New Guide on Offsite Construction for Building Services

A NEW free-to-download topic guide on Offsite Construction for Building Services has been launched by BSRIA.

Offsite construction is a general term for making parts of a building in a purpose-built facility away from the construction site, before transporting and installing them in their final location.

Installing several mechanical and electrical systems on a live construction site can be challenging, with limited space, health and safety considerations, and often a demanding schedule.

Offsite Construction for Building Services

The guide offers information on:

• Offsite construction for services distribution –vertical services risers, larger assemblies, horizontal distribution
• Offsite construction for packaged rooms
• How to determine if offsite construction is the correct decision for the project at hand

John Sands, Principal Consultant, BSRIA

The guide’s author, John Sands, Principal Consultant, BSRIA, said: “As with any technology or process, the use of offsite construction needs to be considered carefully to get the best from it. Working in a controlled, purpose-made environment can increase productivity, with no distractions from other construction site activities or issues.

“Time spent on site is also reduced as assemblies arrive ready to be put in place, together with reduced downtime in the factory where work isn’t affected by other events on the construction site.

“The controlled environment enables quality to be improved – the right conditions can be provided for the task and quality control procedures followed – rather than the general conditions of the construction site.

“But it is worth remembering that flexibility can be reduced as it is harder to accommodate changes that occur on site if the assemblies are being made in the factory – especially at short notice.”

TG 17/2019 Offsite Construction for Building Services is free to download from the BSRIA website.

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