The trends to look for in offsite construction this year have been put forth by the International Code Council and MBI. It looks like this will be another year where offsite continues to grow bigger than ever.
Off-site construction is one of the fastest-growing areas of change for the construction industry as technology continues to evolve and building sustainability becomes more important to communities around the world.
Off-site construction, or prefabrication, offers benefits including, but not limited to, increased project efficiencies, cost savings, reduced material waste, improved housing affordability and enhanced quality control. It can also help contractors and construction crews avoid common problems such as job site safety, inclement weather and unfavorable working conditions.
Trends to watch in 2023:
More Contractors Will Move to Off-Site Construction Solutions
In 2023, we will see more contractors moving towards off-site construction solutions as supply chain issues, workforce shortages, increased sustainability goals and a potential recession drive the industry to embrace new and more efficient approaches. Whether constructing an entire building off-site or just increasing the degree of component and system integration.
Panelization and Multi-Trade Components Will Jumpstart More Off-Site Projects
Despite recognizing the benefits of off-site construction, many industry professionals will not be ready to dive headfirst into this alternative construction approach in 2023. Instead, developers and contractors may need to dip their toes into the market by first focusing on higher degrees of componentization than they have done in prior projects. Consequently, panelization and multi-trade components will become the gateway to increased off-site construction strategies.
Panelized systems or multi-trade components focus on transferring on-site construction activities into a factory setting to help produce higher quality, more consistent products and reduce on-site labor. This is often a low-risk approach that also reduces on-site waste while offering decarbonization benefits. With nearly 30 percent of all building materials delivered to a construction site ending up as waste and the possibility of off-site constructed projects providing embodied carbon savings of up to 45 percent, this can create substantial sustainability benefits to communities worldwide.
Off-Site Construction is Here to Stay
It is important to understand the off-site construction trends coming to the construction industry so you can stay ahead of the game. With the increasing popularity of off-site solutions, understanding the many benefits and limitations can help industry professionals, as well as consumers and homeowners, make more informed decisions regarding the design, construction and management of buildings.
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Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder magazine. Email at [email protected]
Gary Fleisher, the Modcoach
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