FAQs

Modular construction is a modern building method where structures are manufactured in controlled factory conditions before being transported and assembled on site. Unlike traditional construction, individual sections (modules) are built complete with internal finishes, electrical systems, plumbing and fixtures in the factory, then delivered and installed onto prepared foundations. This creates a complete building in considerably less time than conventional methods.

At Integra Buildings, the process begins with bespoke design using advanced Building Information Modelling (BIM) software – we hold ISO 19650 certification, the gold standard for digital construction planning. Modules are constructed at our production facilities in East Yorkshire, using BS EN 1090-certified steel frames in a controlled environment that ensures consistent quality, reduced waste, and protection from weather delays.

Once modules arrive on site, installation is remarkably swift – often completed in weeks, rather than months. With decades of experience and holding The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, Integra has perfected this process across a wide range of sectors, from education and healthcare to sport and leisure, office and commercial.

Modular construction typically reduces project delivery times by 30-50% compared to traditional building methods. From initial design to final handover, a modular building can be completed in 4-6 months for standard projects, with larger developments potentially extending to 9-12 months – dramatically faster than the 12-24 months or more required for conventional construction.

The key advantage is parallel working. While site preparation and foundations are being laid, manufacturing progresses simultaneously in our factories. Design and planning typically takes several weeks, with our in-house Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) engineers ensuring compliance from the outset. Factory manufacturing generally takes 8-12 weeks, depending on size and specification, and is unaffected by weather. On-site installation is the fastest phase, as modules arrive substantially complete.

Our project at Ganton Special School in Hull demonstrates this efficiency, with delivery carefully timed to complete during the summer holidays to minimise student disruption. Under a £14m contract for the Ministry of Defence, we’ve delivered buildings nationwide with consistent quality and speed. Projects such as these, and many others, show modular construction delivers reliable, accelerated timelines, without compromising quality.

Modular buildings offer compelling advantages in quality, cost, time and sustainability. Factory production in controlled conditions ensures superior build quality compared to on-site construction affected by weather and variable conditions. Our ISO 9001 certification guarantees consistent processes across every project, while our three further ISO certifications and King’s Award for Enterprise recognition demonstrate industry-leading standards.

Cost savings typically reach 20-25%, compared to traditional construction. The Olive Grove Depot project we delivered for client Amey was 25% more cost effective than traditional construction through reduced preliminary costs, condensed programmes, and enhanced quality control.

Shortened timescales mean projects complete far faster, without any compromise on quality, while sustainability advantages are measurable and substantial. Olive Grove Depot achieved an 83% cut in CO2 emissions, with a projected 88% reduction in lifetime energy use, while offsite manufacturing reduced carbon emissions from transport by 30% and halved on-site energy consumption.

All our buildings are designed to be 100% reusable and relocatable. For example, our partnership with Murphy Plant sees accommodation units refurbished multiple times, adding at least 10 years of lifespan with each upgrade, while dramatically reducing carbon and waste.

Modular buildings can serve as either permanent or temporary structures, offering exceptional flexibility that traditional construction cannot match. Our steel-framed buildings carry structural guarantees of up to 60 years, demonstrating their suitability as permanent structures, while their inherent flexibility means they can be refurbished, relocated and reused throughout their lifecycle.

Modular construction delivers structures indistinguishable from traditional builds in durability and performance. The Wellbeing Hub we delivered at Southampton General Hospital required a traditional aesthetic, while also achieving BREAMM “Good” standard, demonstrating how modular can meet highly demanding permanent requirements. Modular complies fully with UK Building Regulations and achieves the same longevity as traditional construction.

For temporary or relocatable needs, our building hire service offers flexible short-term solutions (typically 12-month periods), popular with construction sites and schools needing temporary capacity. Our partnership with Murphy Plant supports a circular building economy, with buildings designed with their full lifecycle in mind, from manufacture through to refurbishment, relocation and eventual material recovery.

Modern modular buildings deliver exceptional energy efficiency that frequently surpasses traditional construction, with measurable reductions in both operational carbon and lifetime energy consumption.

Our commitment to energy performance contributed to being honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, recognising our proven track record of buildings that exceed contemporary energy standards through fabric-first design, advanced building envelopes, and integrated renewable technologies.

Controlled factory manufacturing enables precise installation of high-performance insulation and airtight construction that’s difficult to achieve consistently in traditional on-site builds, ensuring the building performs as designed. We have extensive experience delivering BREEAM-standard buildings and our ISO 19650 BIM certification ensures accurate energy modelling throughout design.

With our 2038 net zero target and 1,000+ solar panels at our headquarters site generating 380,000 kWh annually, Integra is pioneering energy-efficient construction.

Modular buildings from Integra are bespoke – designed and manufactured to our clients’ exact specifications – a key differentiator from providers offering limited standardised options. We have the technical expertise and manufacturing capability to create buildings that perfectly match your functional requirements, aesthetic preferences, and site-specific constraints.

