Portacabins, also known as portable buildings or modular buildings, have become a common sight on construction sites, at events, and as additional space for businesses across the UK. But are they really just temporary structures? Or can they be used as more permanent solutions as well? Let’s take a closer look at what portacabins are, what they can be used for, and whether they are best thought of as temporary or permanent structures.
What is a portacabin?
A portacabin is a prefabricated modular building that is manufactured off-site and then delivered to location where it will be used. The main advantages of portacabins include:
- Speed of deployment – As they are manufactured off-site, portacabins can be installed rapidly, often within a few days. This minimises on-site construction time.
- Relocation – Portacabins are designed to be portable and relocatable. They can be easily moved from one site to another as needed.
- Flexibility – Portacabins come in a range of sizes and can be linked together to create larger complexes. Interiors can also be customised to suit specific needs.
- Cost – Prefabricated buildings are often cheaper than constructing a conventional brick and mortar building.
Portacabins are normally simple rectangular or square steel-framed structures. They will have insulation, electrics, lighting, ventilation and can also be fitted with plumbing if required. Exteriors are usually a plain steel finish or over-clad with composite panelling.
So in summary, a portacabin is a modular, portable and flexible prefabricated building unit. This leads many people to assume they are only intended as temporary structures, but portacabins can also be used for permanent facilities.
See portableoffices.co.uk for more information on the features and specs of different portacabin options.
Uses of portacabins
Portacabins are very versatile and can be used for a wide variety of applications:
Construction sites
The most common and familiar use of portacabins is to provide site offices, canteens, meeting rooms and worker facilities at construction sites. Being quick to install and relocate as needed, they are the perfect temporary buildings for construction projects.
Events
Portacabins are frequently hired to provide additional facilities at events such as festivals, shows or sports tournaments. They can provide space for vendors, extra toilets, changing facilities, first aid and organiser offices.
Education
Schools and universities may use portacabins as overflow classrooms if they have an unexpected increase in student numbers. The portacabins provide flexible extra capacity.
Healthcare
Healthcare providers including hospitals and doctor’s surgeries sometimes install portacabins to temporarily expand their facilities and capacity.
Business expansion
Businesses needing to expand may hire or buy portacabins as a quick solution for getting additional office, storage or workspace until they can construct permanent premises.
Disaster relief
Following disasters, portacabins are often deployed to rapidly provide temporary shelter, sanitation, catering, administration and operations centres for relief workers.
Staff facilities
Portable buildings make ideal smoking shelters, lockers rooms, staff rooms and rest areas for workers at all kinds of sites from factories to parks.
Housing
Although not their typical use, portacabins can sometimes be deployed as emergency or temporary housing solutions by councils or for projects such as student accommodation overflow.
Are portacabins temporary or permanent?
With this wide range of usage scenarios, it shows portacabins can provide either temporary or more permanent facilities. Some key factors determine whether they are better suited to short or long-term use:
Design life
Portacabins are typically manufactured with an intended design life of 10-15 years. With proper maintenance, they can often last 20+ years. So although not as durable as a conventional building, they can have a reasonably long service life.
Mobility
Standard portacabins are mounted on steel “skids” with forklift pockets so they can be easily relocated. While convenient for temporary use, this mobility makes them less suitable for long-term permanent facilities. There are however demountable options without the skids.
Appearance
The plain, boxy appearance of portacabins often makes them seem temporary. However, exteriors can be clad with materials like brick slips to make them blend better into permanent surroundings.
Versatility
One of the biggest advantages of portacabins is their interior flexibility. Standard finishes and power/data access can be suitable for long-term use. The space can also be easily adapted.
Regulations
Local planning regulations may restrict using portacabins as permanent buildings in some areas, especially housing. But more industrial/commercial settings may have fewer restrictions.
Cost
Although initial purchase costs can be lower, ongoing rental fees, installation and relocation costs could make portacabins more expensive than conventional buildings long-term.
So in summary, while portacabins are designed as relocatable temporary structures, they can also potentially be used for permanent facilities if the location and application is suitable. The key factors to consider are mobility needs, appearance, regulatory conditions and costs.
Portacabin options for temporary vs permanent use
There are some specific portacabin options that are designed with more permanent or temporary usage in mind:
Temporary
- Rental units – These can be rented on a monthly basis or short-term as needed for very temporary requirements.
- Basic specs – Models with the essentials like basic electrics and plumbing are suitable for brief temporary roles.
- Skid-mounted – Portable Cabins on skids are intentionally designed for relocation between sites.
Permanent
- Purchased units – Purchasing outright creates a longer-term asset that is not subject to ongoing rental fees.
- Custom specs – Models with extras like brick cladding, higher insulation, full disabled access and high-spec interiors can be better suited to long-term usage.
- Demountable – Versions without skids can be installed on permanent foundations for long-term positioning.
- Clusters – Multiple units can be linked together to form large permanent complexes with different zones.
So by selecting the right portacabin model and customising it appropriately, both temporary and permanent facilities can be delivered using modular construction.
Key benefits of portacabins
To summarise, some of the key benefits that make portacabins useful for both temporary and permanent applications include:
- Speed of installation for fast availability
- Flexible sizing and layout options
- Relocation ability for temporary sites
- Lower initial capital costs compared to conventional builds
- Customisable interiors to suit specific needs
- Expandable by combining multiple units
For situations requiring additional space rapidly, on a tight budget, or with uncertain long-term needs, portacabins offer huge advantages over constructing permanent buildings. They bring welcome flexibility both as temporary facilities and potentially as longer-term solutions too.
Conclusion
Portacabins are modular, portable buildings that can provide either temporary or permanent facilities. Their intended design life and mobility features mark them out as temporary structures. However, with the right customisations, location and regulatory conditions, they can also serve as longer-term solutions. Key advantages like cost, speed of deployment and interior flexibility make portacabins suitable for a wide range of applications from construction sites and events to business expansions and disaster relief programmes. So whether your needs are temporary or permanent, portacabins are a versatile, cost-effective construction option.
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