Ontario Electrical Contractor 21 E Don’t Fear the Prefab Electrical construction is a high-risk industry that operates in an immensely competitive market and on thin margins. In addition to the negative factors inherent to the industry, labour productivity has a great deal of impact on profitability. Contractors frequently face productivity challenges such as project schedule compression, unfavourable work conditions, and competition for qualified labour. In my experience researching and advising electrical contractors, I have encountered numerous strategies to mitigate these issues. An important mitigation strategy that has become more prominent in recent years is prefabrication (or prefab). Prefab is an example of a proactive measure a contractor can take to improve performance and minimize productivity loss. I have found that prefabrication has a significant positive impact on productivity, reduces overall project waste and cost, and can increase construction speed. Some of my recent work in this area has found that prefabrication can increase productivity while simultaneously decreasing the number of workers on site – thus reducing labour costs even further when compared to traditional construction methods. Further, performing prefabrication off-site in a dedicated facility mitigates safety risks on site, improves schedule performance, and results in better labour availability, improved working conditions and improved quality. It is important to note, however, that the use of prefab can and frequently does alter and complicate project organization. For instance, management requirements for a project are likely to increase due to additional oversight and client involvement required. Prefab can also lead to increased RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADOPT AND IMPROVE PREFABRICATION PRACTICES FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS engineering costs – my research estimates that up to 90 per cent of the project design must be completed before construction can commence if prefab is to be successfully used. Prefab also requires increased coordination between trades on site and among prefab activities. That said, these By A.S. Hanna, Ph.D., P.E., f.ASCE, NAC