Training and Knowldege Management in IBS - Part 1

"As with any industry, training and knowledge management is key to ensuring the continued development and application of Industrialised Building System"

ICT based knowledge management systems however can bring a significant advantage to the field. This approach allows for information dissemination from institutionalized knowledge sources in a real-time information feedback flow. Informations are distributed to contractors in the field, and in return they will inform the suppliers whether the information they supply is useful or relevant and offer guidelines to improve it. With knowledge now being viewed as a significant asset, the creation and sharing of knowledge has become an important factor within and between organizations.

Training will provide workers with the skills and expertise needed in IBS
Training for contractors and suppliers of the IBS is just as important issue as knowledge management in ensuring the future of the IBS field in Malaysia. Skilled workers are required for the pre-fabrication of IBS modules, as well as at the final building assembly site. Skilled and knowledgeable crews are also needed for packaging and transporting the modules to their destinations, as well as standby crews for maintenance and repair duties. The requirement of skilled workers falls most heavily upon those involved in the pre-fabrication phase and in the final construction phase.

Workers at the fabrication phase must have the knowledge and training to fully assemble the pre-fab modules (not only the frame, but also wiring and plumbing connections) such that the module is fully functional when it leaves the assembly floor. Workers at the final construction phase on the other hand must know how to place the module within the structure’s frame, as well as make the connections between the modules to enable water, sewerage electricity, communications and alarm systems. Furthermore, they must be able to integrate these systems into the building’s monitoring networks. These tasks require skilled workers, as IBS is not just placing blocks on top of each other. Both knowledge management and training of personnel have a very high market potential for success. Training of personnel is currently being undertaken by many companies.


(Source: Techscope, MIGHT, March 2008)

Prefabricated Way to Cut Work

Article excerpt from The Star.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prefabricated parts will be used in all Government projects in a bid to reduce the dependence on foreign workers, Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said.

He said the move would begin with projects under the Public Works Department, which are worth RM6.9bil.

The use of prefabricated parts was part of the Industrial Building System (IBS) which would be adopted for all Govern ment projects.

“The Government has ordered all government agencies carrying out development and people’s housing projects to use at least 70% IBS content in those projects,” he told a press conference at his office after the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Mohd Zin said to ensure that the IBS was implemented, a National Secretariat on IBS has been incorporated under the Works Ministry.

The secretariat would coordinate, monitor and help all parties, including the private sector, in implementing the IBS, he said.

McDonald Goes Modular

Industrialised Building System (IBS) in Malaysia - Part 1

The Industrialised Building System (IBS), is one of the fastest growing industries in the Malaysian construction sector. Most talks of IBS conjures images of pre-cast blocks being set upon to form offices and apartments, akin to constructing a building using LEGO® blocks. To some extent, this is correct. The key technology to IBS is the preparation of precast building structure off-site, which is then brought to the construction site and assembled. This allows building to be constructed with minimal effort and time at the construction site, which in turn provides tremendous cost savings to the contractors. However, the best savings are enjoyed by the consumers; IBS allows for homes to be owned from as little as RM 42,000.00 a year!

The potential for IBS sector in Malaysia is enormous to say the least. The conservative estimate of the industry is approximately to RM2 billion, making the future of the industry secure. Having to recognize the potential of the industry, the Government of Malaysia has implemented the roadmap for the development of IBS in Malaysia three years ago. Among the key goals of the roadmap are, to reduce the number of foreign workers in the construction sector from 75% in 2005 to 15% in 2009 through IBS, to utilize IBS in government building projects by up to 70% by 2008 and finally to achieve full industrialization by 2010.

In order to achieve these goals, a more structured approach must be taken in implementing IBS. Dishing out contracts haphazardly and hoping that the industry will build itself is a serious error of judgment. This structured approach forms a pyramid, with the bottom layer supporting the upper layers. At the bottom of the pyramid are the small components and accessories suppliers. This forms the largest group, consisting of many small and medium scale industries manufacturing items such as windows, doors, grills and frames etc. This group supports the medium sized and manufactured components group. Smaller than the small components groups, the medium components group is responsible for the sub-assembly of components and individual structure components. This group in turn supports the large component group, which manufactures precast concrete and steel frames as well as the modules. Finally, at the top of the pyramid is the developer, responsible for assembling the building. The creation of a structured system such as the pyramid, enables companies to easily identify which step of the IBS construction process they fall under, who they can sell their products to and who they can buy their components from.

