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MMC

Modern Methods of Construction

Medical buildings aerial shot | Modern methods of construction | MMC | Health Spaces

What are Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)?

The term Modern Methods of Construction describes the employment of innovative practices to rapidly create high quality buildings, utilising a range of off-site manufacturing and on-site techniques to provide alternatives to traditional construction. MMC construction techniques offer a rapid construction solution compared to traditional building methods.

The UK Government has been increasingly encouraging and incentivising the use of Modern Methods of Construction for building projects across the public sector.

UNIQUE APPROACH

With current  knowledge of  Modern Methods of Construction, our unique approach to MMC incorporates strategic supply chain partnerships to provide a wide range of MMC construction types for different needs that include:

  • Traditional volumetric modular buildings
  • System-build wall panels
  • Light gauge steel frame (LGSF)
  • Passivhaus timber frame modular building
  • Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs)

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The flexibility of modern construction methods

Different projects have different priorities, and with our specialist knowledge in Modern Methods of Construction companies we can offer flexible solutions  – the delivery of your project is not restricted to one system in any particular production facility, enabling us to provide the best solution in the time you need it. True to our proven methodology, Health Spaces can work with your estates and clinical teams to deliver  an end-to-end service, including:

  • Design & Specification
  • Manufacturing
  • Groundworks
  • Interior Fit-Out
  • Construction Management
  • Electrical & Service Connections

 

 

What are the benefits of Modern Methods of Construction?

Maximising off-site construction through MMC has a number of financial and practical benefits for the NHS including:

  • Minimising disruption to live hospital sites
  • 95% less waste than traditional build
  • Rapid delivery to meet urgent clinical requirements
  • Increased productivity and control
  • Cost effective
  • Repeatable economies of scale
  • Reduced carbon footprint
  • Improved health and safety

What is making MMC a success?

Pre-manufacturing technologies bring construction into the modern age by moving production from on-site to factories. Off-site construction has several advantages, including greater quality control and more efficient use of materials and labour. This can boost productivity, enabling faster scheme delivery with less risk of programme disruption on site. With scale, costs can be reduced through greater efficiency in a safer, more controlled environment for workers.

We are able to keep the construction of buildings and components away from busy hospital sites, reducing footfall to site and ensuring the healthcare build is unaffected by other operations within the area or poor weather conditions at site.

MMC construction allows for an engineered product, and therefore cost savings. The digitisation of a building process can occur throughout the design, specification and procurement stages, and also through Building Information Modelling (BIM) and successor models. The advancement of digital technology involved with Modern Methods of Construction helps facilitate precision assembly in production, removing any waste and reduction in error, helping to reduce programme times.

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Waste reduction from MMC

The construction sector generates more waste per ton of production than any other sector. This is due to the nature of its activities and the fact that it often involves building material which is not suitable for recycling. However, manufacturing facilities (off-site) are more effective at managing waste than construction sites. This is due to better control of a manufacturing process and factors such as more effective segregation, leading to less contamination and a higher rate of recycling.

Reduce Disruption

Modern Methods of Construction reduces disruption

MMC processes reduce the amount of time required on-site, freeing up space for other activities. This directly impacts upon the local community, reducing traffic movements and noise pollution as well as making it easier for on-site workers and the wider community to resume their normal lives. This is especially beneficial in the hospital setting where noise needs to be kept to a minimum and should not put pressure on other services such as car parking or hospital access.

How Modern Methods of Construction add value to your project

MMC provides designers and constructors with wider options and flexibility for both design and build, and in addition MMC supplements existing capabilities.

MMC construction helps to drive innovation through the utilisation of alternative construction techniques, ensuring for tailored and bespoke healthcare builds.

Off-site construction methods like modular construction enables projects to be fixed on-site faster, often cutting down the project costs by reducing snagging defects. In addition cost savings can come from a reduction of time on site.

Let’s start planning your next project

The Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) methodology encompasses many processes and techniques in order to deliver a fast way of creating new buildings, driving an efficient use of materials and human resources. These processes can include off-site construction, modular construction, precision manufactured construction, design for manufacture and assembly, pre-manufactured value, digital construction and smart construction.

The value of the construction industry

The construction industry is one of the largest contributors to the UK economy. Construction output in the UK is more than £110 billion per annum and contributes 7% of GDP. The industry is also responsible for £13 billion in exports and also employs over 2 million people.

In addition to its economic benefits, construction also plays an important role in terms of its contribution to sustainable development goals (SDGs). The SDGs are 17 goals that were set by world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 with the aim of improving life on Earth by 2030.

MMC Case Studies

Many of our healthcare construction projects employ MMC techniques, including pre-constructed off-site modular builds to ensure for a rapid build and minimal disruption to patient flow and site operations.

Read our case studies

“The minimal disruption to our day to day operations that this Modern Method of Construction (MMC) offers is a serious advantage over traditional building techniques, and our colleagues in Radiology are very much looking forward to the new facility being operational in a matter of weeks.”

 

Oliver Needham, Capital Project Manager, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

MMC vs Traditional Construction

Working with NHS Trusts across the UK, Health Spaces recently hosted a workshop which examined the differences between MMC construction and traditional methods of construction in healthcare builds. You can access the recording via our resources pages.

Our Resources