MMC techniques

It is important to establish right from the start that, where MMC is used, the final product may still be a mix of traditional and innovative technologies. A number of house builders, for example, continue to build houses in a traditional manner, but use sub-assembly technologies as well. Preplumbed and fully fitted-out en-suite wc and shower room pods complete with plastic tiles and grout are now available and can be incorporated into traditional masonry construction. Even some of the panel systems which are delivered to site complete with a facade of brick slips are likely to require the skills of a bricklayer to join the panels up at the corners. There are so many ways to build, and so many variations on a theme, it is best not to have too many preconceived ideas about the building you may be about to survey, until you've finished your inspection. Cost is still a driving force in the contruction industry. At present, the prospect of losing our manufacturing base to our overseas competitors seems unlikely, given the potentially huge transportation costs.

Construction techniques fall into the following broad categories:

• panel systems;
• volumetric systems;
• sub-assemblies and components; and
• on-site technologies.

In some forms of construction a mixture of technologies is employed, such as bringing together volumetric and panelised systems. These are categorised as hybrid systems.