Turning Challenges into Opportunities by Exploring the Advantage of MiC

The Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method improves projects’ efficiency, quality and sustainability performance and these features are most needed during the epidemic. Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), visited China Construction Integrated Science & Technology Co. Ltd.(CSCEC)'s Beijing Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment project located in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area earlier. During the visit, the project team shared how the project adopted MiC to achieve high efficiency and energy saving while building a liveable space with both buildings and nature coexist in harmony.

Beijing Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment features green and smart construction. The project building reaches 32 meters in height with its 9 stories and occupies a construction area of 120,000 square meters. The project provides 1,810 apartments, of which 1,504 are built with MiC. It is an integrated construction project completely undertaken by CSCEC. The project widely adopts MiC and prefabricated components, which are assembled on site. The overall prefabrication rate of the project reaches 92%. The modules used in the project can also be recycled, which reduces costs and improves sustainability performance.

Sustainable Development Goals

Since the apartment project is constructed using MiC, traditional processes like scaffolding, concrete pouring or bar bending and welding are eliminated, thus reducing construction waste by 80%, saving electricity by 70%, and greatly reducing noise and environmental pollution to the surrounding neighbourhood. The recycling rate of construction materials reaches 90%, achieving zero material waste. The decor inside each apartment was replaced by installation of decorative panels, to reduce plastering, painting and other processes, which can also reduce sewage discharge. At the same time, the project components are detachable, replaceable, and recyclable, which effectively reduces the maintenance cost when the project enters the operation stage.

Since the design stage, Beijing Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment project has taken into account sustainability and energy saving considerations so the module widely adopts energy-saving measures such as high-performance thermal insulation layer, energy-saving doors and windows, solar panels etc., to improve the heat insulation and thermal insulation performance of the buildings and effectively reduce the heating and air conditioning needs. Coupling with the use of renewable energy, the buildings can achieve "zero energy consumption" in the operation stage.

MiC Accelerates Project Completion to Protect Citizens from the Epidemic

Adopting MiC can greatly speed up project completion as well as helping the project to achieve higher precision and quality in construction projects. Beijing Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment project’s modules contains one apartment in each unit. To speed up the project, 90% of each apartment’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing pipes, furniture, decoration, curtain walls etc. are prefabricated in the factory, and transported to the site for direct hoisting and assembly. The project also adopts a number of smart construction technologies, such as the world's first "Smart Construction Platform for Prefabricated Construction" developed by CSCEC and the connection technology for handling module connection. Only 10 workers and one tower crane are required to complete the hoisting and installation of four modules in one hour. The construction speed is 60% higher than traditional construction, and the hoisting precision can be controlled within five millimeters, which fully demonstrates the advantages of MiC construction on speed, quality and sustainable construction.

Mr. LI Zhi-wu, Design Director of China Construction Integrated Science & Technology Co. Ltd., shared that the modules used in the Beijing Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment Project are produced in Tianjin, and the modules can be delivered to the site within a few hours after completion. In addition to the production base of CSCEC, in order to speed up production, the project team also cooperated with other production facilities. Since different production lines are used, CSCEC appointed personnel to station in the factories to manage and monitor materials usage, quality, production progress and technology in order to ensure the quality of finished products. At the same time, an advanced monitoring platform was used to coordinate the production in various factories and coordinators were able to keep track of the production progress at any time.

Ingenious Design to Achieve Quality and Liveabilily

Beijing Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment installed thermal insulation layer in the prefabricated stage in the factory, which has a significant effect of thermal insulation to effectively reduce energy consumption of heating and air conditioning comparing with traditional residential houses. Each apartment is equipped with a separate bathroom and smart home appliances such as video intercom, TV, air conditioner, lighting control, electric curtains, etc., to create a low-carbon and comfortable living environment for residents.

The project entered operation in October 2022. It was not only awarded the title of "Beijing AAA Class High Prefabrication Rate Demonstration Project", but also won the first prize in the National Engineering Construction Industry BIM Competition. In order to continue serving the community after the epidemic, the apartment has added popular features among business travelers, such as new energy vehicle charging stations, self-service car wash, shared kitchen, hair salon, meeting and leisure area etc. to continue to provide high-quality accommodation for white-collar, blue-collar and business travelers.