How modular buildings are meeting health sector needs 

Modular buildings are versatile structures that can be used for a range of purposes, including temporary office spaces, classrooms and even housing. Recently, they have played an increasingly important role in the health sector. 

Defined as a prefabricated building with individual sections called modules, they can be scaled up and down as required. This allows for adaptable and flexible spacing solutions across a range of industries. They’re typically constructed off-site in controlled factory conditions before being transported and installed onsite.

Here’s how modular buildings are meeting the needs with the healthcare sector.

Rapid deployment

Due to their portability and simple designs, modular buildings can be assembled in short amounts of time before being transported to a particular site. Compared to conventional construction methods, this can save time and money if a space is needed urgently.

Some circumstances where modular buildings have been used include natural disasters and health-related issues, such as the pandemic.

Flexibility and scalability

Modular buildings also allow for flexible and scalable design, which means they can be used in a variety of circumstances requiring different levels of space. The ability to add and remove modules can help healthcare institutions adapt in line with changing needs.

A healthcare institution may need an entire multi-storey unit to be created, or it might simply need a temporary office space to help with overflow in the main building. This can be helpful to address temporary overflows, such as when an epidemic of flu or other seasonal illnesses is putting pressure on services. Modular buildings help to address fluctuations in patient numbers.

Quality control

When a modular building is constructed, it’s subjected to strict quality control regulations. It’s done in a factory environment to help monitor this so you can be confident in adherence to quality and safety standards.

Precise specifications are used so that the units are suitable for the intended sites.

Sustainability

Today, most modular building designs adhere to sustainability principles. This may involve using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, and water-saving technology to reduce the amount of waste. Other examples include using energy-efficient materials and making sure they’re well-insulated. The fact that modular buildings are reusable and often made using responsibly sourced materials adds to their appeal.

The healthcare industry has a growing responsibility to follow sustainability principles and reduce carbon footprint, so the use of modular buildings that take this into consideration can offer peace of mind in this respect. 

To conclude…

Given the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of healthcare in the UK, modular buildings offer a temporary solution to help certain departments and units get back on their feet and address high demand in the healthcare sector.