Prefab Proves to Be Popular Overseas

It’s no secret that the practice of prefabricated electrical products and modular construction is popular in the United States. According to a new ECA survey conducted in 2019 of businesses in the electrotechnical and engineering services industry, offsite construction is making its mark across the pond as well. ECA is the United Kingdom’s largest trade association representing electrical, electrotechnical and other engineering contractors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the regional, national and European level.

Almost two thirds (61%) of survey respondents reported increased productivity, and nearly one in two (47%) reported enhanced employee safety as a result of off-site construction. More than half saw improved quality of work (57%), reduced operational costs (59%) and less project downtime (55%). Many respondents (43%) also experienced a reduction in their carbon footprint — an increasingly important performance indicator for UK businesses following the government’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Off-site construction has the potential to become a key mechanism for delivering projects of all sizes in the present and future,” says ECA CEO Steve Bratt. “Early adopters in the industry who have embraced this way of working are already reaping the rewards, so it will be important that the rest of the sector considers its response, or they could face being left behind.”

The biggest barriers to carrying out offsite manufacturing were identified as a lack of suitably skilled staff, a high level of ongoing investment, and installation onsite. Additionally, the number of clients specifying offsite was lower than expected and maintaining a stable flow of work for offsite facilities was therefore challenging its viability. Despite these barriers, the vast majority (81%) of businesses agreed that offsite manufacturing will offer them new commercial opportunities in the future. Significantly, 42% of larger businesses (those with turnover of £5m plus) said that they would be using offsite construction within five years, in part due to requirements from their buyers.

For more information, visit the organization’s website.