Dictionary of industrialised building

Everything you need to know about the construction of industrial buildings

The industrialised construction of modular homes, a different and optimal way of building new homes compared to traditional construction methods. The demand for this type of house with turnkey service and premium quality. Increasing thanks to, among other things, the flexibility in design and customisation they offer, as well as the guarantee of fast, efficient and cost-effective production of homes. This type of construction refers to construction whose process or different parts of the process are carried out in a factory with industrial production methods, using innovative technology and specialised machinery to ‘produce’ homes more productively and with standardised processes.

At Villen inHAUS, industrialised construction makes it possible to produce almost complete houses in series using standardised methods (without forgetting customisation) and the latest technologies. Industrialised construction should be faster, more efficient and more sustainable than traditional construction.

Given this evolution, it is important to know and differentiate the terms that encompass these innovations in order to understand how housing construction is being redefined. Below are some terms that are important to understand what industrialised construction is and which processes are best suited to your needs.

Construction vs. manufacturing, on-site assembly?

Firstly, it is necessary to distinguish between the three terms most commonly used in the industry: Design, manufacture and assembly.

The term ‘realisation’ refers to the exact moment when the prefabricated, modular house or its individual prefabricated components are transported to the place where the house is to be built, i.e. to the plot of land that the builder has chosen to live on. When the house is realised, the factory-made elements are assembled on the building site and work is carried out to complete and finish each house.

On the other hand, construction or manufacture, which term is the right one in this case? Although the term ‘construction’ is generally used to refer to the design, planning and development of a home, there is a more accurate term for homes that are largely manufactured on the construction site rather than on site: Fabrication.
Manufactured homes: When we refer to the development of a modular or prefabricated house project, the correct term for its construction is ‘fabrication’, as the process of realising the house takes place in a factory and is then transported to the construction site. In this way, the houses are ‘manufactured’ in a factory, with standardised methods and better quality control.

Types of house manufacturing and construction

There are different forms of housing construction or manufacturing

Component manufacturing is based on the production of individual building elements in a controlled environment before they are assembled at the final site. This means that companies can manufacture certain parts of the house, such as a staircase or dressing room, in individual parts and then install them in a house. Component manufacturing therefore makes it possible to produce each individual home element or part in a controlled manner in a factory and then assemble these components.

Modular manufacturing: This is mainly based on the design and manufacture of independent units known as modules. These modules are manufactured in controlled facilities and then transported to the final site where all the connections are made to construct the house on the plot. The modules can match the rooms of the house, e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, etc., and are even clad with traditional. building materials, but adapted in weight and shape for transport. Once they are finished in the factory, they are brought to the building site and assembled there. Even though the house is designed as a free-standing unit, the level of precision is at the highest level and there is no visual difference to a traditional brick house.

The modular construction of inHAUS allows us to have better quality control and safety in the construction of the house, as well as the possibility of avoiding inconveniences due to the climate or terrain that occur in traditional construction.

Prefabricated construction

Often confused with modular construction, but there is a crucial difference. Prefabricated construction is not built in parts or modules, but a complete house is created that can be transported to the building site. In this way, the house leaves the factory finished, but the materials used are lighter than in modular construction and the design is less flexible. Other important advantages are the reduction of labour on site and the avoidance of inconvenience, as well as faster and more agile processes.

Offsite building

Offsite construction is another term that plays a big role in the industry today.It refers to any type of process, fabrication or construction that is carried out away from the final building site.Depending on the construction system of each company (components, 2D, prefabricated…), a certain amount of offsite construction is achieved.At Villen inHAUS, for example, we build 95% of our modular homes offsite, which means that only 5% of the process is carried out on the final construction site. This allows us to outsource the construction of the homes and gives the customer a significant advantage as they can see and control the construction of their home from our factory without having to travel to the site. This is ideal for customers who want to build a second home in a different location to their current one and cannot easily travel.

Prefabricated house vs. modular house, what’s the difference?

Modular house

Houses that are manufactured on site from modules, then transported to the final site and assembled on site. Once these houses are built, they can no longer be moved. The modules, necessary foundations, development, finishes and final cladding are manufactured for a specific site and orientation.

The modular homes from inHAUS offer flexibility in exterior and interior design, as well as the freedom to customise them according to the customer’s tastes and needs. The aesthetics of these homes are thought out down to the smallest detail, with visual architectural elements such as overhangs, clean and geometric facades, porches and large windows. We have a catalogue of 111 luxury modular homes so you can get inspired or choose the model that best suits your taste.

Prefabricated house

A type of house that is manufactured in its entirety in a controlled manner in the company’s facilities, with the house already assembled in the factory. Once completed, it is transported to the building site compact and complete. These houses differ from modular houses in that they require lighter materials as they are transported as a whole and not in parts. In addition, they are not stable on the ground, but can be transported to any site once they have been erected.

Modular and prefabricated construction is revolutionising the way we think about housing. With benefits ranging from energy efficiency to reduced construction time, these technologies are setting a new standard in the construction industry. At inHAUS, we have made it our mission to use our industrialised 3D building system to show that there is a different and more efficient way to build than the traditional one. Our modular homes with turnkey service adapt to the personalisation of each client, with closed deadlines and prices.