Prefabrication in Electrical Construction Trades — Uses & Benefits

Prefabrication in construction and trade industries like electrical works brings in a variety of benefits. It can lessen operational costs, diminish waste, minimize efforts in construction crew management, and boost safety. So when it comes to a hazardous trade like electrical construction, using prefabrication can sometimes be the better option.

The construction site is such a busy workplace that big construction projects today often use prefabrication as a remedy to keep up with the builders’ schedule. Even subcontractors are already resorting to the use of modular construction of systems like the electrical aspect of the building.

Almost all trades including HVAC, concreting, plumbing, roofing, and electrical now use prefabrication in their work. Apart from making the work faster and safer, prefabrication also ensures that the construction part manufactured off-site is well-engineered following the standards and requirements set by the client. This makes each subcontractor achieve success and a sense of fulfillment and helps their business move forward.

Prefabrication in Electrical Construction Trades

Modular construction has been around for quite some time now but it is only through new technology that the world realized its relevance in the industry. And thanks to the continuous innovation, prefabrication techniques are becoming more and more cost-efficient.

BIM, for instance, is making construction planning more accurate and effective. It shows exactly what the building would look like following the specifications defined. Through this, all disciplines involved in a project can review their part and strategize on the best process to use even before construction begins.

Reviewing the phases of construction through BIM can give the electrical subcontractor an idea of whether they can finish on time or not, the risks involved, and the budget so they can decide which parts can be done on-site and which systems are better off done off-site. This allows the subcontractor to focus on other more important tasks where his expertise is needed, hence improving the quality of his team’s work.

And to prove, a previous SmartMarket Report titled “Prefabrication and Modularization” done by McGraw Hill Construction stated how prefabrication is increasing productivity in the construction and its trade industries. According to the report:

· 66 percent of contractors, engineers, and architects in construction report finishing projects ahead of the builders’ schedule.

· 35 percent of these construction professionals report cutting builders schedule by at least weeks.

· 65 percent of construction projects report cut in the budget.

· 61 percent say they were able to cut the budget by at least six percent.

· 77 percent say they were able to diminish construction site waste.

· 44 percent say they were able to cut waste by at least five percent.

While this report shows statistics of the development in general construction processes brought about by modularization and prefabrication, numerous studies state how pre-engineered systems are more useful to the electrical trade where various electrical components are used to install a system.

For instance, parts of the electrical system done off-site greatly reduce the overall cost of designing and building the project by at least 20 percent and at most 30 percent. But there are still some who prefer the on-site installation of electrical systems and this resistance often root from lack of familiarity with the use of pre-built systems.

But to help you decide whether it’s time to embrace the new builders’ trend of using prefabricated electrical systems, we listed down some advantages and disadvantages of prefabrication in electrical construction.

The Pros and Cons of Using Prefabrication in Electrical Construction

I –Cost Savings

One of the biggest advantages of using prefabrication in the electrical construction trade in the cost savings through:

1. Reducing material costs

Raw materials make up a big portion of the budget in any construction project and it goes the same for the trade industries. Most contractors and subcontractors who want to cut costs in their projects usually adjust their raw materials choice and use. However, by adjusting on raw materials, the project quality is sometimes compromised.

But with prefabrication, electrical subcontractors no longer have to sacrifice quality just to cut cost on raw materials.

How?

Bulk buying is hard to avoid in construction. Modular construction component manufacturers, though, are already experienced in estimating the right amount of materials needed to build a system. This helps electrical subcontractors reduce costs in buying bulk components that aren’t really needed in the project.

Now, since the right bulk of materials needed is what’s procured, construction waste is also reduced, hence cutting the cost on landfill rental too. This also helps in achieving your green building goals.

2. Reducing Labor Costs

Obviously, using prefabrication will cut a big deal of money from your labor costs. Since components will be made by a third party manufacturer, your crew members can focus on doing the more important tasks and reduce the need to work overtime or go beyond the deadline. Oftentimes, prefabrication also reduces the labor load needed by electrical subcontractors, which is a great way to answer labor shortage issues.

