Significant cost savings One of the biggest benefits of prefab- rication is cost savings, which is the result of many of the previous ben- efits mentioned - i.e. anything that is more efficient, has less interruptions and requires less labor will naturally cost less. In fact, it’s not uncommon for prefabrication to cost anywhere from a third to half as much as pro- ducing and installing on site. It’s also not uncommon to prefab in more than one shop, sharing produc- tion with partners whom you know and trust. If you sell your services as a package deal, it can help drop the price and further increase your ability to win the job, in addition to helping should you have scheduling or capacity issues. One recent noteworthy project de- veloped in partnership was between ICM Colorado, a general contractor with locations in Denver and Pueblo who specializes in prefabricated steel projects, and rocket manufacturer United Launch Alliance (ULA). The project entailed developing prefabri- cated structural columns and beams for a rocket simulator test pad, which was developed after three design changes to ensure precision tolerances. ICM Colorado was able to construct all of the steel offsite, helping to speed up the timeline and reduce the overall project cost. Constructing offsite can also enable a client to keep their facility opera- tional during construction, helping them avoid any reduction in revenue since a large portion of construction happens offsite, minimizing interfer- ence with normal operations. This can be a huge selling point when bidding for projects as it provides clients with additional cost savings. Less waste and more environ- mentally friendly Finally, because prefabrication tends to be pre-planned, materials can be more accurately measured leaving less waste. Materials from one proj-
ect can also be easily recycled in-house towards the next project vs. sending them to a landfill. Prefab shops also tend to have exposure to the outdoors so employees can easily work on projects outside, helping with ventilation. As we know now, this is another benefit to COVID-19-related health con- cerns, as it enables workers to have easy access to good air circulation while still benefiting from a more tightly-controlled environment. Final thoughts Prefabrication is clearly here to stay and will only continue to grow in popularity given its many benefits - both those that were always inher- ent to the industry, but which are even more helpful in today’s world. The faster the industry adopts prefabrication, the better off many con- tractors will be in ensuring that their projects are done quickly and efficiently, for less cost and with less environmental impact, all with- out compromising on quality. Plus, prefabrication helps keep workers safer by being in a controlled environment with less people and thus less risk for infection. At a time when safety is paramount, there is no better benefit than that. JAMIE HODGES is the Executive Vice President of Industrial Constructors/Manag- ers, Inc. and has worked as a specialty contractor in industrial construction and management for over 15 years.
l columns and beams for a rocket simulator test
19
october 2020
csengineermag.com
Made with FlippingBook Annual report