1. Individual modules are lowered into position by crane.                           2. As many modules as you need are added to create the required building floor area.

3. A single building is created. Internal layouts can be                               4. Additional storeys can be added to create as much space as you need.

designed to your exact specifications.

Modular construction - the facts

Modular construction from Portakabin creates the quality of a traditional, permanent building, with the added speed and flexibility.  It's the ideal answer to the needs of the 21st century.

No other method of construction can match modular buildings for speed of delivery, reduced disruption and future flexibility.

Buildings are manufactured off-site in a controlled factory environment and are fully fitted with all electrics, plumbing, heating and internal finishes before they leave the Portakabin production centre.  This means we are able to minimise installation times and disruption to your site.

Modules are delivered to the site by road, where they are craned onto pre-prepared foundations, sometimes within a day saving you valuable time and money.  Individual modules offer flexibility so interiors can be created to match your exact requirements with open-plan areas, individual rooms or a combination of both.

The uncluttered convenience and efficiency of a large modular build can be seen in this fascinating time-lapse video. The building, constructed in Reading for Foster Wheeler, comprised 78 modules which were craned into position over an 8 day period.  The video clearly shows how large buildings can be easily constructed using the Portakabin modular method. 

Foster Wheeler is a global engineering contractor and power equipment supplier.

How it works

The modular building system comprises individual factory-assembled volumetric steel modules. The modules are easily linked side by side or end to end to construct individual single or multi-storey buildings - up to four storeys.¹ Internal layouts are created to your exact specifications through the use of partition walls.

A first class result

The result of a Portakabin modular solution is a high-quality building that is delivered quickly and easily with the minimum disturbance to you.  Once your building is sited you will find that it offers the highest levels of comfort for occupants with an unrivalled flexibility for future.

Advantages of the Portakabin Modular Solution

The technical advantages of Portakabin modular construction translate into real-world benefits for customers. 

With Portakabin you also get:

Cost and time certainty - Last year, 99.9% of our buildings were delivered on time and on budget² - compared with a traditional construction-industry average of only 63% on time and 49% on budget.3

With modular buildings being produced off-site, the building programme is under strict control and is not subject to the skills shortages which can affect the critical path of a traditional project.  With its unrivalled 250,000sqm state-of-the-art manufacturing centre with its lean factory environment it also means that adverse weather does not cause delays. 

This is part of the reason that Portakabin is able to provide the peace of mind of cost and time certainty. The more time spent on site with a traditional build then the greater the risk that unpredictable weather will have an impact.

• Guaranteed quality - From office procedures right through to the zero tolerance manufacturing process, Portakabin has earned the ISO 9001 quality management systems standard

• Efficiency and safety - Using modular construction means less disruption and time spent on site as modules are manufactured in a controlled factory environment. The result is that your site is cleaner, quieter and safer

• Drastically reduced completion times - With build times that are up to 50% faster than traditional building methods Portakabin can give organisations earlier occupancy and therefore faster return on investment

• One-stop-shop - Everything you need, from complete project management and consultancy right through to climate control, security and interior design

• Unique Customer Charter - Setting out the high standards of customer service that you will receive at all times. With an average customer satisfaction score of 9 out of 10 - You can be certain of complete peace of mind

• Flexibility for the future - Our modular building and portable building systems give you the flexibility to change the layout, expand or even relocate with the minimum of fuss. With Portakabin you can:

• Better building performance - energy efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions

• Fewer defects - in both process and output means less waste at the site and factory. Our zero tolerance policy towards defects means that all products must be complete and to specification adhering to high-quality standards before leaving the factory
• Greater Sustainability - The Portakabin modular building approach offers a host of sustainability advantages, including improved thermal performance and waste reduction which is endorsed with ISO 14001 certification for environmental performance

• Less wastage of materials - Off-site construction generates up to 90% less waste than traditional on site building methods ⁵

• Fewer vehicle movements - The off-site modular construction method results in 90% fewer vehicle movements4 on the construction site

• Logistical expertise - with strict adherence to the quality guidelines of ISO9001 Portakabin is able to efficiently manage 12 million individual components a year

• The name you can trust - over 45 years of experience as industry market leader. In that time Portakabin has delivered 50 million square feet of floor space, a huge undertaking that illustrates how many businesses and organisations have relied on modular solutions from Portakabin.

Portakabin modular buildings are built to last with unrivalled warranty protection

With our pioneering 20-year structural and 5-year product warranty package you can be certain that your building is built to last. Plus, British Board of Agrément and Local Authority Building Control approval confirm compliance with the relevant Building Regulations and Building Standards.

Would you like to see the process for yourself? 

Why not discover how modular construction can benefit your organisation by visiting our factory and seeing the process from start to finish. We will arrange everything.
 

1 Subject to the installation of appropriate foundations.
2 Based on Portakabin order analysis for July 2009 - June 2010.
3 Research carried out by BCIS for RICS Construction Faculty 2004.
4 Source: Mtech
5 Source: WRAP