Hybrid building system

The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggested that a hybrid building system is: ‘A combination of volumetric construction and flat pack systems, where the high-value areas (kitchen and bathroom) are typically formed from volumetric units and the rest of the structure formed from some form of framing system (also known as semi-volumetric).’

Where flat pack refers to: ‘Prefabricated elements or systems that are transported to site as 2D elements, rather than as modular units. This approach is used where volumetric construction options are not feasible due to transportation logistics.’

And volumetric construction: ‘..uses large-scale modular units to construct a building. A building might be formed from one module or from many. Often, units such as bathrooms, plant rooms, lift shafts or services risers are installed within buildings, but do not, of themselves, form the building structure or fabric.’

Faster, Smarter, More Efficient: Building Skills for Offsite Construction, published by CITB in April 2017, defines hybrid building systems as: ‘Using both volumetric and panelised systems together.’

Offsite residential construction, Glossary of terms, published by Buildoffsite in 2018, defines hybrid as: ‘A term describing something that is a combination of more than one discrete system or material. This term, in the context of offsite should not be confused with its use to describe the combination of structural steel and concrete in the frame of a building or structure.’

It defines a hybrid building system as: ‘A combination of volumetric and panelised systems where the high value areas (kitchen and bathroom) are typically formed from volumetric units (sometimes referred to as pods) and the rest of the structure formed from some form of framing system (also known as semi-volumetric).’

Hybrid Concrete Construction (HCC): ‘…combines pre-cast and cast in situ construction.’

See also: Composite construction.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Composite construction.
• Kit house.
• Modern methods of construction.
• Modular.
• Off-site construction.
• Prefabrication.
• RIBA Plan of Work.
• RIBA.
• The impact of digital on civil engineering.
• Volumetric.