Modern Methods of Construction

327 Pages·2013·32.62 MB·English

C
ardiff
UNIVERSITY
PRIFYSGOL
C ERDv®
a
Construction Technology Transfer: an assessment of the relevance of
Modern Methods of Construction to housing shortages in Iran
by
Arman Hashemi
This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Cardiff University, Welsh School of Architecture
August 2009
UMI Number: U516927
All rights reserved
INFORMATION TO ALL USERS
The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted.
In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript
and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed,
a note will indicate the deletion.
Dissertation Publishing
UMI U516927
Published by ProQuest LLC 2013. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author.
Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC.
All rights reserved. This work is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
ProQuest LLC
789 East Eisenhower Parkway
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346
Declaration
This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not concurrently
submitted in candidature for any degree.
Signed (Candidate)
Date 05/08/2009
STATEMENT 1
This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
PhD (insert MCh, MD, MPhil, PhD etc, as appropriate)
Signed . X j/sw /k a W ......................... (Candidate)
Date 05/08/2009
STATEMENT 2
This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise
stated. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit references.
Signed (Candidate)
Date 05/08/2009
STATEMENT 3
I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-
library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations.
Signed <&*!............................ ..............(Candidate)
Date 05/08/2009
STATEMENT 4 - BAR ON ACCESS APPROVED
I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-
library loans after expiry of a bar on access approved bv the Graduate Development
Committee.
Signed ..l-.jia zk em ........................ (Candidate)
Date 05/08/2009
I
Abstract
The inability of the Iranian construction industry to satisfy the country’s massive
housing demand has transformed housing demand and supply into one of the major
challenges facing the government. 1.15 million residential units need to be built each
year for the next ten years.
The Iranian construction industry is suffering from various deficiencies such as low
productivity, small and unprofessional developers, huge waste, skilled labour shortages,
defective management, unstable economy, severe fluctuations in demand and supply
etc. Considering the potential advantages of Modem Methods of Construction (MMC),
the general belief is that the application of MMC will resolve many of the above issues.
MMC is a complex subject in which various issues including standardization, co­
ordination, management, design, costs, sustainability and associated risks should be
considered. Some of these have become more important than the others for the Iranian
government and other stakeholders. Iran needs to learn from the experience of other
countries such as the UK to avoid repeating their mistakes.
This study intends to investigate the viability and applicability of the UK’s advanced
construction systems in Iran. The history and current situation of the Iranian and UK
construction industries with regards to housing shortages and currently applied methods
of construction have been explored in detail. Several other subjects including building
regulations and standards, practicality, economy, costs, culture, sustainability and
design which are vital in the success or failure of a construction method are discussed
and both countries have been compared with regards to these issues.
The results reveal important issues which should be considered prior to transferring
UK’s MMC to Iran. Although MMC can theoretically enhance the current situation,
various concerns such as education and research, industry, economy and governmental
planning and policies need to be addressed in order to ensure the successful application
of MMC in Iran.
In this respect, it is important to establish organisations to undertake constant
professional research on these issues. It is also vital to educate the society and
stakeholders to increase the level of their knowledge on MMC advantages and risks.
The Iranian construction industry needs urgent consideration with regards to
information delays, skilled labour shortages, regulations and standards, small and
II
unprofessional developers, infrastructure and industry capacity. In this situation, MMC
which are not complex and do not require extensive skilled labour and heavy machinery
will be more successful in Iran. At the same time, prevailing methods of construction
should be optimised in terms of material and waste. The government should also review
its supportive policies to increase the share of MMC within the construction industry.
In short, the Iranian construction industry is currently not fully prepared to adopt
complex methods of construction successfully and it must be borne in mind that
application of MMC is a long-term evolutionary process, not a revolutionary one.
Ill
Acknowledgments
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the valuable support and guidance
of my first and second supervisors, Professor Richard Weston and Mr. Christopher
Powell.
I would also like to thank my Iranian and British friends and colleagues for their
assistance in design and distribution of a questionnaire. Covering the planned objectives
was almost impossible without the assistance of them. Their efforts are highly
appreciated.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family for their constant support through
out my PhD. Special thanks to Narguess for her patience, understanding and constant
encouragement.
This research is funded by a grant from Jondi-Shapour University of Technology and
the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) of Iran. The author
gratefully acknowledges their support.