Article Source: TECHSCOPE, March 2008, Malaysian industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)

Modular Homes - House of the Future

The current construction industry supply chain is organized along the labour intensive lines with the bulk of work is undertaken in-situ. It involves a combination of formwork preparation, ready mixed concrete usage and extensive sub-contracting. The IBS Supply Chain will transform the industry into a value chain similar to the manufacturing industry. By applying IBS, most of the on-site processes will be taken out from the construction site and put under a factory controlled environment where quality can be controlled and monitored.

The IBS Supply Chain promotes Open System and encourages full industry participation compared to the Prefab Closed System readily available now where only limited industry companies can participate. As can be seen in figure 1, IBS Supply Chain comprises of Modular Component-based products that can be produce and interchangeable between any project thus promote mass customization at the customers end. Therefore, a company that can utilize the IBS supply chain will enable it to sell systems rather than selling single products.

Market Potential

Houses of the future should be similar to products like cars or computers today. It is built mostly in a factory with parts that is easy to replace or maintain. The construction industry can be transform by following what other sectors are already doing; standardize and accessorize.

Standardising the construction industry is a critical factor in establishing an Open Building System (OBS) in Malaysia. The concept of the OBS is similar to what has happened in the ICT industry whereby through standardization of jointing parts such as USB ports, consumers can buy computer equipment such as mouse or scanner anywhere in the world. The equipment can then be easily installed by the users as the connection from the equipment to the computer has been internationally standardized.

IBS gives the ability for companies from just being a simple plain brick contractor that is driven by projects to a component builder manufacturer that is driven by consumers. Modular components or also known as volumetric components can be configured into wide variety of end products and the design can be based on customer’s individual needs through unique combinations of the modular components. Mass customization will allow companies to penetrate new markets and capture customers whose demands could not be met with standard products. Developers and contractors who embrace the IBS methodology can even upgrade their capability to export houses in countries that are in need of fast permanent shelters.

IBS Implementation: Industry Responses

Malaysia has seen 40 years of IBS planning and implementation. Although the pace was slow during the late 1960s and 1970s, the momentum was steadily increased and gradually became part of the industry. In present day, IBS has marked its presence by successful projects throughout Malaysia. Among significant projects that use IBS are:

2007 - Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel), Kuala Lumpur, The Spring Shopping Mall, Kuching, Sarawak

2006 - Kuching International Airport, Kuching, Sarawak, Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru

2005 - Serdang Hospital, Serdang, Selangor, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor

2001 - Kuala Lumpur Sentral (KL Sentral), Kuala Lumpur, Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

1998 - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang, Selangor, Malawati Indoor Stadium, Shah Alam, Selangor

1997 - PETRONAS Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Selangor

1984 - Dayabumi Complex, Kuala Lumpur

1981 - High end bungalows and low cost houses throughout Selangor

1978 - 1005 units of low-cost, five-storey walk up flats, Taman Tun Sardon, Gelugor, Pulau Pinang

1969 - 6 blocks of 17-storey flats, 3 blocks of 18-storey flats and 66 units of shop houses, Jalan Rifle Range, Air Itam, Pulau Pinang

IBS Pilot Project – 7 blocks of 17-storey flats, Jalan Pekeliling, Kuala Lumpur


Other projects include:

Residential
1. 10,000 units of Teachers’ Quarters, nationwide
2. High-rise apartments in Putrajaya
3. Apartments in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur and Puchong, Selangor
4. CyberVilla Town House, Cyberjaya, Selangor
5. Pangsapuri Dahlia Akademi Audit Negara, Negeri Sembilan
6. Seremban II Township Project, Negeri Sembilan

Schools & Universities
1. Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, Johor Bahru, Johor
2. Lim Kok Wing University, Cyberjaya, Selangor
3. Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Semambu, Kuantan, Pahang

Hospitals
1. Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
2. Kidney Dialysis Centre, Kuching, Sarawak

Shopping Malls
1. Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur
2. IKEA, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor
3. Jaya Jusco, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
4. Jusco Tebrau City, Johor Bahru, Johor
5. MYDIN Hypermarket, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
6. Carrefour Hypermarket, Seberang Prai, Pulau Pinang

Factories & Warehouses
1. Pelikan Factory, Warehouse and Office, Puchong, Selangor
2. Distripark Warehouse, Westport, Pulau Indah, Selangor
3. Nippon Express Office and Warehouse, Pulau Pinang
4. Flextronics Factory Senai, Johor Bahru

Why Modular is Better?

