construction include:
Standardisation and pre-assembly can be considered separately but maximum benefits will be realised when they are used together as part of a wider strategy. Piecemeal application may bring some improvement, but full benefits will only come through effective implementation from the earliest possible stage. To reap these benefits consideration needs to be given to current working practices.
Historically it has been found that the production of a standard ‘model’ store within retail has been virtually impossible due to the constraints of the sites available and planning restrictions.
For off-site to become a viable option in the future clients need to appoint the construction team earlier so they have enough time to procure and fully co-ordinate their final information before issue. This is a less flexible way of procuring a building and any late changes can attract unforeseen costs and delays to the programme.
The current market for modular buildings range from residential and hotels to office and education. It has been used in retail for fast food restaurants and PFS kiosks. However for many projects, and particularly for refurbishment and extension projects or for those projects where there is only limited scope for repetition, the generally available off-site solutions will not be competitive or offer programme advantages. Having arrived at this conclusion AEP have developed a tailor made solution which gives maximum benefits with minimal compromise for the retail environment.
The modularised panel system combines the benefits of off-site construction with the flexibility required for a retail environment.
The system is constantly refined to give what we believe is an optimum configuration when considering a balance between build requirements, life expectancy and cost. Off-site construction is more expensive than traditional construction but its benefits are not just in the initial construction price. We have strived to achieve a system which is as near to cost neutral as possible. The panels, although constrained by transport restrictions, are sized to suit the sheet material from which they are constructed, therefore producing minimal waste.
The standard internal grid gives a generous 12.0m x up to 9.0m column free zone in a single storey sales area and 9.0m x 6.0m under a first or mezzanine floor.
