Protecting Our Planet & Future
We are passionate about becoming an industry leader in the ongoing changes
across the sustainability practices of the Irish Building, Engineering & Construction Industry.
Assisting in Ireland’s Green and Digital Recovery
We have adopted a sustainability system to align our sustainability actions with our core objectives
Learn - professional formation and development
Live - operations
Lead - advocacy and regulation
Link - collaboration
DRIVING DEVELOPMENT OF Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is a term used to describe a number of construction methods which differ from ‘traditional’ construction. Other terms that are commonly used for these methods are: off-site construction, factory-built, industrialised or system building and pre-fabrication.
Types of MMC include:
• Volumetric construction - three-dimensional modular units which are produced and fully fitted-out in controlled factory conditions prior to transport to site;
• Panelised systems - panels with timber or light steel framing, structural insulated panels or cross-laminated timber produced in a factory and assembled on-site to produce three-dimensional structures;
• Hybrid techniques that combine panellised and volumetric approaches;
• Pods - used in conjunction with another construction method, e.g. bathroom or kitchen pods;
• Floor or roof cassettes, pre-cast concrete foundation and frame assemblies, preformed wiring looms, mechanical engineering composites and innovative techniques such as tunnel form or thin-joint block work;
• Other sub-assemblies and components - larger components incorporated into new homes, including wall, floor and floor assemblies etc
MMC can significantly reduce whole-life costs, especially if critical mass is achieved and mass production becomes prevalent.
Implementing the National BIM Council (NBC) Roadmap to Digital Transition of the Irish Construction Industry 2018-2021 is an important step in growing MMC.
The four pillars of the NBC Roadmap should remain ‘front and centre’
when considering our growTH into more MMC aspects for Bridgewater:
1. Leadership
The Irish Government must lead the way through the formation of a Centre of Excellence envisaged in the NBC Roadmap which will support the rollout of MMC in Ireland.
2. Standards
The role of the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) will be critically important by ensuring appropriate standards are introduced to provide clarity and confidence to insurers and consumers in respect to MMC.
3. Education
All stakeholders need to be educated as to the benefits of MMC and the significant contribution it can made to expatiating housing delivery in Ireland.
4. Procurement
Introduce contractual frameworks that will support the rollout of MMC in Ireland