Traditional method of building process brings all the workers, machineries, and materials to the ground where the building is to be constructed. It contributes to the same problems plaguing construction industry for so long; over-reliance of cheap labour, inconsistent quality, prone to delays, substantial material waste, and dangerous working environment to name a few.

IBS provides means to improve this building process which give advantages to the industry. Among the benefits of IBS are:

Cost
• Requirement of few on-site workers significantly reducing labour cost for contractors (installers).
• Minimum material waste through quality control and continuous improvement.
• Sustainability as component moulds could be used repeatedly for different projects, allowing economic of scale and reduction in amortisation cost.
• Exemption of the Construction Levy on residential developments with at least 50% of IBS content

Quality
• Consistent high quality-controlled products through practice of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
• Eliminate substandard product through ‘zero-defect’ programme.
• Skilled workers with specific scope of works improve efficiencies and reduce errors.

Time
• Faster completion of projects due to advance off-site preparations and efficient installations.
• Manageable construction schedule by the use of planning control, estimated lead time and forecasted down time.
• Not affected by weather element as off-site production allows 24-hours operation.

Safety
• Promote safe and systematic factory working environment.
• Safer working environment as minimal work is required on-site.
• Cleaner sites due to timely material delivery, systematic components storage, reduction of construction material and waste on-site.

Modular Buildings - A Portable and Low Cost Construction Alternative

We are often surprised by the rapid transformation of a vast landscape - a shopping center, a business park etc. Some of those buildings are built using modular construction techniques. These buildings are constructed in a factory and then shipped in sections to the chosen building site. Modular buildings can be built as offices, medical buildings, portable classrooms, and buildings for retail businesses. Modular building solutions can also be used for healthcare, education, commercial, construction, or government purposes. Whether you need a modular building for extra storage or for your up and coming business, there is a modular building solution available for these types of buildings as well as many others.

Modular buildings have great solutions to all of your building needs. When you need a mobile office, a portable classroom, a new building for your retail business, or an arena for sports and entertainment do not hesitate to consider modular buildings. Even if you desire a building for medical uses like a clinic or a lab, modular building solutions can be the answer to your building prayers. If you desire temporary office space, a mobile office will give you just that. These types of buildings offer a faster building time and the construction is dependable and durable. Modular buildings are built in a factory and therefore they do not suffer from weather damage like traditional buildings do when they are constructed at the chosen building site. Modular buildings are energy efficient, the buildings are inspected, and they met all building codes.

When looking for flexible construction that can be built to meet your specific wants and needs, look no further than modular buildings. Modular building solutions are of service for construction offices, industrial or commercial buildings, and residential sales offices. Almost every type of building, business, or home can be easily built through modular construction. Modular buildings guarantee high quality construction with an attractive finish.

Floor plans are available to give you the look that you desire or you can customize your new modular building to achieve a unique floor plan not found anywhere else. You also get to choose the interior and exterior designs of your modular building to fit your wants and needs. All you will need to do is to find a company who is willing to work around your ideas and then they will help you to create a floor plan that is a one of a kind modular building for your business, home, or storage needs. Modular building solutions are an easy and effective way to get the look that you want for the business or home that you are creating at a price and floor plan that you can live with.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Natalie_Aranda

IBS Modular Homes

IBS Modular Building

Global initiatives on IBS

Throughout the world, there has been several initiatives to change the construction industry into a more productive and efficient industry. As can be seen in table 1, several countries in the world including Malaysia has been aggressively putting up programmes to further enhance the construction sector.

Among the global leaders in offsite construction are notably Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. This is due to the fact that in these countries, the construction season is short and therefore speed is critical in their construction industry.

