The hindrance to using prefabrication in Hong Kong's building industry

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 204; pp. 70 - 81
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wei, Lee, Ming Wai, Jaillon, Lara, Poon, Chi-Sun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 10.12.2018
• Subjects: High-rise building; Hindrances; Hong Kong; Incentives; Prefabrication; Promotion; Prefabrication; Incentives; Hong Kong; Promotion; Hindrances; High-rise building
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.190

Prefabrication is considered an important solution to tackle the issues of construction waste generation, and the high-risk and labour-intensive activities associated with conventional construction methods. This study assesses the key hindrances of adopting prefabrication and provides recommendations for promoting prefabrication in Hong Kong. Twenty-two hindrances were identified in the literature and classified in six groups. A questionnaire survey and face-to-face interviews were conducted to examine the level of importance of the barriers, and to provide comprehensive analyses of each hindrance. The most significant hindrances were “Inflexible for design change”, “Lack storage space on site”, “Long lead-in time”, “Long design time”, “High initial cost” and “High total cost”. Based on the findings of the survey and interviews, six recommendations were proposed to promote the usage of prefabrication in Hong Kong such as “Just-In-Time management”, “BIM technology”, “Legislation for refabrication”, “Potential government measures”, “Encouragement of design and building procure” and “Increase the consumer's confidence”. •Lack storage space on site is a major hindrance to using prefabrication in dense cities.•Inflexible for late design change is a major hindrance to using prefabrication.•Just-in-time delivery & BIM optimize prefabricated building process in dense cities.•Implementation of legislation for prefabrication can promote its use.•Adoption of design and build procurement method can promote prefabrication use.