Fabrication

In construction, a ‘fabrication’ is an item that is manufactured by a fabricator for installation on a building site as part of an ongoing construction project, for example, a window, door, steel member, staircase and so on that is typically made off-site to the specification required for the project.

A building’s windows are normally fabricated off-site to special dimensions that the fabricator has either taken off the drawings or specification, or else has visited the site and measured for the item to be supplied. The fabricator can then proceed to manufacture. It should be noted that a fabrication can be termed ‘prefabricated’ if it is made off site. Delivered to site ready to install means that these items can help reduce waste and time and cut emissions.

For more information see: Prefabrication.

In theory, it is possible for fabrications to be made on site (or in a flying factory) as opposed to off site, assuming the process is simple enough (e.g timber windows) and there is enough space on site to allow the fabrication process to take place. In most circumstances however, fabricating building elements can require complex machinery that requires the controlled conditions, accuracy and space offered by a manufacturing plant.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Concrete frame.
• Construction problems avoided by using a modular approach.
• Crosswall construction.
• Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA).
• Modular buildings.
• Offsite manufacturing.
• Off-site construction.
• Off site, on track.
• Prefabrication.
• Stainless steel.
• Steel frame.
• Structure relocation.
• The overlooked secret of off-site fabrication.