Other developed countries such as United Kingdom and United States are fast catching up in the off-site construction. It is estimated that the modular market in the United Kingdom will grow by 60% to €4.6 billion by the year 2009 (source: Internet: http://www.offsiteconstruction.ie/). Meanwhile in the US, one in six new houses is a prefab, which is estimated to be about 400,000 units a year (source: Modular Muddle”. Internet: http://society.guardian.co.uk/ )

Modular Construction: Evolution of the Construction Industry

The major advantage of full industrialisation of the building industry is that quality architecture can be delivered to the vast majority of people. Industrialisation also means the aggregation of a pool of project or large market into fractions of works that can be divided among smaller productions and therefore simplifying the production and reducing the costs. The status quo of the industry is still on the first four degrees of the industrialisation that consists of prefabrication, mechanisation, automation and robotics. Whereas, industrialisation of the building industry covers the fifth degree, reproduction. Reproduction simply means to find innovative process that eventually will short-cut the repetitive linear operations of the traditional production line. Industrialised Building System are much more evolved from the traditional prefabrication or precast method and it requires a major overhaul of the current industry practise.

Below are a video showing modular construction in other parts of the world

Construction Sector Grows Under 9MP

THE construction industry should aim for an efficient, productive, innovative and environmentally responsible industry, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said at the official launch of the International Construction Week (ICW 2007) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) recently.

Organised by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD). ICW2007 was themed “Strengthening Construction Capabilities for Global Competitiveness”. “The Malaysian construction industry has contributed to the nation’s growth and it’s ready to venture overseas. The industry grew to 4.0 per cent during the first quarter under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the formulation of a comprehensive Master Plan is timely to trigger a paradigm shift.

“However, there is a need to address issues and weaknesses before embarking on the vision of a progressive sector that thrives on knowledge, creativity for its survival.” CIBD chairman Tan Sri Jamilus Hussein said the event was a momentum and hallmark of the efforts to penetrate the challenging global market. “Malaysia has been transformed from a nation dependent on foreign experts and service providers to a major construction service exporter in the international market.

“Malaysian builders abroad have accumulated RM61 billion worth of projects covering about 38 countries. These projects are over a period of 10 years and currently our biggest overseas projects are in India and the Middle East. “We are also venturing into the Industrialised Building System (IBS) to reduce our dependency on foreign labour. IBS is not a new thing but merely a different trend. “IBS, which presents a cheaper cost in volume and time, takes work from the site to the factories but it will take some time for the industry to get used to the idea,” said Jamilus. He added that the future outlook for the industry was that it would be very busy over the next years.

At the event, Mohd Zin also opened the 24th Malaysian International Building Exposition (Malbex 2007) held in conjunction with ICW 2007. Organised by Reeds Exhibitions Sdn Bhd and co organised by CIBD, Malbex 2007 ran for four days. Reeds Exhibitions general manager Michelle Lim said last years, exhibitors made some RM86.5mil worth of sales and a further RM325 mil of sales was expected to be concluded this year.

“About 200 companies, comprising leading international manufacturers from 19 countries, including at least 51 first-time participants, took part in the expo. “It is recognised regionally as an outstanding industry-wide event for the building and construction sector, organised for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and technology.” She added that more than 14,000 trade visitors were expected at Malbex 2007, including architects, developers, interiors, designers, contractors, and top buyers. For details on Malbex 2007, visit http://www.malbex.com.my/

(Source: The Star, 29th September 2007)

Cheap homes price to stay

BAHAU: The price of low-cost houses will not be increased, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The Prime Minister said developers should not cite the increase in prices of building materials as a reason to raise the prices of the houses.

“We can’t do this ... If we allow an increase, the common man will not be able to own a house.
“Also, we do not want to do something which will create a lot of unhappiness (among people from the lower-income group),” he said after performing the ground-breaking ceremony for a Universiti Teknologi Mara campus in Kg Beting, near here.

Abdullah said developers should instead find ways to reduce their costs such as adopting new construction methods. “You can adopt the IBS (Industrialised Building System) method which can reduce your cost of doing business,” he said.

He was responding to a statement by Real Estate and Housing Developers Association deputy president Datuk Michael Yam that developers were unable to absorb the increase in prices of construction materials. The association had proposed that prices of low-cost houses and flats be increased from RM42,000 to RM60,000.

