Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

Speaker: Conor Walsh, founder of Visor MMC

• Health and Safety Benefits
• Quality Control – Defects can be highlighted at earlier stages.
• Faster Method than traditional builds
• Potential Cost Savings
• Easier to adapt, something that modern real estate ESG strategies recommend.

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Offsite Manufacturing – How to drive scalable and sustainable Manufacturing efficiencies?

Speaker: Dick Clerkin, Managing Director, Clerkin Consulting

• Invest in your people at all levels to ensure you build a skilled, committed and aligned workforce.
• Build in best practice Manufacturing systems in key areas such as:
•      o Quality Control
•      o Factory layout
•      o Health and Safety Standards
•      o Performance Management – ‘Know your numbers’ BOM, Costs, outputs etc.
• Capacity Planning – Ensure your factory is fully loaded to maximise plant utilisation.
• Continuous Improvement culture – Challenge status quo, be agile and able to adapt to new work practices, build methods etc.

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Fire Safety of Modular Buildings – Concerns and Assurances

Speaker: Eanna O Tuama, Associate & Dublin Branch Manager, Affinity Fire Engineering

• Modular builds rarely tested as a complete system.
• Detailed Risk Assessments are required including:
•      o Occupancy of the building
•      o Layout of the site
•      o Neighbouring structure proximity
• Part B – How does modular fit?
• Fire resistance test results.
• Reaction to fire performance results.
• Compartmentation drawing details and fire stopping details.

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There’s Already a Skills Shortage – Training Requirements for Current Workers

Speaker: PJ Rudden, Chairman of Innovation and Digital Adoption Subgroup at the Construction Sector Group (CSG)

• More than half of the companies (54%) using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Ireland don’t believe the right skills are currently available.
• Roles and Skills Gaps
• Government plans to make construction a more attractive career.
• Training traditional workers to embrace the more modern methods.
• Training programmes and professional development
• Will traditional skills become obsolete?

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Contract Risks – What Needs to be Considered

Speaker: Robert Rooney, Senior Associate, Mason Hayes and Curran

• Ownership of material
• Insurances/ transit risks
• Insolvency of suppliers
• Defects in modular units who is liable.
• Compliance with the building regulations

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NSAI Agrément for Certification

• Technical Assessment Specification (TAS)
• Current compliances with BCAR
• Additional Regulations Required
• On-site evaluations
• Factory production inspections
• Competency
• Certificate Holder Responsibilities and Maintaining Certification
• NSAI Responsibilities

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Modular Buildings Insurance – What’s the Risk? Uninsurable?

• Why is insuring modular construction so different than other construction delivery methods?
• Since skilled construction labour is not doing the work, it seems to become more of a manufacturing process.  How does this change worker’s compensation codes?
• Is the Modular work considered "product" or "work"?  
• Do the state statutes of limitations or repose apply? For example, would it be considered a construction defect or product defect?
• What about professional liability considerations, especially if construction firms are involved in designing the components?

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More Cost Effective or More Costly?

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