In the HVAC duct fabrication industry, many of us are familiar with the concept of prefabrication (or manifolding). However, other professionals and contractors in the construction industry can also benefit from prefabricating product in their shops. Here's why prefabrication also appeals to the wider construction industry and why that matters to HVAC contractors.
Prefabrication in the Construction Industry
In light of the way job sites are run today, prefabricated product is being more widely accepted by not just the HVAC contractors, but general contractors and building owners too. There are many reasons that the prefabrication trend is taking root across the industry.
Contractors are constantly trying to achieve more production with less human input. This can be difficult in the shop when the labor pool isn’t what it used to be. Meanwhile, contractors are also trying to build and test more products within the shop, so they can make a better deliverable for the field. When you prefabricate, you can assemble product in a more controlled environment, leading to improved quality and efficiency.
Prefabrication also cuts down on man hours in the field. With prefabrication, installation hours are less, even for sizable jobs. Some contractors can go from 50 million to 100 million, but they haven’t added any labor because of the technology.
General contractors and building owners are more in the know on prefabrication cost savings than ever, and some actually write that into the contract. Most contractors are bidding the jobs as if they were still going install in the field.
The Changing Construction Landscape
One priority for today's contractors is keeping up with new technology while training their workforce and keeping their people up to date. Software drives today's industry, which includes the incorporation of BIM in the prefabrication process, allowing all contractors and disciplines to cooperate on each build. Technological advances along with new research on how outside factors affect gaskets and fittings are leading us down a path that favors prefabrication across the construction industry.
