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Prefabrication
is the practice of manufacturing the components of an assembly
in one location and assembling them in another.
This practice was widely used in the construction of
prefabricated housing during the 20th and 21st centuries. In
theory, using a product made in a factory would save time
on-site and improve quality. However, prefabricated housing and
many other items acquired a certain level of stigma because of
flimsy designs and low cost]. There has been a great improvement
in prefabricated housing over the past decades and it is
becoming a valid alternative to traditional housing
History
Prefabrication has been used since ancient times. For example,
the world's oldest known engineered roadway, the Sweet Track,
was prefabricated in England in the 3800s BC.
The Crystal Palace, erected in London in 1851, was a highly
visible example of iron and glass prefabricated construction; it
was followed on a smaller scale by Oxford Rewley Road railway
station.
New Technologies
Prefabrication is not strictly reserved to Housing. Other
applications vastly influenced by the engineering of
"prefabrication" can be witnessed in the globally popular
category of Furniture manufacturing known as RTA
[Ready-To-Assemble]. While most are familiar with the "some
assembly required" label that comes with all RTA furniture there
has been little development done on new technologies designed to
alleviate the now all too often frustrating stigma that comes
with the 'some assembly required syndrome. There is an emerging
technology out of Canada trademarked Qwikr™ hinges that has
proven itself to be a launching pad for a whole new generation
of NTR [No-Tools-Required] and RTU [Ready-To-Use] furniture.
While this technology's first incarnation resides in furniture,
it is demonstrating itself as a promising technology easily
adaptable to Housing.
Current Uses
Prefabrication is used for many types of constructions because
it saves engineering time on the construction site. This can be
vital to the success of projects such as bridges and avalanche
galleries, where weather conditions may only allow brief periods
of construction. Additionally, small, commonly-used structures
such as concrete pylons are in most cases prefabricated.
Radio towers for mobile phone services in Germany often consist
of multiple prefabricated sections.
Modern lattice towers and guyed masts are also commonly
assembled of prefabricated elements.
Advantages
1. Self-supporting ready-made components are used, so the
need for shuttering
and scaffolding is greatly reduced.
2. Construction time is reduced and buildings are
completed sooner, allowing an
earlier return of the capital invested.
3. On-site construction is minimized.
4. Quality can be controlled while the product is in
production.
5. Less waste is generated.
6. Molds can be used several times.
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