Prefabricated building

A London carpenter, Henry Manning, constructed a house that was built in components, then shipped and assembled by British emigrants.

[9] In 1855 during the Crimean War, after Florence Nightingale wrote a letter to The Times, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was commissioned to design a prefabricated modular hospital.

Under the Ministry of Works Emergency Factory Made housing programme, a specification was drawn up and bid on by various private construction and manufacturing companies.

After approval by the MoW, companies could bid on Council led development schemes, resulting in whole estates of prefabs constructed to provide accommodation for those made homeless by the War and ongoing slum clearance.

[14] The Universal House (pictured left & lounge diner right) was given to the Chiltern Open Air Museum after 40 years temporary use.

[15] Many UK councils have been in the process of demolishing the last surviving examples of Second World War prefabs in order to comply with the British government's Decent Homes Standard, which came into effect in 2010.

There has, however, been a recent revival in prefabricated methods of construction in order to compensate for the United Kingdom's current housing shortage.

Prefabricated buildings served as an inexpensive and quick way to alleviate the massive housing shortages associated with the wartime destruction and large-scale urbanization and rural flight.

Prefabrication for commercial uses has a long history - a major expansion was made in the Second World War when ARCON (short for Architecture Consultants) developed a system using steel components that could be rapidly erected and then clad with a variety of materials to suit local conditions, availability, and cost.

The choice of economic form can vary depending on factors such as local capabilities (e.g. manufacturing, transportation, construction) and variations in material vs. labour costs.

Cold formed Z- and C-shaped members may be used as secondary structural elements to fasten and support the external cladding.

Roll-formed profiled steel sheet, wood, tensioned fabric, precast concrete, masonry block, glass curtainwall or other materials may be used for the external cladding of the building.

Historically, pre-engineered building manufacturers have developed pre-calculated tables for different structural elements in order to allow designers to select the most efficient I beams size for their projects.

While pre-engineered buildings can be adapted to suit a wide variety of structural applications, the greatest economy will be realized when utilising standard details.

When a pre-engineered building is selected for a project, the architect accepts conditions inherent in the manufacturer's product offerings for aspects such as materials, colours, structural form, dimensional modularity, etc.

In the context described, the Architect and Engineer of Record are the designers of the building and bear ultimate responsibility for the performance of the completed work.

Recent advancements in pre-engineered building systems have led to the integration of diverse structural sub-systems and accessories, enhancing both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

These structures now commonly include mezzanine floors for optimised interior space, crane runway beams for industrial applications, and specialised roof platforms or catwalks for operational efficiency.

Aesthetic components such as fascias, parapets, and customised canopies contribute to modern design flexibility, catering to varied architectural requirements.

Furthermore, pre-engineered buildings have gained recognition for their superior cost-effectiveness and speed of construction compared to traditional methods, making them a preferred choice for both commercial and industrial projects worldwide.