Energy efficiency priority for new healthcare builds

Recognising and finding ways to meet the requirements of changing regulations and policy demands is crucial in reshaping our approach to sustainability. The ecological clock is ticking, and we must take urgent action to mitigate the impact of global warming. Here Richard Hipkiss, development director of the Modular and Portable Building Association (MPBA) makes a case
for volumetric manufactured buildings in shaping a net zero future

Identifying a route to net zero emissions for a complex system as large as the NHS is particularly challenging. On 1 July 2022, the NHS became the first health system to embed net zero into legislation, through the Health and Care Act 2022. The Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report is now issued as statutory guidance.
    
So, what is net zero? Put simply net zero is a target of negating the amount of greenhouse gases we produce by reducing emissions and implementing methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
    
The emphasis with net zero construction is quite rightly focused on the environment but through a more sustainable approach to designing and developing buildings, those operating in the healthcare sector will reap the benefits for many generations to come.

Energy costs
Energy costs are now not only having a major impact on household budgets but also NHS Estate resources. There is significant evidence that traditionally constructed buildings do not produce structures that perform as well as design expectations and there is a great void between anticipated and actual in-use performance. Findings from studies such as PROBE (Post Occupancy Review of Buildings and their Engineering) reveal that actual energy consumption in buildings is often as much as twice of that predicted at the design stage.
    
With great challenges come opportunities. We have a proud legacy of innovation and many of our members in the volumetric modular and portable building sectors are setting out road maps to deliver structures that will be net zero in operation and highly energy efficient.
    
At the forefront of offsite approaches, it is now established that volumetric modular technology is a game changer for the construction industry – reducing build times by an impressive 50-60 per cent whilst increasing quality, productivity and safety. Volumetric modular buildings however are less susceptible to poorly specified products as time can be taken upfront to validate the correct specification of materials.
    
At the core of module manufacture, Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) protocols and Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology empower optimal configuration of the offsite solution by digitally connecting multi-discipline teams from the beginning of the concept design right through to the development process and beyond. DfMA means buildings are conceived for offsite manufacture and assembly onsite. BIM facilitates early design detail and three-dimensional design information, minimising the risk of errors by eliminating the time-consuming process of translating engineers’ information into cutting lists and assembly drawings. BIM also facilitates the optimising and testing of designs in virtual and pre-production environments which means modules are digitally constructed and virtually tested before they move onto the manufacturing phase.

Pros
Factory manufactured modular buildings are highly accurate, well insulated and airtight, with air permeability with 1.5-3 m3 @50PA being the norm. A key advantage of modular construction is the quality benefits which come from working in a controlled environment. By producing buildings in a factory setting, the quality of elements such as insulation can be better assured. Predictability of in-use performance is a substantial benefit in not only achieving net zero goals but reducing primary energy requirements and in-use operational emissions during the lifetime of the building.
    
This manufacturing method also allows better control over optimising material use. The surplus materials are recycled or reused for future projects, reducing construction waste that ends up in landfill. Materials are protected from moisture and extreme weather conditions, reducing the risk of disposal through water ingress and damage. It is widely recognised that modular has the potential to reduce overall construction programmes, but it is not often acknowledged this approach can reduce up to 90 per cent of the waste generated when compared with traditional construction methods.
    
The volumetric modular way limits the amount of concrete in the ground and eco-friendly materials are often specified and each individual component can be selected specifically for its performance characteristics, tailoring every inch of a volumetric modular build.
    
With volumetric manufactured buildings, all construction data can be validated and coordinated as part of a structured process, which helps provide accurate and reliable information for clients at the point of handover. Volumetric construction helps ensure client satisfaction and product assurances through the certainty and quality embedded into the manufacturing process.

Framework-listed suppliers
Many MPBA members are accredited under a number of modular building frameworks, including NHS Shared Business Services Framework, LHC, Crown Commercial Service and NHS Commercial Solutions. These frameworks help NHS trusts and other public sector clients improve the speed and cost-efficiency of procurement to support world-class patient care.
    
The benefits of volumetric manufactured buildings begin in the factory, continue on to the construction site and last through the lifetime of the building. We understand the challenges facing healthcare providers – from changing patient demographics, new medical technologies and treatment strategies, the Covid-19 pandemic and highly constrained budgets, to increasing demands for carbon and waste reductions.

The MPBA plays a key role in the connecting of sectors in the modular and portable building industry. The association collaborates with specialist technical advisors to enhance innovation in the design and manufacture of volumetric modular buildings. These can be designed and manufactured from timber or steel in any size and shape to meet individual client needs while ensuring full compliance with Building Regulations.