Conversations around industrialised construction often relate to standardised processes and interfaces.

In this interview, Dan Rossiter FCIAT, Sector lead at BSI, highlights the newly published PAS 8700 and its relevance in standardising industrialised construction processes.

Earlier this year, BSI published PAS 8700 on ‘Modern methods of construction for new-build residential properties’.  This MHCLG sponsored fast-track standard sets out the process for the effective deployment of modern methods of construction (MMC) in residential development.

Why was PAS 8700 developed?

The sector, for the past century, has been trying to mature.  Learning from the aerospace, automotive and manufacturing sectors, several attempts have been made to introduce offsite solutions and manufacturing-led approaches into the built environment.  Several projects have successfully demonstrated its benefits for decades.  However, MMC and wider industrialisation have failed to permeate into business as usual due to a lack of consistency and comparability.

This PAS has therefore been developed to provide a unified specification, which is material and technology agnostic, and to act as a coordinating document that directs readers to other technical requirements. The aim is to support the procurement, design, manufacture, construction and use of safe, resilient and repairable residential buildings that use MMC.

Given its scope for new-build residential properties PAS 8700 has the ability to directly impact on the delivery of homes to meet the Government’s new housing targets[1].

How does PAS 8700 relate to industrialised construction?

Within PAS 8700 this relationship is directly explored in the introduction.  Broadly speaking, there are several related terms:

• Industrialised Construction: The removal of unwanted variability through aggregation of demand and standardised manufacturing-led approaches.
• Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA): Design with product solutions in mind to realise a more streamlined production process.
• Offsite construction: The production of building elements away from their final location.
• Modern Methods of Construction (MMC): Methods to improve productivity and quality when compared to traditional construction methods.

Each of these concepts can work in tandem.  MMC encapsulates many of the offsite construction practices, through the deployment of solutions such as volumetric modular units and panelised construction (Category 1 and Category 2 respectively[2]).  The development of such solutions relies on a productised design process, like DfMA.  Industrialised construction, as the broader concept, is able to aggregate demand (i.e., procure pipelines) which then benefit from the consistency and removal of variability realized through DfMA and the application of MMC.

How can I start using PAS 8700?

The first step is to download and read the standard.  PAS 8700, as a sponsored fast-track standard, is free at point of use.  Everyone is welcome to download and read the standard for themselves.

PAS 8700 is intended for those involved in the procurement, design, manufacture, assembly, use or management of new-build residential MMC buildings.  It is also of interest to regulators, insurers, lenders, and building managers.

Clients and procurers may find the most value out of clause 4 which focuses on establishing the delivery team.  Designers, such as architectural technologists and engineers, may find the most value of out clause 5 which focuses on integrating MMC into the design process.  Contractors may find the most value out of clause 7 which focuses on transport delivery and storage as well as clause 8 on construction and assembly.  Warrantors and Insurers may find the most value out of clause 9 which focuses on testing and inspection.

Ultimately there is something for everyone within PAS 8700, a standard well placed as the linchpin for residential industrialised construction.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-targets-increased-to-get-britain-building-again

[2] https://www.cast-consultancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MMC-I-Pad-base_GOVUK-FINAL_SECURE.pdf