Who this is for
Technical managers, construction directors and offsite procurement leads.
Pre-construction: lock the brief
The building design team should settle the wet-room layouts, connection points, finishes, code requirements and physical pod routes before factory production. Changing layouts after a sample is approved can create significant production disruption.
- Coordinate architectural, structural and MEP drawings.
- Approve a sample or mock-up against agreed acceptance criteria.
- Record accessible variants, tolerances and service-void dimensions.
Factory production and inspection
Manufacturers can complete internal finishes, fit sanitaryware and conduct documented checks before dispatch. Evidence should be tied to the actual units or production batch and include any outstanding defects.
- Check quality records for waterproofing and services.
- Agree factory acceptance tests and inspection opportunities.
- Confirm packaging and protection suitable for the transport route.
Transport, lifting and handover
Large pods need delivery slots, access routes, lifting points and protection during installation. The contractor still coordinates final connections and commissioning with the building services.
- Agree who receives, inspects and stores units.
- Plan floor-by-floor sequencing with the build schedule.
- Assign responsibility for commissioning and defects.
Questions project buyers ask
Does offsite manufacturing remove site installation?
No. Pods still require unloading, lifting or positioning, connection, final checks and handover.
When should manufacturers be involved?
Early enough for structural openings, MEP connections and design freeze to be coordinated without expensive redesign.
Decision note
Codes, permits and system performance vary by location and selected manufacturer. Ask your architect, MEP consultants and approving authorities to review the specific proposal before contract award.