IV
Table of Contents
DECLARATION............................................................................................................................................................I
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................................II
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................................................IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS. ..................................................................................................................................V
LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................................................IX
LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................................................XIII
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................i..............................1
1.1 Introduction to the problem.............................................................................................................1
1.2 Aims and objective...................................................................................................................................3
1.3 Methodology............................................................................................................................................4
1.4 Limitations of the study......................................................................................................................4
1.5 Thesis construction...............................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDING SYSTEMS...............8
2.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................8
2.2 Building Methods (fabrication issues).........................................................................................8
2.3 Building Methods (structural issues).......................................................................................10
2.4 Fundamental issues..............................................................................................................................12
2.5 History of modular co-ordination..............................................................................................13
2.6 Dimensional co-ordination..............................................................................................................15
2.7 Open and closed systems....................................................................................................................17
2.8 Advantages and disadvantages of prefabrication............................................................19
2.9 Building materials...............................................................................................................................20
2.10 Economic and cost issues..................................................................................................................21
2.11 MMC DEFINITION......................................................................................................................................22
2.12 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................23
2.13 Chapter References.............................................................................................................................25
PART 1: IRANIAN HOUSING............................................................................................................................26
CHAPTER 3: IRANIAN HOUSING HISTORY....................................................................................27
3.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................27
3.2 Principles of Iranian housing architecture...........................................................................27
3.3 Iranian architecture and housing history..............................................................................31
3.4 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................40
V
3.5 Chapter References............................................................................................................................41
CHAPTER 4: IRANIAN HOUSING (PLANNING, ECONOMY AND LAND ISSUES).... 42
4.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................42
4.2 Planning....................................................................................................................................................42
4.3 Housing Economy.................................................................................................................................49
4.4 Land.............................................................................................................................................................59
4.5 Deficiency in low-income housing................................................................................................62
4.6 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................64
4.7 Chapter References.............................................................................................................................66
CHAPTER 5: IRANIAN INDUSTRY, CLIMATE AND CURRENT HOUSING
SITUATION 69
5.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................69
5.2 Iranian industry....................................................................................................................................69
5.3 Climate of Iran......................................................................................................................................73
5.4 Housing demand and supply in Iran (Quantitative aspects)............................................75
5.5 Housing Demand and supply in Iran (Qualitative aspects) .............................................80
5.6 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................88
5.7 Chapter References.............................................................................................................................90
PART 2 (MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION)...............................................................93
CHAPTER 6: UK HOUSING HISTORY (WITH REGARDS TO CONSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGY) 94
6.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................94
6.2 Housing demand and supply and economy situation..........................................................95
6.3 THE GOVERNMENT’S INVOLVEMENT IN HOUSING..............................................................................97
6.4 The “emergency” period....................................................................................................................99
6.5 Flats: a new type of housing.........................................................................................................100
6.6 Fundamentals of the System Building...................................................................................103
6.7 Post-war methods of construction...........................................................................................105
6.8 System building theory, architects and building labourers....................................110
6.9 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................111
6.10 Chapter References...........................................................................................................................112
CHAPTER 7: CURRENT SITUATION OF MMC IN UK HOUSING...............................113
7.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................113
7.2 MMC BUILDING METHODS....................................................................................................................115
7.3 Examples.................................................................................................................................................120
7.4 MMC ADVANTAGES & BARRIERS........................................................................................................123
7.5 Cost issues..............................................................................................................................................126
VI
7.6 MMC & Sustainability.....................................................................................................................130
7.7 MMC risks..............................................................................................................................................132
7.8 Design......................................................................................................................................................135
7.9 Some recommendations...................................................................................................................138
7.10 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................139
7.11 Chapter References..........................................................................................................................141
CHAPTER 8: METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING PROCESS IN IRAN
144
8.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................144
8.2 Current methods of construction in Iran............................................................................144
8.3 Building Regulations in Iran.......................................................................................................149
8.4 Building Dead Load..........................................................................................................................153
8.5 Material waste and energy consumption crisis................................................................155
8.6 Modern Methods of Construction in Iran...........................................................................156
8.7 Some Interviews (experts’ opinions toward construction problems and barriers
in Iran) 165
8.8 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................170
8.9 Chapter References:.........................................................................................................................172
CHAPTER 9: FEASIBILITY OF APPLICATION OF UK MODERN METHODS OF
CONSTRUCTION IN THE IRANIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY..........................................177
9.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................177
9.2 Demand....................................................................................................................................................178
9.3 Building Regulations and Standards...................................................................................179
9.4 Practicality.........................................................................................................................................180
9.5 Cost and economic issues...............................................................................................................182
9.6 Cultural issues and public attitude.......................................................................................185
9.7 Sustainability......................................................................................................................................185
9.8 Policy and planning..........................................................................................................................187
9.9 Early adopters and stakeholders............................................................................................189
9.10 Construction industry, design, and flexibility................................................................190
9.11 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................214
9.12 Chapter References.........................................................................................................................217
CHAPTER 10: CONCLUSION...................................................................................................220
10.1 The outcomes........................................................................................................................................220
10.2 Future research.................................................................................................................................224
10.3 Closing statement.............................................................................................................................224
BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................................226
APPENDICES......................................................................................................................................239
VII
Appendix 1....................................................
Appendix 2...................................................
Appendix 3 (Questionnaire results)