(2018 exc. GST for threedwellings inc. transport)
February 2019 HOW to Prefab
Transition Housing
PROJECT INTENT
1M 1.5M 2M 2.5M 0m 4m 6m2m 8m
Completed Transition Housing
Portal frames, panels and roof assembled on-site
(construction only)
Contractor:
Architect:
Te Puni Kokiri – Ha o te Ora Wharekauri Trust
Easybuild Ltd (PrefabNZ Member)
Easybuild Ltd (PrefabNZ Member)
Tony Synge
Easybuild Ltd Bay of Plenty branch
Completed December 2018
Structural Engineer:
Builder:
Status:
Floor Area:
Prefab Type:
Prefab Materials Used:
73.3m² per dwelling
Panel + Component
Timber portal frames, pre-finished panels on screw pile
foundations
2018
IslandsChatham
This case study follows the prefabrication, transportation and
assembly of three dwellings from New Plymouth to the Chatham
Islands - the first of 15 houses provided by Easybuild into this
remote New Zealand community.
COST (NZD) TIME (months)
Client: Ha o te Ora Wharekauri Trust wanted to implement
transitional housing on the Chatham Islands for those who need
short-term accommodation before moving into permanent homes. This
required a quality housing solution with maximum speed of
construction. Easybuild’s Bay of Plenty (BOP) branch was the
contractor appointed for the three dwellings.
In a 12-week programme, Easybuild completed three new homes
alongside the infrastructure for the following twelve dwellings.
The use of prefabrication, pre-planning, and MultiProof¹ consents
enabled this project to meet its challenging time-frame.
Building in the remote, boat-access-only, Chatham Island’s was
the overarching challenge for the project. The Islands have limited
sub-trades as well as scarce and expensive food and accommodation.
The lack of building supplies available meant all supplies for the
project needed to be shipped from mainland New Zealand (NZ). The
exposed weather conditions and limited cellphone reception also
posed challenges to the project.
Many construction activities were being completed concurrently
to meet the short time-frame. Consequently, this meant the project
was being built faster than Local Authority could inspect and
fundamentally challenged the construction completion
time-frames.
PROJECT CHALLENGES
¹ A MultiProof consent is a national multiple-use approval
statement by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) which states that a set of plans and specification for a
building complies with the Building Code.
(2018 exc. GST for threedwellings inc. transport)
February 2019 HOW to Prefab
Transition Housing
PROJECT INTENT
1m 1.5m 2m 2.5m 0m 4m 6m2m 8m
Completed Transition Housing
Portal frames, panels and roof assembled on-site
(construction only)
Contractor:
Architect:
Te Puni Kokiri – Ha o te Ora Wharekauri Trust
Easybuild Ltd (PrefabNZ Member)
Easybuild Ltd (PrefabNZ Member)
Tony Synge
Easybuild Ltd Bay of Plenty branch
Completed December 2018
Structural Engineer:
Builder:
Status:
Floor Area:
Prefab Type:
Prefab Materials Used:
73.3m² per dwelling
Panel + Component
Timber portal frames, pre-finished panels on screw pile
foundations
2018
IslandsChatham
This case study follows the prefabrication, transportation and
assembly of three dwellings from New Plymouth to the Chatham
Islands - the first of 15 houses provided by Easybuild into this
remote New Zealand community.
COST (NZD) TIME (months)
Client: Ha o te Ora Wharekauri Trust wanted to implement
transitional housing on the Chatham Islands for those who need
short-term accommodation before moving into permanent homes. This
required a quality housing solution with maximum speed of
construction. Easybuild’s Bay of Plenty (BOP) branch was the
contractor appointed for the three dwellings.
In a 12-week programme, Easybuild completed three new homes
alongside the infrastructure for the following twelve dwellings.
The use of prefabrication, pre-planning and MultiProof¹ consents
enabled this project to meet its challenging time-frame.
Building in the remote, boat-access-only, Chatham Island’s was
the overarching challenge for the project. The Islands have limited
sub-trades as well as scarce and expensive food and accommodation.
The lack of building supplies available meant all supplies for the
project needed to be shipped from mainland New Zealand (NZ). The
exposed weather conditions and limited cellphone reception also
posed challenges to the project.
Many construction activities were being completed concurrently
to meet the short timeframe, which consequently meant the project
was being built faster than Local Authority could inspect and
fundamentally challenged the construction completion
time-frames.
PROJECT CHALLENGES
¹ A MultiProof consent is a national multiple-use approval
statement by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) which states that a set of plans and specification for a
building complies with Building Code.
Transition Housing
Portal frames assembled on-site
Easybuild creates its affordable housing units with custom
pre-finished panels that are fitted between timber portal frames.
These building elements are constructed in-factory, flat-packed and
then shipped to site where they are assembled twice as fast as
conventional homes. These houses can be built with semi-skilled
labour and are approximately 30% cheaper to build than bespoke
homes.
The clients and funders are thrilled with the project’s outcome.
The use of prefabrication over conventional construction saved the
client approximately $400,000 and allowed the project to be
completed eight months faster. This project is a great example of
how good planning teams can be mobilised to deliver efficient and
affordable housing in almost any location.
MATERIAL
CONSTRUCTION
FEEDBACK
HOW to Prefab Transition Housing
REFERENCES
Mike Fox (Easybuild Ltd). Personal Communication with Eleni
Timoteo. December, 2018. Images: Courtesy of Easybuild Ltd
For more information on Easybuild
visit:https://www.easybuild.co.nz/
The use of Surefoot² driven pole piles enabled the construction
of foundations for all three homes when more conventional solutions
were not available on the Island. This meant the houses were ready
for their floors sooner than conventional piling. The limited
access to machinery on the Island meant Easybuild needed to drive
the piles in with kango hammers. The factory-made building elements
slotted together at site to reduce the need for trimming. One form
of fixing was predominantly used to assemble each dwelling
structure. Repetition in fixing heavily reduced on-site
construction time, and as a result, reduced the project’s cost.
Given the challenges of building remotely, it typically takes 12
months to complete a single traditional dwelling in the Chatham
Islands. The locals were therefore sceptical about the predicted
12-week timeframe. When the project’s construction came to
completion the locals were very impressed by the successful outcome
and 75% time savings.
The success of the project relied on timely delivery and product
suitability. Prefabricated construction supported this success and
eased the construction of the offshore project.
prefabnz.com
Southern Tiare - Ship used for project transportation
Dwelling site plan (not to scale)
² Surefoot footings are an “all in one system” that does not
need concrete. The shape and high strength steel combine to create
a very efficient pile cap.
https://www.easybuild.co.nz/
