Pre-engineered
Offsite residential construction, Glossary of terms, published by Buildoffsite in 2018, states:
‘Standardisation of product allows the development of pre-engineering, which is a term occasionally used in offsite manufacturing circles. Often it means no more than the production of the drawings before the product is made by adapting or modifying drawings from a previous application of the system. The correct use of the term is where a product is fully engineered and can be described in a technical manual or catalogue, where it is fully detailed and programmed for manufacture, where it is fully costed and the price is available, and then it is pre-engineered.’
‘For example, the manufacture of room modules begins with a 3D computer aided design (CAD) model, which details each component and ascribes a unique part number. This detailed model provides the bill of materials for each module and is then converted into computer aided manufacture (CAM) files. CAM files contain all of the data for the module, broken down into the subassemblies of walls, floor cassettes, ceiling cassettes etc. These files also contain all the machine codes that control the various stations on the automated assembly line. It is this link between the product and production equipment that provides the repeatable dimensional accuracy of a manufactured product when compared with other, more traditional methods of construction.’
‘The term is used to distinguish between bespoke, prototype building (traditional) and factory manufacture, which by its very nature requires pre-design and proving before being incorporated into the works onsite.'
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.