What to specify: Off-site solutions

Movers and Makers

• Portakabin Group has been appointed to the Southern Modular Building Framework. The new framework was launched to facilitate the procurement of modular buildings for public sector projects across London, the South-east and South-west. The appointment of Portakabin to the framework is for projects in excess of £100,000 that require a design life of more than 60 years. The accreditation follows an independent assessment of Yorkon off-site solutions and services from the Portakabin Group.
  www.portakabin-group.com
• Modular building specialist Actavo Building Solutions has been awarded a place on the £750m NHS modular building framework. The framework hopes to tackle the problem of limited bed availability in the NHS by increasing facilities in a limited timeframe. Actavo will act as a principal contractor and provide a wide range of services. Services offered will range from initial concept, site works and completion of bespoke modular buildings, modular healthcare units and modular education units. The framework aims to increase NHS facilities using modular buildings over the next four years.
  www.actavo.com
• Volumetric building specialist Caledonian aims to create more than 100 jobs at its 40-acre facility near Newark in Nottinghamshire. The company said the business has gone through a sizeable restructure over an 18-month period, following contract wins in the educational and residential sectors set to total more than £70m. The recruits will help increase the output of permanent volumetric off-site buildings. The business hopes to focus on the residential, educational and defence sectors and aims to grow its revenue to more than £100m in the next three years.
  www.caledonianmodular.com

Steel framing
EOS Facades has provided its lightweight steel framing to Enderby Wharf residential development. According to the company, the light steel infill walling solution was implemented to reduce the building’s foundation requirements and improve the flexibility of the design. Installing a light gauge steel frame as the building’s primary structure allowed for developers to offer a larger number of dwellings in the high-rise. EOS claims that through the use of off-site construction it was able to meet the tight time requirements of this development and reduce waste and energy consumption.
EOS facades
www.eos-facades.co.uk

Demountable bathroom pod
Offsite Solutions has launched its demountable bathroom pods. The demountable pod was initially designed for military refurbishment projects and has now become available in the complete range of GRP bathroom designs offered by Offsite Solutions. The company claims that the pods can reduce work on site, commenting that eight pods can be assembled on site in just one day, whereas site-built bathrooms can take six to 12 weeks. The sectional design of the pods mean that the shower tray is part of the floor and the wall panels create the shower enclosure. Holes for bathroom accessories are predrilled and only the shower door is installed on site.
Offsite Solutions
www.offsitesolutions.com

Log cabins
MRC Modular has branched out into the manufacture of traditional log cabins. The addition of the product to its repertoire comes after a client requested the production and installation of two holiday cabins. Once the initial two cabins were installed, the client then requested a third. The log cabins by MRC Modular can be requested with disability-accessible features. The cabins have a live edge larch-clad exterior and an eco-tile roof.
MRC Modular
www.mrcmodular.com

Solar-powered units
Plant and welfare facilities supplier Garic has launched a range of eco-efficient solar-powered products. The 10ft x 8ft drying units, with two changing benches and coat rail, are self-contained solar-powered units. The launch follows on-site client trails - the company claims that those trialled were impressed to find a cost-effective alternative to existing mobile drying units. The units have a thermostatically controlled and solar-powered blown-air heating system. It has also developed a combination toilet and drying unit, with two male and one female toilets.
Garic
www.garic.co.uk

Temporary office space
Elliott Group was chosen to supply a temporary office facility for UTC Aerospace Systems in Wolverhampton. The accommodation was designed to house 300 staff for five years. A total of 54 modules were used over two buildings, creating an overall floor area of 2,008m2. The installation includes folding partitioned offices, jackpad foundations, a door canopy system, internal doorsets, kitchen fit-out and integrated panelling WC facilities. The company claims the modular office can be easily expanded by adding additional modules at a later date.
Elliott Group
www.elliottuk.com

Precast substructure and stairs
FP McCann has developed a modular precast substructure and concrete stairs to aid the construction of a public right of way to Shakespeare Beach in Kent. A severe storm has damaged 250m of sea wall and damaged the Dover-to-Folkestone rail line, as well as washing away up to 2m of beach. FP McCann provided the precast substructure to support the concrete stairs and allow them to be installed during short intertidal periods. The steps were given an anti-slip surface by shot blasting, done off-site by FP McCann.
FP McCann
www.fpmccann.co.uk