Abdullah said the IBS method was effective as developers would not have to rely heavily on skilled workers. He said if developers built houses quickly, they would also be able to service their bank loans faster.

“Pemudah has come up with recommendations that can help speed up business,” he said.
Pemudah is a public-private sector initiative which aims to simplify business operations in Malaysia by improving government services. Abdullah said it was unfair to allow an increase simply because government servants recently got a salary hike.

“They were unable to buy houses previously. If you increase the price, then the civil servants who recently got a pay increase will never be able to own a house,” he said.

(Source: The Star 24th August 2007)

MIGHT Annual Report 2006 - Industrialised Building System

Global Scenario

With the impact of globalization have run deep into many industries, more efficient methods have been introduced and implemented in order to survive the challenging market ahead. Every product have improved dramatically and been produced in a higher quality and at a lower cost but with the exception of houses and buildings. Whilst, other industries have been thriving in terms of technology application, only small improvement has been made in making building processes more efficient.

Houses of the future should be similar to products like cars or computers today. It is built mostly in a factory with parts that is easy to replace or maintain. The construction industry can be transform by following what other sectors are already doing; standardize and accessorize. This effort can be achieve by overhauling the industry through technology implementation such as Industrialised Building System or IBS. IBS based on Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia (CIDB) is defined as “Construction technique in which components are manufactured in a factory, on or off site, positioned and assembled into a structure with minimal additional site works.”

In many parts of the world, IBS takes its forms in an initiative called open building concept. Open building is an approach to the design of buildings and said to be representing a new wave in architecture. Open building is defined as an innovative approach to design and construction that enhances the efficiency of the building process, while increasing the variety, flexibility and quality of the product [1].

Developed countries such as Japan, Netherlands and USA to name a few, have already started to develop concept that is called ‘Open Source Building’. The concept of the open source building is similar to what has happened in the ICT industry whereby through standardization of jointing parts such as USB ports, consumers can buy computer equipment such as mouse or scanner anywhere in the world. The equipment can then be easily installed by the users as the connection from the equipment to the computer has been internationally standardized.

Local Scenario

The Malaysian construction industry as envisaged in the Third Outline Perspective Plan (OPP3) 2001-2010, is expected to grow at 6.6% per annum during the period of OPP3 and contributes 3.1% to the GDP in the year 2010 [2]. The only way for the country to achieve this target is by increasing the industry’s efficiency and productivity to a higher level than it is now. In recognizing these critical factors, the Government has introduced a master plan to overhaul the construction industry into a more technology based industry. The master plan is called the “Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) Roadmap 2003-2010”. Endorsed by the Cabinet in October 2003, the plan’s ultimate objective is for the industry to achieve Open Building by the year 2010.

The IBS agenda was further boosted as the Government have announced in Budget 2005, whereby all new Government projects are required to have at least 50 per cent IBS content. This was subsequently followed by another announcement in Budget 2006 whereby IBS manufacturers would be given tax incentives through Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for expenses occurred in the purchase of moulds used for production of precast concrete components. In the year 2006 also, an IBS Centre was established under CIDB that will act as a one stop agency for IBS implementation. These initiatives done by the Government have given the IBS agenda the momentum that was badly needed before. It has also put the construction industry into the right path of achieving higher efficiency and productivity by the year 2020.


Company’s activities

For the year 2006, the company has been actively promoting the use of IBS through partnership with various parties and Government agencies. Among the key activities are:

Project Implementation

IBS Modular is now actively implementing IBS product development through an IBS Technopreneur programme. The programme is in line with the Government aspiration of creating more IBS suppliers by 2010.

Human Capital Development

IBS Industrial Skills Enhancement Programme (INSEP)
The programme consists of 60 students that started on September 2006. The objective of the programme is to enhance the skill of the participants with the knowledge of IBS and therefore creating more job opportunities for them in the market place. The programme partner for this program is Housing Research Centre (HRC), UPM.

International and Business Programme

International Outreach Programme.
The objective of the programme is to create IBS awareness among developing countries through the platform of international seminars and workshops such as Langkawi International Dialogue and OIC meetings.


