Pod Power

Pod Power!

When you’re refurbishing student accommodation, you need to achieve the best possible results for the best possible price ... and that’s where Offsite systems can really help, says Mtech Consult’s MD Martin Goss.

Offsite and factory pre-assembly rarely gets a mention in the refurbishment market, yet adopting these proven methods offers real opportunities to improve the productivity and performance of the refurbishment and regeneration process.

For instance, bathroom and kitchen pods are a well used commodity in the new build arena, particularly for student accommodation, hotels and apartments, where the speed of build and certainty of cost deliver tangible benefits to developers.

Obviously complete room pods are not suitable for use in existing buildings, but recent developments in bathroom pod technology now mean that new bathrooms can be created using pre-finished panel systems ... much easier to handle and install in existing spaces.

It can take just 35 minutes to assemble a fully finished bathroom.

One-piece walls, floors and ceiling elements provide a rapid means of updating tired rooms or installing entirely new facilities.  The panels are sent to site complete with ceramic tiles, floor finishes, plumbing & electrics; all that’s needed to achieve a useable bathroom is installation of the sanitaryware and connection to vertical services.

Panellised bathroom systems have been used successfully for student accommodation at both Bath and Swansea Universities, proving that factory produced pre-assemblies are a real opportunity for the refurbishment sector. 

As one of the UK’s leading consultancies for Offsite and modern methods of construction, Mtech is working closely with Offsite manufacturers to help develop products and systems specifically tailored to meet the demands and needs of this very significant market place.  New developments such as modular wiring, pre-fabricated services pipework and kitchen walls will all help the construction industry achieve a step change in delivery performance for refurbishment and regeneration projects.