Prefabricated Utility Panel With Pre-Installed Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces inefficiencies due to the need for skilled tradespeople to travel to multiple construction sites for installing electrical wiring, plumbing, and other utilities in modular construction, leading to increased labor costs and reduced time efficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The development of utility panels with pre-installed utilities, comprising an exterior panel, studs, hat channels, and interior panels, which can be prefabricated to include plumbing, electrical wiring, and other services, allowing for faster assembly and reduced on-site labor requirements by enabling horizontal and vertical distribution of utilities across multiple stories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If skilled tradespeople are deployed to construction sites for utility installation, then installation quality is ensured, but labor costs increase and time efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing utilities (electrical wiring, plumbing, data lines) during the prefabrication process at the off-site facility before the modules are transported to the construction site. This allows utility installation to be completed in advance, eliminating the need for skilled tradespeople to travel to multiple construction sites and thereby reducing both labor costs and on-site installation time while maintaining installation quality through controlled factory conditions
2Reliability
If skilled tradespeople are deployed to construction sites for utility installation, then installation quality is ensured, but labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing utilities (electrical wiring, plumbing, data lines) during the prefabrication process at the off-site facility before the modules are transported to the construction site. This allows utility installation to be completed in advance, eliminating the need for skilled tradespeople to travel to multiple construction sites and thereby reducing both labor costs and on-site installation time while maintaining installation quality through controlled factory conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If utilities are installed at the construction site, then flexibility in utility routing is maintained, but installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing utilities (electrical wiring, plumbing, data lines) during the prefabrication process at the off-site facility before the modules are transported to the construction site. This allows utility installation to be completed in advance, eliminating the need for skilled tradespeople to travel to multiple construction sites and thereby reducing both labor costs and on-site installation time while maintaining installation quality through controlled factory conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An example apparatus is disclosed that may be a utility panel that may include an exterior panel, a plurality of studs coupled to the exterior panel, a hat channel coupled to the plurality of studs opposite the exterior panel, wherein the hat channel is perpendicular to the studs, and an interior panel coupled to the hat channel opposite the plurality of studs. An example method is disclosed for coupling a wall panel to a beam.