Off-Site approach can drive faster, safer growth

MOHAMED AMER, Managing Director, International Code Council (ICC) MENA, and RYAN COLKER, Executive Director, Energy, Resilience & Innovation at ICC, explain how modular construction can help the Middle East accelerate development, enhance safety, and achieve sustainability goals.

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THE construction landscape is evolving, and modular construction has emerged as a game-changing solution for the Middle East's unique challenges. Unlike traditional building methods, modular construction involves assembling prefabricated units, or modules, in a factory setting, which are then transported to the site for installation. For a region experiencing rapid urbanisation and large-scale infrastructure projects, modular construction offers a viable pathway to meet growing demands efficiently and safely.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

The primary forms of modular construction include:

• Volumetric modules are fully completed three-dimensional units, including rooms or building sections, fabricated in a controlled environment and ready for quick onsite assembly;

• Panellised construction relies on prefabricated flat panels for walls, floors and roofs, which are then assembled at the construction site, enabling adaptable layouts; and

• Hybrid solutions combine conventional building methods with prefabricated components, optimising both speed and design quality.

Once considered synonymous with trailers, mobile homes and temporary structures, modular construction has undergone a major transformation, thanks to technological innovations and materials. Today, it allows architects and builders to design and assemble complex, high-quality buildings quickly and efficiently, far surpassing the limitations of traditional onsite construction methods.

The materials used today are also key to the system's versatility. Wood, steel and concrete are the primary resources employed, each bringing distinct benefits in terms of durability, cost-efficiency and environmental impact.

CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY