Modular home

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Modular Home in Sutton Alaska

Modular buildings are sectional prefabricated buildings that are manufactured in a plant, and delivered to the customer in one or more complete modular sections. Modular buildings are very similar to mobile homes with the exception that they are usually of wood truss construction rather than aluminum and are intended for permanent placement. Some manufacturers have standard plans but modular buildings can also be be custom built to a clients specifications. They generally meet or exceed all local and state codes. A modular building is sometimes also referred to as a portable building but generally is installed on a more permanent basis with plumbing, electrical and gas connections like a site built structure.

Uses

Modular buildings have a wide variety of uses. They will either be used for long-term temporary or permanent facilities. Such uses include construction camps, schools and classrooms, civilian and military housing needs, and industrial facilities. Modular buildings are a perfect solution in remote and rural areas where conventional construction may not be reasonable or even possible. One example would be the housing facilities used by BP in the oil fields of the Alaska North Slope.

Expense / Benefit

Modular buildings are very affordable because factory construction of these buildings is very cost effective compared to conventional construction. These units are typically constructed in an enclosed facility, therefore weather is not a factor in the construction timeline. Material delivery fees are also out of the equation because an ample amount of material will always be available at the facility, as opposed to being delivered in limited quantities to the job site, nearly eliminating construction delays.

External links

• http://www.pklhealthcare.co.uk/ Modular Buildings for healthcare, contains examples of different types of modular buildings and their construction methods