High accidents, overcosts and low-skilled workers are some of the disadvantages that construction professionals face every day on a construction site.
It is well known that it is one of the sectors most reluctant to adapt the new technologies in order to move towards the industrialization of their constructions. But there is no other way, and it is necessary to leave behind an already obsolete and not sustainable way of building.
Currently, according to the Asociación de Promotores de Madrid (Asprima) only 1% of the buildings in Spain are built through industrialized systems while in the Scandinavian countries this figure exceeds 45%.
Implications of this revolution in the sector
This revolution involves a sectoral transformation. The Zero City consultancy with the Kömmerling company propose the challenge of developing a building model by integrating tools such as BIM (Building Information Modeling), LEAN philosophy (Lean Construction) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) that allow collaborative work in all construction phases, communication between all parties involved and optimization of all resources.
Profit of industrialization
There is no need to be afraid of industrialization in construction because there are many advantages. On the one hand, it reduces the accident rate, by building in “home factory” in a much safer environment and without suffering from inclement weather. On the other, it offers more transparency throughout the process, reducing unforeseen errors and costs overrun. In addition, it significantly reduces the delivery times of the work (between 30% and 50%). And finally, it allows the inclusion of women in a sector in which their presence is merely anecdotal.
Legislative changes and in the CTE
The building cluster points us to a major change by 2030, 40% of single-family homes will be built offsite. However, in order to achieve this objective, legislative changes are also need and new regulations approved for this type of construction. For example, the Mortgage Law for prefabricated houses or the adaptation of the Technical Building Code (CTE, for its acronym in Spanish) to industrialization.
The revolution is already here with innovative tools and a society that requires efficient, effective and environmentally responsible construction.
