1.0 Introduction
Offsite construction relates to construction activities that are carried out in a factory environment away from the site. Due to the set up of the offsite production facilities, and the possibilities offered to the manufacturers to improve the assembly process, offsite construction has a range of advantages compared to traditional build.
The importance of offsite construction methods, also referred to as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), has increased since the mid-1990’s. These efforts were most pre-eminent in the housing industry where the housing associations established guidelines to facilitate the integration of light construction forms and offsite methods of construction. Offsite precast construction methods have been in use for over a century for a wide range of construction, from floors to high rise buildings, from single components to building systems.
Like other offsite methods of construction, precast concrete offers the known advantages in terms of efficiency of the construction process, improved construction programme, better budget controls, and improved quality. However, due to the manufacturing process, precast concrete also brings in important reductions in materials needed and in turn waste on site. This case study reviews the manufacturing and erection processes of precast concrete and highlights the impact of using precast concrete elements on construction waste