Modular buildings consist of modules or sections which are linked
together on site to form a larger area capable of meeting a client's
temporary or permanent space needs. Modules are manufactured in a
controlled factory environment and as a result, many of the time delays
associated with traditional building methods (including weather, material
shortages, delivery problems or labour shortages) can be minimised,
providing added programme and cost certainty. In addition to the cost
and time savings typically associated with modular buildings, customers
also benefit from the flexibility of being able to relocate or remove
the modular building if it is no longer required or if it is to be
utilised elsewhere.
Technological and aesthetic improvements in modular buildings have increased the range of applications as substitutes for traditional site-constructed buildings. Common applications include:
- school and college classrooms and buildings
- commercial offices
- clinics and hospitals, including operating theatres and ward accommodation
- tourist accommodation
- construction site accommodation
- workers' accommodation (such as mining camps)
- day-care centres, nurseries and crèches
- equipment shelters
- laboratories and other applications
Waco can also provide its R&MB customers with a range of ancillary services including, among others
- planning and building applications
- ground works
- access systems
- electricity connections
- furniture, fixtures and fittings
Whilst Waco produces an extensive range of modular buildings for a wide variety of uses, its product solutions can broadly be categorised as follows:
Waco's single module unit range offers a wide variety of high quality, relocatable site accommodation to meet the customer's instant accommodation requirements or when individual units are preferred to the larger open plan space provided by a modular building. The diversity and range of single module units means that Waco is able to provide a wide variety of space requirements simply and quickly. In addition to standard office facilities, a broad range of internal layouts can be provided to meet particular customer specifications and requirements and have included canteens, drying rooms and bespoke WC units.
These single-sectioned units can be a quick, cost-effective solution to a customer's space needs. Due to the self-contained nature of the units, the building normally arrives on-site ready for immediate use. Installation works are minimal, avoiding the need to involve additional trades people on site.
Modular buildings consist of multiple modules which are connected together on the customer's site (either end-to-end, side-to-side, stacked or arranged using a combination of these methods). This highly flexible modular building methodology allows a wide range of floor plans to be accommodated.
Through Waco's acquisition of Interlink Support Services, it has the ability to offer temporary and permanent multi-storey modular space units that are custom designed to meet client’s needs and can be connected together to heights of up to five storeys. The units can be readily assembled and disassembled in a rapid and cost efficient manner.
Waco's modular space units normally range in size up to four metres in width and 17 metres in length. Typically, they are constructed of materials that are commonly used in conventional buildings such as timber, aluminium or steel, and are framed and mounted on a steel chassis. Most units are equipped with air conditioning and heating, electrical outlets and plumbing facilities (where necessary). The lifetime of the units is dependent on their end use. Units offered as part of a permanent build construction project have a design life of up to 60 years, the same standard adopted by "traditional" construction methods. Hire units normally have an estimated economic useful life of 25 years.
Waco, through its divisions of Premier Interlink (UK), Ausco (Australia), Portacom (New Zealand) and Abacus Modular (South Africa) offers its customers turnkey modular building solutions and a range of ancillary services, including, among others:
- Planning and building applications
- Ground works
- Access systems
- Electricity connections
- Furniture, fixtures and fittings