Outputs

This section of the AIMCH DFMA Guide focuses on the sequencing, flow and early engagement within the design process. This is critical to drive best value from the DFMA guide.

AIMCH recognises a key success ingredient is the early engagement with panelised MMC suppliers. This is fundamental to an Industrialised Housing design approach to maximise panelised MMC value.

1. Highlight purpose of early engagement with your panelised MMC supplier
2. Define areas of early opportunity and discussion to drive MMC value
3. Provide a flow chart showing key decision points and responsibilities within the design team

This led to guidance on the type of technical requirements housebuilders or developers need to consider when transitioning from conventional methods to panelised MMC systems.

It also sets guidance on lead in requirements and design decision points, from concept design and planning approval, into detailed production design, across the various design team members – architect, engineer, services providers and MMC supplier.

This section of the AIMCH DFMA Guide focuses on design constraints and key considerations. Timber Offsite Panelised MMC Systems are generally manufactured to order and can be configured to suit any building design. Being flat pack in nature, transportation is less limiting than other MMC systems. This section focused on the building design constraints and not the limitations of the panelised MMC system. It covers key technical and design consideration around regulatory compliance with building heights and fire standards, ground levels and water proofing and support/detailing for masonry and non-masonry facades.

1. Develop guidance using proven/reliable solutions, to overcome design issues
2. Highlight areas to avoid and design out of housing designs
3. Explain requirements for regulatory compliance with fire safety standards
4. Offer solutions to design features such as balconies, parapets and cantilevers

This led to guidance and examples of the types of things housebuilders must investigate and design in/out when developing there housing typologies and detailed production information. A critical consideration is the compliance with differing fire standards relating to building height and complexity, as well as designing in simplicity, for the support of masonry facades

This section of the AIMCH DFMA Guide is the largest and most important. This area focuses on structural layout, coordination and stability of the housing typology. Getting this right is the most important aspect. This will lead to simplicity and cost effectiveness, improving construction confidence and avoiding commercial surprises.

It provides an overview of offsite timber panelised MMC systems, advising on structural layout and dimensional setting out. It also investigates possible structural clashes and how to avoid them, as well as providing guidance on floor joist design, holing and notching parameters and optimisation of joist directions/lintel setting out above openings, to avoid complex floor beams.

1. Develop guidance using proven/reliable solutions, to overcome design issues
2. Highlight areas to avoid and design out of housing designs
3. Explain structural coordination, that must be correct, before determining floor plate layouts and opening configurations
4. Offer solutions to potential design clashes such as openings, services, lintels and load paths

This is an important area, simplifying the structural layout, ensuring things line up, providing enough depth for lintels and utilising down stand beams will drive MMC value, leading to lowest cost solutions, simple and effective to build

This section of the AIMCH DFMA Guide focuses on the interface between the timber panelised MMC system and the masonry façade. Timber is one of the most sustainable, renewable and natural building materials used today. Due to these natural properties, designers must ensure the detailing interfaces with masonry outer leave, allows for natural settlement as the building dries out.

In this section the DFMA guide provides information and good practise guidance, on the allowances required and the construction details to be adopted at known settlement locations.

1. Develop guidance using proven/reliable solutions, to overcome settlement requirements
2. Highlight areas to avoid and design out of housing designs
3. Explains how settlement occurs, what tolerances are needed and where these should be designed into house designs
4. Offer solutions at key construction interfaces around openings, service penetrations, stairwells and eaves/verge roof lines

This is an important design consideration, ensuring suitable settlement allowances and detailing is designed into homes, will ensure they perform as expected, over the lifetime of the building.

This section of the AIMCH DFMA Guide focuses on the interface between the timber panelised MMC system and building services such as plumbing, ventilation and electrical works. AIMCH partners seeks to build a weather tight, secure and insulated timber panelised MMC system in one day, ideally without scaffolding. This means the external masonry and internal fit out can commence in parallel, reducing build time and improving surety of completion.

As with any building system, the introduction of 1st fix services after the structural envelope is completed, needs to be managed and services designed to avoid principle clashes with the superstructure. It is important that designers consider, and design integrated services runs, to minimise disruption.

The DFMA guide provides guidance to help designers through the complex world of services installation within housing.

1. Develop guidance using proven/reliable solutions, to easily integrate services
2. Highlight areas to avoid and design out of housing designs, preventing clashes
3. Explains how settlement can impact on service risers and penetrations
4. Offer solutions at key construction interfaces within floor zones, around stairwells, compartment and external walls

Building services are often overlooked, the AIMCH DFMA Guide provides solutions to commonly occurring services points such as SVP’s, drainage runs, boiler flues, ventilation ducts and below stair electrical installations

This section of the AIMCH DFMA Guide focuses on the setting out, dimensional coordination and detailing around openings. Design standardisation and brickwork setting out, are important design considerations, to reduce cost and maximise brickwork trades.

In this section the DFMA guide provides information and good practise guidance, on the allowances required and the construction details to be adopted around openings.

1. Develop guidance using proven/reliable solutions, that are brick coordinated, use standard sizes and fitting tolerance allowances
2. Highlight areas to avoid and design out of housing designs
3. Explains settlement and weathering implications at openings and provides good practise solutions, such as check reveals
4. Offer solutions for site and factory fitted options, which becoming increasingly of interest

Openings are an important design consideration, ensuring these are optimised and designed with suitable allowances/detailing, will ensure they perform as expected over the lifetime of the building.