Far from being in opposition to traditional construction, portable buildings generate benefits for improving, accelerating, and simplifying traditional construction projects. Whether they are used as planning centers or integrated into the traditional construction project, portable buildings are uniquely positioned to be a linchpin in the complex, project- driven, time-sensitive construction industry.
The following list highlights six of the most common benefits offered by utilizing portable buildings in construction:
1) Portable Buildings, a Bulwark Against Inefficiency
Many construction sites completely forego or underuse portable offices. Portable modular offices are trailers customized as offices that have one or several work areas. Although solving construction site inefficiency requires multidimensional analyses, on-site offices offer one straightforward way to increase managerial presence on a jobsite and reduce worker frustrations.
First, statistics that illustrate the importance of managerial presence:
- “25 to 50 percent waste in coordinating labor and in managing, moving, and installing materials.” (Modular Building Institute)
- “Further studies show that somewhere between 50% and 68% percent of [construction] workers’ time is wasted.” (CCIM Institute)
- “Construction holds the dubious honor of having the lowest productivity gains of any industry […] In America, astonishingly, [productivity] has plunged by half since the late 1960s.” (The Economist)
- Trust “has been determined by many studies as an excellent determinant to successful projects”.
- According to the Project Management Institute, the most common source of worker frustrations is:
- ‘Can’t find anybody for an answer.’
- ‘Your problems are always urgent — holding up crews for an answer.’
- ‘Crews become frustrated as they wait for information.’”
- ‘Somebody should catch interferences. Less supervision would be required if engineers preparing blueprints would conduct constructability reviews and communicate directly with the people doing construction.’
Although many factors contribute to these statistics, one clear-cut solution lies in considering on-site-offices, an indispensable part of construction projects. Engineers, contractors, clients, workers, surveyors, and overseers benefit from having a central hub where they can meet in an ample, climate-controlled environment with direct contact at the project site.
2) Portable Buildings Match Construction Timelines
Some construction companies acquire a fleet of relocatable offices that can be moved around from project to project. Others prefer leasing options that allow them to use modular offices for a short period of time before returning them.
In the ever-changing landscape of construction, companies appreciate that relocatable office contracts conform themselves to the demands of the project. For short term products, companies can lease an office and have it installed and ready in as little as 24 hours.
“We set it all up, and when they are done with the job, we come pick it up, get it out of the way and move on to another site,” says Richard Stephens, a veteran of the industry.
For longer term projects or to tackle a series of projects, companies can lease long- term or purchase offices that they take with them wherever the incoming projects require them.
3) Speed, Safety, and Minimal On-site Disturbance
As with all modular buildings, portable construction offices require very little manpower to set up. Some trailers can be set-up in as little as 24 hours and are assembled on-site without affecting the ongoing construction operation.
The buildings themselves adhere to all construction standards and companies can have the latest engineering equipment and materials in these buildings without sacrificing strength and durability as each module is designed to withstand the force of transportation and on-site assembly.
They can be connected to electrical networks, running water, and sewer to provide operating toilets, artificial lighting, air-conditioning, and showers, among other utilities. They are designed to meet the customer’s space needs. Additionally, construction offices can be equipped with different types of stairs, ramps, windows, shelves, doors, and accessories.
4) Expanded Portfolios for Urgent Projects
Portable, modular construction has become more versatile than ever.
Fast-food chains, universities, emergency networks, schools, sports teams, and government agencies, just to name a few, have all turned their attention to the advantages offered by portable construction. Hospitals and schools, for example, are environments that require minimal invasive activity during construction and are often on very strict timetables. Modular offices have a low demand for raw materials, low-cost reconfiguration, and offer time savings.
Construction companies use modular building purchased from outside providers as a way to expand their portfolio by creating hybrid projects that place modular buildings alongside traditional construction.
Many clients appreciate when construction companies offer these portable solutions alongside more permanent buildings. For example, the Montgomery County’s school district paid 5 million dollars for portable buildings that would give it flexibility as the school district grew. Many universities have used specialty portable buildings like locker rooms, offices, dorm rooms, modular classrooms, and educational buildings.
Additionally, portable buildings offer standard or customized plans for multiple purposes: construction sites, administration, sales centers, laboratories, field work, training, real estate, warehouses, schools, medical clinics, sanitary, and special purpose premises.
5) Improved Safety Keeps Projects Moving
Modular offices provide on-site managers a place to keep high-tech equipment, computers, and paperwork. This allows all the relevant workplace material to stay-on site reducing the risk of it being lost or damaged. It also assures that the right tools will be in the hands of the workers on demand.
6) Mobile Offices Solve Smartsheet’s 3 Keys to Successful Construction Projects
According to Smartsheet, the top three strategies for successful construction managers are:
- Creating a flow of communication
- Making a habit of continuous planning
- Observing and asking questions
Without a doubt, having an on-site portable office directly addresses each one of these issues. On-site managers in portable offices can offer immediate responses to workplace questions. Smartsheet knows that during construction projects, “even slight adjustments can affect the overall plan and timeline.” This means that continuous on-site planning creates reactive, dynamic projects that don’t get bogged down with unforeseen circumstances. On-site offices provide a comfortable place to negotiate these construction site obstacles.
Finally, observation and asking of questions can reduce errors and safeguard against miscommunications. With an onsite office, companies can be assured that they always have the right person close to the center of the action.
Conclusion? Nobody has a silver-bullet to solve every construction site obstacle. However, portable offices transform the environment and become a focal point for order and planning. More affordable than ever, readily available, and customizable, modular offices guarantee themselves a place on job sites for years to come.
About Aries – Do YOU need a modular unit for your business or administration? Aries offers full turnkey solutions with exceptional customer service and robust financing options. We pride ourselves on combining product quality, design expertise, technical and financial innovation and strategy that has already established us a first choice to customers. Contact us today at (888) 995-8560 or reach out to a sales associate here.