Bathroom Pods Solution to a Sustainable Build

Managing Director of modular buildings specialist Terrapin, looks at the bathroom pod concept and how it is rapidly becoming accepted as the modern approach to achieving a sustainable build.

"Bathroom pods have seen rapid growth in both the commercial and residential sectors over the past five years. Driven by the need to meet ever tighter build schedules, specifiers are recognising how pods, whether for bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms or living areas, are providing a more attractive option.

Modular building methods are becoming much more widely used and all the benefits of this popular technique are available within a pod. Bathroom pods, rather than any other type have seen the most significant growth, due to the large number of trades involved in creating a bathroom, and the age-old problem of co-ordinating plumbers, electricians, plasterers, tilers, joiners and painters. This also helps overcome the issues of accessing skilled labour on site and, as these trades are also normally required to work with a smaller space, it makes perfect sense to have all this carried out offsite. The beauty is that the completed pod should be literally 'plug and play', as it is delivered as a fully operational unit, with plumbing and electrics intact that simply needs connecting to the mains. This simplifies the whole process and removes many of the headaches associated with a traditional build.

It is also much easier to specify a pod, with all fixtures and fittings co-ordinated and assembled by one supplier who takes control of the system and ensures that everything works and is tested prior to delivery to site. Through this sole supplier, the quality should be more assured and the whole process become much less complicated for the client, not only when it comes to installation, but also for aftercare. The pod manufacturer then provides ongoing servicing and maintenance to ensure it is operating to maximum efficiency.

The bathroom pod concept works best when it is specified for high volumes of units, which means the customer can benefit from economies of scale and consistency of design. It also allows for an effective way of working between offsite manufacturer and main contractor, in the best interest of the customer.

The result is a more affordable bathroom solution, a more uniform feel and reduced build times. It is therefore no wonder this method has been used for decades for building many of the large chains of hotels due to the speed and efficiency of the process.

As pods are built within a factory environment, this provides greater assurance of the quality of the construction – particularly where the factory operates to ISO 9001:2000 quality assurance. It also means being able to fulfill the demands for rapid construction, whilst meeting all relevant performance requirements. Often on projects, the requirement is to provide robust, yet aesthetically pleasing facilities that reflect the overall standard of the premises. Many new builds are designed to meet BREEAM Excellent or Very Good, it is therefore important that a building ensures selection of sustainable materials from responsible supply partners. For example, the timber that is used for the outer edge and walls is produced from sources with strict reforestation programmes.

There are also other options that are possible, such as floorless pods or floors with a lightweight concrete design, for areas where ground weighting needs to be kept to a minimum. These types of design are integral to creating lightweight structures that have a lower environmental impact, for example, by making savings on foundation materials.

Often specifiers require that bathroom pods be compliant with mobility or DDA (Disabled Discriminatory Act) requirements. Again, bathroom pods can be specified to meet this legislation and a range of accessories, such as grab rails and handles can be chosen. It is also important to ensure that pods meet the legislation for water efficiency – either through meeting Part G requirements for general applications or the Code for Sustainable Homes for the domestic sector. Here, again, an experienced offsite manufacturer can work with the specifier to meet the requirements. Similarly, if the client wants the building to incorporate greywater or rainwater recycling systems, these can be integrated within the concept.

If sustainable considerations are paramount on a project, then pods are an obvious choice due to the modular building method resulting in a lower carbon footprint, reduced levels of waste and fewer deliveries, which minimises fuel consumption and disruption on site.

Often the specifier is looking to create a bathroom or kitchen that reflects a high specification of the build, as when it comes to a sale, properties are often judged by the quality of these facilities. A flexible approach is therefore essential, so the architect and designer from the offsite company can work together to create a bathroom pod that meets their requirements exactly.

On projects where space is restricted, it is obviously important to ensure that available space is maximised. This is where the offsite manufacturer can recommend bathroom suites that are more compact, or that make best use of space. This ranges right through to our executive-style pods, where the most luxurious bathroom accessories, such as corner baths or Jacuzzis could be specified. There is also the option to choose from a wide range of accessories, including tiling, renders and finishes to the bathroom pod to meet particular project requirements.

Modern pods are not restrictive in design and contemporary or more classic pod designs can be created that provide a more customized look to the bathroom.

Offsite manufacturers that offer a tailored approach to pods, with a wide choice of options – such as family bathrooms, cloakrooms or wetrooms, kitchenette or study, are enabling a quicker, more sustainable approach to modern builds, where quality and performance are assured.

This is indeed the age of the pod and this looks set to continue, due to the ever tightening building regulations, the recognition of the sustainability of modular buildings and the shortening build schedules. The beauty of pods is that bespoke bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms can be produced to specific requirements in the quickest and most efficient way possible. This is helping specifiers and their clients to meet their needs for performance, scheduling and cost."