Watch: P-DfMA in Action: How platforms transform buildings from homes to hospitals

proximity of the Chips to one another; which ones can/can’t be stacked, which ones have to be next to each other vs separated etc..

Skill shortage and understanding.There is a lack of large-scale builders who can deliver Passivhaus buildings.

Watch: P-DfMA in Action: How platforms transform buildings from homes to hospitals

These projects can be seen as bespoke and are more expensive.. Bryden Wood’ response to Passivhaus’ challenges.Bryden Wood is an industry leader in the adoption of Platforms-based Design for Manufacture and Assembly (P-DfMA) and has always shown a keen interest in the adoption of the newest and more advanced sustainability certification schemes, such as Passivhaus.. Our experience indicates that the standardisation process of P-DfMA, can be a suitable approach to counterbalance Passivhaus’ challenges described above, as follows:.Reduced design cost and complexity:.

Watch: P-DfMA in Action: How platforms transform buildings from homes to hospitals

The standardisation process reduces the number of construction elements which in turn dramatically reduces the number of elements and potential thermal bridges, making the design simpler and more cost-effective.The repeated use of the same details significantly reduces the design cost and complexity, and facilitates the achievement of Passivhaus’ thermally bridge free design ethos..

Watch: P-DfMA in Action: How platforms transform buildings from homes to hospitals

Being able to deliver Passivhaus detailing onsite requires complex coordination, overlap of materials and components and accuracy in order to achieve the specified final performance and certification.

A P-DfMA approach ensures the highest quality, working with reduced tolerances which align with Passivhaus requirements..Services (heating, cooling, lifts, sprinklers, plumbing, etc) have one of the shortest life expectancies of all elements of the building, due to their moving parts.

By building in easy maintenance strategies from the outset, services are likely to be better maintained and need fewer replacements over their life.. Design for disassembly (to be balanced with safe deconstruction).To facilitate truly sustainable construction, at the end of the building’s life it is important to be able to disassemble it in a safe manner.

The design should accommodate reversible connections, ie things that can be undone and dismantled.This is particularly important in the superstructure, where traditionally the easiest method of deconstructing is to crush the building..