A Buyer’s Guide to Modular Construction

As the global construction industry continues to grow to meet increasing demand, there is renewed interest in modular construction. In fact, it has been estimated that the industry will be worth $129.6 billion by 2023.  However, most people are fixated on one specific question: What’s the process of modular construction? This guide will walk you through the steps of TKTK modular construction. 

The Modular Construction Process

Modular construction follows various steps and phases before it can finally be transported to the site and assembled. Here are the steps:

Design

Like any other architectural project, modular construction also begins from the drawing board. However, the difference when designing a modular building is that it is more intricate and detailed due to the prefabricated method of construction. Here are some of the factors that impact the construction process:

• Size of the ground on which the building is set to be erected
• Materials used
• Client preferences – the spacing, styling of the rooms, how many rooms per floor, etc. 
• The base of the site has to be considered, as this helps ascertain the type of foundation to be laid

Engineering Analysis

Once the design has been completed, the engineering check is next. No plans can be approved unless certified engineers from a registered government agency check the blueprints for any violations of local construction codes. Agencies such as the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) ensure that there are no health or construction hazards and that all required safety measures are in place.

Obtaining Construction Permits

While a major part of modular construction occurs in the factory, there is still on-site work that requires local permits to be obtained by the developers.  Failure to obtain these can lead to severe penalties or worse, complete demolition of the building. Here’s a general, non-exclusive list of permits:

• Site Plan Permit
• Construction Permit 
• Concrete Usage Permit 
• Other Permits (such as mechanical, plumbing)

On-Site Development

Apart from the assembly of pre-fabricated modules, site development is the only aspect of modular construction that takes place on-site. Once engineers and experts have surveyed the area to assess the type of land they will be working with, the foundation is laid out. The land has to be excavated until the desired depth is reached; this is also necessary to allow the installation of a drainage system. The last step includes installation of a firm foundation upon which the building will be placed.

Module Fabrication

This process happens simultaneously with on-site preparation, which is one of the principal reasons why modular construction allows you to save so much time compared to traditional methods. The actual module fabrication process starts with a welded steel frame. Once on the assembly line, the entire structure is created on this frame, including base floors, walls, and ceilings. After the skeleton is prepared, the electrical and plumbing accessories are added to it. The final steps include interior design features per the client’s wishes, such as doors, floors, paint, etc.

Transportation and Installation

Upon completion, the individual modules need to be transported to the site for assembly. Due to regulations on the size of modules that can be transported, these are generally built on a pre-defined scale.

Width

Typically, there are three width options for a module, but some companies may offer two larger selections.  This variance exists due to differences in federal and state regulations, as well as the factory’s capability to produce a certain size. The five most common widths are:

1. 12 feet
2. 13 feet
3. 13 feet 9 inches
4. 14 feet 9 inches
5. 15 feet inches

Length

As with width, the length of your module may differ from state to state. As such, most of the modules are built 60 feet in length, with some manufacturers also go as big as 72 feet.

Height

Unlike the above two, the allowed height for any cargo as per federal and local laws is 13 feet and 6 inches. Many factors influence the height of the module, most notably the size of the carrier and the roof that will be attached above the ceiling. A carrier is typically around 2 feet 5 inches tall. Combined with a roof, the average height for a module reaches 8 – 9 feet. As one of the pioneers in modular construction, VESTA Modular provides complete prefabricated solutions.  With VESTA Modular, you can rest assured about the quality of your modular building. We also offer flexible financing options and quality support to meet consumer needs.