Finally, you can save budget from hiring more electrical engineers and other electrical professionals who have an expensive hourly wage. Prefab manufacturers have their own lineup of experts and professionals who are experienced in designing various systems and components for construction. This means that they can fulfill your client’s requirements without you having to spend extra to hire a professional. Plus they are focused on building your system so you can rest assured that the part will be properly manufactured.

3. Reducing Estimate Costs

Estimating costs can consume so much of an electrical subcontractor’s time. You’ll need to make trips to several suppliers to find out the best price of quality materials to use in your project. But by using prefabrication, you can save your precious time as well as cut costs on supplier visits. This task will be done by the modular construction company instead.

II — Time Savings

As we mentioned earlier, apart from cost savings, electrical subcontractors can save time, thanks to prefabrication.

Electrical systems are usually installed towards the end of the project. The building needs to have a complete frame already before the electrical subcontractor can work on laying down wires and placing outlets and switches. This means that they may be left with very limited time to complete the project before the building is turned over to the client.

We’ve discussed in our previous blogs about the inevitable delays in construction. These delays by the construction team and other subcontractors can compromise the time allotted for the electrical works. This leads the electrical team to cram, which is highly discouraged because faulty electrical systems can lead to electrocution of occupants and fire when the building is already turned over. Hence, electrical subcontractors need to have a lot of time to work on wiring properly.

Prefabrication of some electrical assemblies can be a way to lessen the load of electrical subcontractors so they can focus on other tasks and streamline their installation process. There is also less moving of materials from room to room which can also take up a lot of time.

Prefabrication also ensures a continuous workflow even when there are weather disturbances. You know very well that it is hazardous to continue working with electrical parts and components and testing the system during a rainy day. This can lead to unexpected deaths or severe injuries that may end up in a lawsuit. Prefabricating electrical components, though, are done in closed sites, hence eliminating those kinds of scenarios. Delays will then be reduced and more time will be left for other more important tasks.

With so much time left on your hand, you can use the extra hours reviewing your installation so you can be sure that you are submitting a project that will meet the client’s expectations.

Requirements for Prefabrication of Electrical Components

For subcontractors who are using the prefabrication of electrical components for the first time, the unfamiliarity with the process can lead the company to have a slower work process or commit errors. This is the biggest disadvantage of transitioning from on-site construction to prefabrication. But that’s not the case for all electrical companies.

Like any other new process, a company also needs some time to get the gist of using prefabrication in their process. Most subcontractors may not feel confident with the output of the prefab company because it’s not their work, but it really needs some trial and error to determine whether it’s better to stick with on-site construction than embracing this new builders trend.

The key to a successful shift to a mixed on-site and prefabrication electrical construction, though, is to find the right manufacturer and to learn the full process of prefabrication. Like we mentioned in our intro, prefabrication isn’t new in construction. It has been around for over a decade now so there are studies, guides, and companies you can consult to learn the process.

Furthermore, electrical subcontractors should also assess their staff, tools, equipment, and procedures and see whether they are enough to achieve efficiency on site. If not and you need more booster, then prefabrication may be the best way to go as prefabricated components manufacturers surely have all the right people, knowledge, and tools to work on your project.

Finally, you need to remember that successful prefabrication depends on how well you planned and designed the project. Prefab manufacturers will always refer to the specs indicated in your design and plan so always review your documents before giving the go signal to your chosen prefab manufacturer.

Final Words

Prefabrication in electrical construction is expected to boom in the coming years. Subcontractors are starting to realize the advantages we listed above and studies have it that as subcontractors are after productivity and profitability, more of them will most probably embrace this builders trend. It is also improving the quality of work being delivered so more and more projects are using prefabrication.

So while prefabrication is relatively new to the electrical field, electrical subcontractors will soon catch on more quickly.