Material handling design
The BIM Overlay to the RIBA Outline Plan of Work, published by the RIBA in 2012 suggested that material handling design is: ‘An approach to improving logistics and packaging of elements manufactured offsite, in order to make their transportation to the site and the onsite assembly process more efficient. For example, lifting points or positioning aids can be incorporated into components to aid assembly, or more effective use can be made of containerisation.’
DfMA Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, Mainstreaming Design for Manufacture and Assembly in Construction, 2nd Edition, published by the RIBA in 2021, defines material handling design as: ‘The detailed planning of the packaging of components and assemblies manufactured off site and the logistics of getting them to their final destination on site, with the objective of making the process as efficient as possible. It can result in incorporating physical features on the components, assemblies or their packaging, including lifting points or positioning aids to facilitate handling or assembly.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
Designing Buildings reaches 20,000 articles
We take a look back at some of the stranger contributions.
Lessons learned from other industries.
The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
Conserving places with climate resilience in mind.
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.