Our customisation is comprehensive – be it size, configuration or layout, from single classrooms to multi-storey offices or specialised facilities. Our vast range of finishes means we can match or blend new buildings with existing structures. Southampton General Hospital’s Wellbeing Hub demonstrates our ability to create striking contemporary designs, while our UK-wide work for National Highways shows how we can replicate standardised designs with perfect consistency.

Advanced 3D software, including Autodesk Revit and full BIM capabilities, let you experience your building digitally before manufacturing begins. Our ISO 19650 certification – the gold standard for BIM – means you can be confident of seamless communication with your architects and stakeholders.

Whether maximising space efficiency, achieving aesthetic outcomes, integrating renewable energy, or meeting exacting technical standards, our bespoke approach delivers exactly what you require.

Foundation requirements for modular buildings are typically simpler, faster to install, and more cost-effective than equivalent traditional structures, though the specific solution depends on building size, site conditions, ground bearing capacity, and intended use.

For many modular buildings, particularly single-storey structures, concrete pad foundations provide an ideal solution. These are individual reinforced concrete pads positioned beneath each module’s load-bearing points. This approach has been successfully employed across our Ministry of Defence contract, where standardised foundation designs enabled efficient, repeatable installations.

Adopting a hybrid construction approach, our Olive Grove Depot project utilised traditional foundations, providing radon protection, with modular construction above ground, demonstrating how foundation design addresses site-specific requirements.

Our technical team provides detailed foundation specifications and load calculations, ensuring groundworks contractors have accurate information from the outset. Whether your site presents straightforward conditions or complex challenges, our cross-sector experience means we can recommend foundation solutions balancing performance, cost and programme efficiency, while meeting all Building Regulations.

Modular buildings from Integra offer exceptional durability, with structural guarantees of up to 60 years, matching or exceeding traditional construction lifespan expectations. Our steel frames are BS EN 1090 Execution Class 3 certified, and controlled manufacturing guarantees consistent quality.

Production in a controlled factory environment delivers durability advantages impossible with traditional on-site construction. Weather exposure during building – a constant challenge for traditional builds – is eliminated, preventing moisture ingress, material degradation, and defects that compromise long-term performance.

Our ISO 9001 certification ensures every module undergoes rigorous quality checks, with precise installation of building envelopes, weather seals and protective finishes safeguarding structural integrity. Buildings can be upgraded to meet evolving regulations like Joint Code of Practice (JCoP) fire safety standards or changing energy requirements, ensuring they remain compliant throughout their lifespan.

Real-world evidence demonstrates this lifespan. Our partnership with Murphy Plant involves maintaining and refurbishing staff accommodation units serving multiple sites over many years, with each refurbishment adding at least a decade of additional lifespan. After comprehensive strip-outs, resprays and systems upgrades, units emerge appearing almost new.

Our modular buildings fully comply with all UK Building Regulations and relevant industry standards, meeting identical requirements to traditionally constructed buildings while often exceeding minimum compliance through our commitment to quality and safety.

Our comprehensive certification portfolio includes four ISO certifications and UKAS certification to BS EN 1090 Execution Class 3 for structural steel. As the only modular construction company to receive The King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025, we’ve demonstrated that modular can lead industry standards.

Compliance begins at design stage where our in-house Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) engineers ensure buildings meet Part L energy efficiency and other Building Regulations from the outset. Our ISO 19650 BIM certification enables precise coordination of all building elements – electrical, ventilation, heating, plumbing, structural and fire safety – ensuring regulatory compliance is built into every aspect.

Specific sector requirements are routinely achieved. An innovative modular custodial cell we developed passed extensive testing at BRE Science Park, demonstrating compliance with stringent government technical requirements. We’ve also created a range of modular and Anti-Vandal units that meet Joint Code of Practice (JCoP) v10.1 fire safety regulations following rigorous, full-scale fire testing. Buildings delivered under our Ministry of Defence contract comply with Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) standards.

Modular buildings are suitable for virtually any sector, with Integra delivering bespoke solutions across an exceptionally diverse range. Our experience spans education, healthcare, sport and leisure, commercial and office buildings, defence and emergency services, custodial facilities, housing, and infrastructure – demonstrating how modular is a versatile, high-performance alternative to traditional methods.

In education, we’ve delivered facilities for Moor House School & College, Springhead School, Ebbsfleet Green Primary School and many more. Healthcare projects include Southampton General Hospital’s Wellbeing Hub, created with proceeds from the auction of an artwork by elusive artist Banksy. Our sports portfolio includes a £6m facility for a world-class organisation. Defence work includes our MoD contract delivering a series of Army Cadet facilities nationwide. We have also worked extensively with Network Rail, Transport for London, National Highways and the Environment Agency.

Modular also offers solutions to the pressing need to provide much-needed new homes. Our partnership with MORE Housing tackles UK-wide housing shortages through “The Parker”, an eco-innovative modular home. This breadth of applications demonstrates that modular construction serves any sector requiring quality buildings delivered faster, more sustainably, and more cost-effectively than traditional methods.