September 1, 2017
The process of prefabricating smaller portions of a larger project has been used in the construction industry for centuries, but the recent rise in popularity is very clearly a result of the growing list of benefits it provides. In today’s world, in almost any industry, it is essentially an expectation that things need to be done fast, inexpensive, environmentally friendly and, of course, they need to be done well. The plumbing field is not an exception and prefabrication is one of our best “tools” to effectively achieve all of these goals. Client demands are the driving factors to streamlining the construction or remodeling process, which, headed by ever-improving technologies, leads to a huge cost-savings for both construction companies and their clients. As with many companies, we’ve seen the following benefits:- Scheduling Efficiencies: With immediate access to the right equipment and products in-house, and with less on-site assembly needed, production and installation times are drastically reduced. Furthermore, working in a controlled environment prevents variable factors such as weather from affecting the timeline.
- Customized Deliveries: Job sites tend to have space limitations, especially when coordinating with other trades, therefore timing the delivery of an assembled product to the exact moment it is needed offers a valuable flexibility.
- Safety: Assembling in a controlled environment reduces the risks associated with job site safety. Additionally, holding assemblies until they are needed reduces the risk for product damage on-site and maintains quality until installation.
- Environmental Impact: Prefabrication allows us to reduce, reuse and recycle job material as well as minimize our carbon footprint by reducing travel to and from the job site.
- Accuracy and Quality Control: By assembling in-house, all of the parties involved in creating the product’s design can oversee its assembly and test its function and code compliance prior to use. A best practice should be for the CAD Department to work jointly with on-site prefab shop to create and produce customized designs specific to each job’s exact measurements and specifications.
- Ease of Installation: One of the big advantages of prefabrication lies in the fact that assembly work is done in a controlled facility on ground level, rather than requiring work at high elevations and/or in awkward positions at the job site.
This article was written by Adam Wallenstein of Neptune Plumbing. Adam Wallenstein can be reached at 216-475-9100 or AdamW@NeptunePlumbing.net. Neptune Plumbing can be found on the web at www.neptuneplumbing.net. This article originally appeared in the August 2017 edition of Properties Magazine.