Comparing different concrete construction techniques: Modular versus individual panel system methods

Abstract

Buildings account for a substantial portion of environmental burdens. This study assesses modular concrete Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric (PPVC) with concrete individual panel system (IPS) concrete construction method. This mode of construction is still nascent in many countries. Therefore, the environmental and economic impacts of PPVC concrete must be determined and compared to IPS concrete. The results show that material production is the most significant phase, as it contributes to 60% of total global warming potential (GWP) and 70% of the total cost. Furthermore, the results indicate that PPVC is associated with a 5% decrease in GWP emissions when compared to IPS; further, the cost of IPS for a single-family house is 1.3% higher than that of PPVC. The leading factor that influences the cost of PPVC is the design process, which is 2.5 times more expensive than IPS design. However, the assessment of multi-story buildings shows the opposite result. This regard shows that PPVC is 1% cheaper and 3% more environmentally friendly than IPS. Therefore, PPVC might be a more sustainable construction method than IPS.