Preparation works major cause of construction

On-site preparation works are one of the main causes of inefficiencies in the drylining industry, according to new research findings commissioned by ourselves.

The joint study with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) found that preparation works, such as measuring and cutting boards, account for up to one-third of wasted or non-value added time on site.

The time-and-motion study assessed the speed of installation for different drywall systems on a live multi-residential refurbishment site, including taping and jointing, twin frame and single frame partition systems. In addition to the time lost due to preparation works, the research showed that time spent handling materials was responsible for just under one-fifth (18 per cent) of inefficient working.

A comparison between the benefits of using tape and jointing finishing over the widely-used skimming plaster technique also found that, if managed properly, tape and jointing offered the highest output rates in terms of apartment units completed over time.

For the UK to boost its productivity across all areas of its economy, driving on-site efficiencies in the construction sector is vital to meeting housebuilding and development targets. This research highlights how small innovations can add up to big efficiencies. Simple changes, such as making materials quicker to cut or easier to handle, can drive significant improvements for the drylining sector and construction projects as a whole.

Construction materials manufacturers can do more to drive innovation. A key focus of our ongoing research and development work is to help our customers to improve their site productivity and ultimately build more, build better and build faster.