MMC: The future of assembly in Ireland
Building and development both in the commercial and industrial sectors are being constrained by a range of obstacles.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) has led to a quiet transformation during construction work boom, writes Dermot Gildea, Director of Engineering & Offsite Manufacturing at Suir Engineering.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) have the power to reshape and accelerate Ireland’s building landscape – speeding up delivery, enhancing safety, and improving sustainability. As supply pressures rise, MMC offers a practical and forward-thinking solution.
Building and development both in the commercial and industrial sectors are being constrained by a range of obstacles, from rising construction costs to planning delays and labour shortages – systemic pressures that can be eased through the deployment of MMC. So, in light of that, isn’t it time that the sector adopted a modular-first approach?
The concept is not a new one, especially for those of us who recall the prefabricated modular school classrooms popular in Ireland during the seventies and eighties. But while the idea is not new, the way in which it is now conceptualised and leveraged is not – nor is its potential to further transform the construction industry in Ireland.
There is a myth that MMC is an attempt to replace traditional construction. On the contrary, the rate of construction workers has surged by 18.4% over the past year, according to recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) data. In light of this increase, we should be reframing MMC for the up-and-coming workers. Indeed, there is a fear that MMC will reduce the need for workers when in fact it will elevate our construction processes.
MMC enables skilled engineers and craftspeople to work in controlled environments with high-quality equipment. An indoor, factory assembly setting eliminates some of the problems caused with outdoor site work, which is at the mercy of our unpredictable Irish weather. High winds, torrential rain, and other inclement weather conditions can create danger and delays on-site. Accuracy and repeatability (i.e. getting the same result every time you repeat the same thing using the same method) are greatly improved, with more predictable delivery for clients, not to mention the higher-quality, lower-risk outcomes.
A modular containment system is an exciting component of the MMC construction and engineering overhaul. It is a means of assembling enclosures using standard, prefabricated components. These can include custom-shaped enclosures of any size and function, complex systems like packaged plant rooms, plant skid modules and MEP lateral & riser modules. It shows what we are capable of when construction and engineering experience meets know-how and innovation.
Given the risks associated with moving people, materials, and tools on and off site – risks largely avoided in a factory-controlled MMC setting – the reasoning is undeniable. Not only is manufacturing parts on-site less safe and controlled, but it also unable to meet the sheer scale and complexity of the infrastructure Ireland & Europe is crying out for at present.
I see how much of our work is shifting away from the “traditional” construction site and into controlled, precision-engineered environments for the better. A quiet transformation is underway and it’s clear that MMC and offsite manufacturing are not speculative trends but rather, viable and effective alternatives.
This year, the Government launched a set of major initiatives in MMC, including cross- government investment in the construction of a MMC National Demonstration Park, an MMC Action Plan, and the launch of an online MMC learning platform. This speaks to the veracity of MMC, which aims to reduce Ireland’s dependency on traditional construction methods, address our labour shortages, upskill workers, and improve sustainability.
MMC and off-site manufacturing are changing how engineering companies and construction workers are delivering critical facilities. Take Enterprise Ireland’s Built to Innovate Programme in Cork, which is using MMC methodology to accelerate new builds, is a prime example of MMC in action.
In using an off-site factory-style processes, we are increasing quality assurance, productivity and safety. MMC improves safety with its use of controlled facilities, it reduces the chance of accidents; it expediates timelines, minimises delays and improves productivity. Data centres are a perfect example of where MMC can be leveraged to expedite delivery. The large-scale deployment of AI enabled data centres has resulted in significantly greater power densities in server racks, which in turn require both air and liquid cooling.
Liquid cooled racks are significantly more complicated with complex chilled water piping assemblies and associated electrical engineering. By manufacturing these liquid cooled Hot Aile Containment (HAC) Modules offsite, complex onsite works are removed, quality and health and safety are maximised, and data centres are commissioned sooner, resulting in a much faster return on investment for operators.
Such controlled conditions would support rigorous testing and consistency, as well as increasing the chances of manufacturing a quality product. But it also leads to reduced waste, controlled material use, as well as less chance of having to rework a task. In turn, it creates a new generation of higher-skilled engineering and fabrication roles in Ireland, which has a knock-on economic impact.
Ireland can develop dedicated modular build hubs, that not only serve domestic demand, but also supply advanced assemblies to markets across Europe. Indeed, Ireland has an opportunity to become a leader in MMC and offsite construction. With government backing now in place for MMC initiatives, industry-wide action must follow.
A beleaguered and stretched labour force cannot address Europe’s rapidly growing digital and energy economy, but smart scaling with MMC will. Offsite manufacturing is the next chapter of construction and Ireland has the engineering talent, industrial base and innovation culture to lead by example. We have the Intellectual Property and professional knowledge to execute these modern methods of construction. The future of construction will be assembled right here in Ireland and if we capitalise on this opportunity by embracing these processes, we’re on track to champion best practices all across Europe.
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