Prefabrication is the assembly of components off-site in a factory and then moving complete assemblies to the construction site. Prefabrication first came to be popular after the war due to a shortage of houses, and contractors used prefabrication to meet demand. The finished products, however left much to be desired and over the years several design changes have been implemented in order to make them a more looked-for finish. Prefabrication has become more and more popular for a variety of reasons over the recent years, mainly being influenced by emergence of BIM. Having whole parts of the build being delivered ready-made has huge advantages for the buildings industry. Prefabrication is used on a variety of different stages of a build including in-floor and in-wall, as well as items such as switches.
The most common building types to use prefabrication are those that have a high level of repetition in their design, such as high rise flats, or hotels. It's also commonly used for circumstances when time is short, therefore having more importance than cost, as prefabrication allows for working on different aspects at once. It is often the case that quality can be higher from a prefabricated design, this is particularly the case with welding jobs and mechanical services.
The idea of items and components arriving ready-made has spread across to electrical design recently, and this is the particular area we will be looking at. As with any process there are many advantages and disadvantages to using prefabrication with electrical design.
Most Recent Flipbooks

The Trimble Construction Analytics platform can help manufacturers bridge the digital gap between manufacturer product catalogues and contractor construction workflows. Learn more in this guide.

Thanks to improved integration strategies, communication channels, and cloud computing, construction teams are overcoming these top estimating and contract management challenges.

Cloud-based and integrated takeoff and estimating tools represent a huge leap forward for electrical and ICT estimators. Download the checklist to see 7 reasons why.

By combining an MEP detailing solution like Trimble SysQue with Revit, you can produce fabrication-ready models, minimize rework and detail with greater accuracy. Download the eBook to learn more.

All installations designed after 31st December 2018 have to comply with BS 7671:2018. Trimble have reviewed the 18th Edition and have identified 20 changes you need to be aware of.

You can extend Revit with a detailing software add-in that’s specific to MEP and includes millions of managed manufacturer-specific components, such as SysQue. Download the checklist.

If you want to streamline and improve takeoff and estimating—and overcome the obstacles that could be hurting your accuracy and profitability—claim your FREE guide now.

As an electrical designer in the UK, Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDD) will inevitably become a key concern in your day-to-day workflow. Download the guide.

Electrical engineers and designers need a way to intelligently approach the existing situation and come up with smart and practical solutions for their clients. Download this guide to learn more.

In this whitepaper, leading Dutch contractors share their stories and BIM tips that are useful to MEP contractors across the globe.

On average, MEP contractors bid as many as eight times before landing a job. As competition continues to put pressure on the bidding process, estimators need a way to balance efficiency with accuracy.

Building design has evolved at a rate never seen before with bigger and better buildings. However, construction is facing ever growing challenges to bring these creations to life.

Electrical Design has had to evolve to keep up with more challenging designs, the introduction of renewable energy, changing regulations, and the consumption of more and more energy.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is rapidly changing the shape of how we work to 3D. 3D models allow stakeholders and clients to see a more real interpretation of a designed environment.

In this guide you will find five key considerations you should make before committing to buy electrical design software.

Whether it be the first time you're meeting a client at a site or a certificate your producing, the first impression always counts.

Resolving the lingering issues in the construction industry requires a unified process and workflow that connects all phases of a building project, breaking down silos and facilitating collaboration.

After reading this guide you will understand why Revit is gaining popularity, how it supports changing workflows in construction, and what you need to keep in mind when making the move to Revit.

Revit offers great functionalities that allow you to be in total control over your projects. But do you know how to make clever use of them?

With these factors in mind, any proficient CAD Designer can lead their company to success by identifying and recommending the best BIM software solution or upgrade to fuel the firm's growth.