In the last few years, modular construction has shown us how reliable and efficient it is to opt for modular buildings. Today, this modern way of construction is slowly winning other institutions’ trust and support. Aside from healthcare facilities, many schools in the U.K. use modular buildings as their extra rooms and offices.
It’s undeniable how convenient modular construction is today. Hospitals would have battled the pandemic differently if modular healthcare buildings were unavailable. It was possible to provide immediate spaces to accommodate patients because of its unique nature of fabrication. On top of that, modular buildings are also more affordable than traditionally constructed ones.
But even though modular construction has a lot of advantages, experiencing challenges with it is inevitable. These challenges could also overpower its edges, especially if stakeholders are against it. But like most things in life, these challenges can be subjective and depend on a hospital’s needs.
If you’ve been curious about modular construction, this post is for you. Here are five challenges hospitals might encounter with modular healthcare buildings.
1 – It could affect patients’ trust in hospitals using it.
Even though modular buildings might look like traditionally constructed properties, their designs are still distinct. If a high-end hospital where wealthy people go were to use modular healthcare buildings, how do you think would the patients react?
Even when a hospital designs and constructs modular buildings well, many patients could still have the wrong impression. Many might start thinking that the hospital is running on limited funds for opting for modular buildings. Others might start saying that the quality of its services has changed since it had the modular property.
If a hospital has established a reputation that many wealthy individuals value, opting for a cheaper, faster, and more convenient construction method might not be the best idea.
2 – Its structure is not flexible and might not be suitable for corresponding hospital departments to use.
One noticeable thing about modular buildings is that their structure is uniform. If you’re familiar with what they look like, it would be easy for you to recognise them. Here’s a fun fact. Modular buildings use modules that connect them to form a four-walled structure. Usually, they’re rectangular-like properties that can be more than one story.
Now, what makes its structure not flexible and unsuitable for some hospitals? Some departments in hospitals work together simultaneously to provide better health services. If these departments require a setup that should be on the same floor, modular construction might not be able to accommodate it unless it’s a big project.
You can also consider locating other departments on another floor. But realistically speaking, it will be better if respective departments that work together are on the same level for a more efficient workflow.
3 – Suitability of modular buildings to the land area.
Even though modular buildings are cheaper and have a fast turnaround time, they come with many specific requirements. One is the suitability of the land area’s location. Sometimes, even though land seems ideal for building a property, certain aspects might not be suitable for modular construction.
One critical aspect is the land’s sewage system. If an area doesn’t have one yet, it will take a lot of work to have one made. Even though it’s cheaper to go for modular buildings, you’ll also be spending as much on the area’s sewage if it’s unavailable. If you’re planning to have a modular property in your hospital and use it as an extra space, make sure your area is suitable for modular buildings.
Encountering this challenge could cause you to spend more if not taken seriously. So to avoid that, study the requirements of having a modular healthcare building first.
4 – Challenge in getting approvals from concerned offices.
Even though the use of modular buildings is now slowly becoming famous, getting approval for having one can still be a long process. It’s also unfortunate that some areas do not allow modular buildings. Before working on a modular building project, check whether your target location permits them.
Even though a city allows modular construction, some local offices might be strict about complying with their requirements before approval. It’s important to remember that when the government passed the law for modular construction, its quality was not at its best yet. And so many local offices might still be indifferent towards permitting such properties.
Before signing a contract with a modular construction company, inquire about your local government’s policies and requirements. Doing so will help you save time and energy from this challenge.
5 – Challenge in reselling the modular property in the future.
Last but not least is the challenge of reselling the modular property in the future. Since one of the purposes of modular construction is to provide immediate space solutions, people still have the connotation that it’s not as reliable as traditional buildings. In short, many people would not prefer buying used modular properties.
With that, their resale value is still undetermined now. If people’s perception of modular properties changes, this challenge might falter. However, looking at their position today, people will unlikely invest in modular properties if traditional construction is the better choice in resale value.
If you’re looking to make a profit from your property or at least get the amount you spent, maybe modular buildings are not the best option for your needs.
Analyse if your need for a modular healthcare building outweighs most of these challenges to help you decide better.
Even though modular buildings have challenges doesn’t mean their advantages are irrelevant already. Before you decide to push through or not with building a modular healthcare building, make sure to assess these challenges and compare them with their advantages.
That way, you avoid making poor decisions based on the urgency for extra hospital space. By analysing your needs and these challenges, you get to decide better and push through with decisions that help you improve your services.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for MTX Contracts U.K., a privately owned construction and engineering company. MTX delivers single-source construction and engineering solutions to the UK’s public and private sectors, consistently promoting innovation and sustainable construction.
