Investigating Attitudes Towards the use of Electrical Prefabrication in Relation to Time, Cost, And Quality in the Electrical Industry in Ireland

In the construction sector, industry professionals and clients are trying to save costs, cut time, and produce an output with the best quality. This is no different in the electrical industry and can be impacted through the use of electrical prefabrication. This study aims to explore the use of electrical prefabrication in Ireland and the attitudes towards such in relation to time, cost, and quality, as there is little research in this area. This is achieved by conducting a thorough literature review and the generation of first-hand data through mixed research methods of surveys and semi-structured interviews. Six industry professionals were interviewed with an average experience of 25 years in the industry working for companies that generate €100-€550 million annual turnover. The data generated resulted in confirmation of some literature review findings such as the cost of implementation and the transport and storage requirements associated with electrical prefabricated assemblies. However, contradictions to previous research were also generated, such as a lack of data to show there is sufficient time benefits in the early stages of a project but proves electrical prefabrication could ultimately result in significant schedule reduction, and that experience is more favoured than training. The research has addressed the gap in knowledge on this topic in Ireland. Recommendations have been drawn from this study but is still limited and could be used in further research on this topic.