Reference:
1. Whitepaper 2003. About Open Building. Bensonwood Homes
2. Third Outline Perspective Plan (OPP3) 2001-2010
3. 2005 Budget Speech, www.pmo.gov.my
4. 2006 Budget Speech, www.pmo.gov.my
5. Economic Stimulus Package Speech, 2003, www.mten.gov.my

Better Houses for All

By LOONG MENG YEE and WANI MUTHIAH
The Star, Saturday April 22, 2006

SHAH ALAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants good quality and affordable homes set in comfortable neighbourhoods for the people. The houses must also be the result of responsible development, he said at the launch of the Housing and Local Government’s computerised “open registration system” for low-cost houses at the state secretariat building here.

LIGHT MOMENT: Abdullah, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo laughing at the antics of a low-cost housing applicant being interviewed through video conferencing in Shah Alam yesterday. — Bernamapic

Abdullah said houses of good quality could be built with the implementation of the Industrialised Building System (IBS) in which component parts like windows and doors would be mass-produced. The system could stabilise the price of building materials as mass production would help to reduce costs, he said. He said the IBS would ensure the quality of houses as all parts would come from factories. “This is crucial as contractors usually don’t follow specifications and people complain that the houses they get in the end are not as advertised,” he said.

Abdullah also wanted a comprehensive ICT database set up to help house buyers obtain necessary information like the location of housing projects and pricing, among other things.
“Some people (want to) buy homes in places far from where they are living, some near their kampungs to settle down in after retirement,” he said. “So, it is good to have a database on homes giving details like where they are to be built, pricing, and whether they are located near towns.”

Abdullah said housing developers must be responsible and look into various factors like environmental implications before launching projects. “One cannot foresee what can happen in housing areas. Places which had never been flooded before have become flood prone after houses are built there,” he noted. He said irresponsible developers often took the easy way out like cutting down trees and dumping soil into rivers for their housing projects, which in the end caused flooding.

The House of the Future

Building Blocks

Article excerpted from Popular Science Magazine, November 2006

Imagine if cars were built the way most houses are. A procession of trucks would deliver materials and parts to your driveway – sheet metal, spools of wire, screws, pistons, a roll of carpet, bumpers and a steering wheel. Then day laborers would arrive to put it all together. In the rain. It sounds absurdly efficient, yet that’s the accepted way of constructing a modern American house.

While cars, computers and other products have improved dramatically in recent decades, houses have changed almost as little as the methods used to build them. “Every product except homes has become more sophisticated, with higher quality at lower cost,” says architect Kent Larson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."Homes are just the opposite.”

Larson is perhaps the country’s lead proponent of a radical new approach to designing and constructing homes. The house of the future, he says, should be more like a personal computer or a car. It should be affordable, built mostly in a factory, and with parts that are easy to repair or replace. You should be able to design your own home online, just as you can today with a Dell laptop or a Honda minivan. The key to making it happen? Follow the lead of other industries: standardize and accessorize.

Take personal computers. Products made by competing manufacturers are standardized for compatibility. You can buy virtually any printer or mouse on the market, and it will work with the computer you already own. “Nobody has to agree on what a mouse is; you just have to agree on the USB port,” Larson says.

Before houses can be built this way, though, the industry needs standards analogous to the USB standard for computers. “You don’t have to agree on the toilet, but you have to agree on how the toilet connects to the wall or the floor,” Larson explains. That may sound easy enough, but getting dozens of manufacturers to sync their johns will require fundamental changes in the homebuilding industry.

A House Made to Order

Prefabricated components – like walls, floors and plumbing – make home construction a snap



One of the key components of the MIT Open Source house is the core wall [A], a prefab unit into which all of the plumbing is already installed. Even the toilet [B] is built directly into the wall instead of attached to a waste drain on the floor. The core wall is simply hooked up to the service lines, and then the tiling and fixtures (sink, shower) are added to complete the bathroom. The house’s flooring is fitted with adjustable feet [C], which rest on the subfloor and provide soundproofing and space for HVAC ductwork [D]. The electrical wiring [E] is easily accessible behind removable paneling [F], making installation of extra outlets easy. Finally, the interior walls [G], which also arrive fully assembled, are snapped into place to form rooms.