Prefabrication

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Prefabrication is the practice of manufacturing the parts of an assembly in one location, ready for them to be assembled in another place.

The practice was widely used in the construction of prefabricated housing during the 20th century, providing a product made in factory conditions that would save time on site and, at least in theory, improve quality. However, prefabricated housing and many other items have a certain level of stigma because of the originally flimsy design and low cost. There has been a great improvement in prefabricated housing over the past decades and it is becoming a valid alternative to traditional housing.

Prefabrication also sometimes occurred in ancient times. For example, the world's oldest known engineered roadway, the Sweet Track, was prefabricated in England in the 3800s BC.

Prefabrication is also used for many other types of constructions, because it saves engineering time on construction site, which is often delayed by bad weather. Bridges and avelanche galleries are also sometimes built of prefabricated elements. Pylons of concrete are also in most cases prefabricated.

Advantages of prefabrication: 1) Self supporting readymade compoments are used, no need for shuttering and scaffolding, although some scaffolding may be required for erection. 2) The construction time is very quick and so the buildings are completed faster, this means early return of the capital invested. 3) The work at site is minimized. 4) Qaulity controll and be done while production. 5) Use of materials like cement and steel are minimized while designing and construction of prefab panels 6) Moulds can be used several times

Disadvantages

1) More careful handling is required and cracks can come if the panels are not carefully handled. 2) Leakages at the joints of the prefab panel.

Radio towers for mobile phone services in Germany consist often of multiple prefabricated sections. Modern lattice towers and guyed masts are also assembled of prefabricated elements.