Associated Builders and Contractors released its inaugural Tech Report, a study of the innovative technology and tools that contractors use on jobsites to be safer, more profitable and primed to win more work.
ABC’s 2021 Tech Report identifies the top challenges contractors face that technology could help solve. The top challenges identified include (1) operational issues, (2) managing and tracking documentation, (3) dealing with a lack of skilled craft professionals, (4) synergizing IT and operations and (5) providing adequate risk/safety management.
While not mentioned specifically in ABC’s report, a growing number of contractors are using cold-formed steel (CFS) framing to solve operation, personnel and safety/risk management issues. By using CFS, contractors find they can complete projects more efficiently, with lower costs and increased safety.
Associated Builders and Contractors inaugural Tech Report was sourced from a survey conducted from March through May 2021.
Report: A Roadmap for Innovation
ABC’s 2021 Tech Report was sourced from a survey conducted from March through May 2021. It details opportunities for construction contractors to improve their operations in project coordination, planning, estimating, production and scheduling.
“This report will provide construction leaders with a roadmap to understand how technology and innovation can help their businesses,” said Jack Hineman, vice president of business intelligence at Gaylor Electric Inc., Indianapolis, and chair elect of ABC’s Construction Technology and Innovation Committee.
“Investing in construction technology will help construction companies innovate, differentiate themselves and attract and educate their top talent,” Hineman said. “Our industry is composed of problem solvers who build America. When a tool does not exist to solve a problem, our users put in the sweat equity to build a resource that resolves issues to the best of their ability.”
Steel Framing Helps Solve Contractor Challenges
Technology can help solve many job site challenges and, as already noted, the innovative use of CFS can play a role. But how? Consider two challenges that contractors face: personnel and risk/safety management.
Construction Personnel
According to the ABC’s 2021 Tech Report, 36% of ABC members believe technology can help solve problems related to the lack of skilled craft professionals.
- Specifically, respondents had more issues attracting new talent (22%) than they had retaining employees (7%)
Faced with a reduced labor force, a growing number of building professionals are specifying prefabricated CFS building components. CFS framing is the ideal choice for prefabricated construction because it can reduce on-site labor requirements and appeals to a new generation of workers.
South Valley Prefab’s exterior finish panels cut installation labor by 90 percent in the construction of Denver’s new RiNo District hotel.
An example is South Valley Prefab’s work at Catbird, a seven-story, 165-unit, extended-stay hotel in Denver, Colorado.
- South Valley Prefab prefabricated 277 individual CFS exterior finish panels a month prior to installation
- Only six installers were needed on site, whereas normally it would take up to 70 people to complete the panel installations
- The use of CFS eliminated 90% of on-site labor required by traditional construction practices
To attract a new generation of workers, companies are transitioning to the development of prefabricated building components in off-site environments to provide a more favorable and attractive work environment.
Off-site construction:
- Appeals to a workforce that does not wish to move from one construction site to another as traditional onsite construction demands
- Reduces the need for skilled labor, opening up jobs for a larger portion of the workforce
- Takes place in a controlled setting, not subject to weather extremes and other variables
Construction Risk/Safety
Safety is a core value of ABC members. While only 15% of member respondents reported having risk/safety issues, 50% of respondents reported having both risk management and safety issues, according to ABC’s 2021 Tech Report.
Veev designs, manufactures and assembles every component of a home in a controlled environment. It manufactures walls with mechanical, electrical and plumbing hook-ups already in place that can be transported and assembled onsite faster than traditional construction.
Use of CFS in building projects is a tech solution that can improve safety conditions. Prefabricated CFS construction, for example, transfers some work away from busy construction sites to factory environments, where many of the risks of traditional construction can be avoided.
- Work takes place in a controlled setting, not subject to weather extremes and other variables
- A controlled construction setting provides contractors with access to machinery in a safer and familiar setting
- Workers have adequate space to perform their task
- Workers experience less exposure to construction vehicles moving in tight workspaces
Prefabricated CFS Saves $250,000 in Green Bay
Steel Framing Industry Association member, Wall-tech, provides information on how it saved $250,000 in construction and carrying costs by using prefabricated CFS at the Metreau Apartments in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Contractors Must Continuously Innovate
“Executing world-class performance requires contractors to continuously innovate,” said Matt Abeles, ABC vice president of construction technology and innovation. “If we choose to lead, commit and innovate, together we will create the conditions for all to do their work without incident, be more profitable and win more work.”
Contractors are discovering that by combining technological advances in off-site construction with steel framing, they have solutions for many of the challenges they face.