DfMA.
Design for Manufacture & Assembly.
Design for Manufacture and Assembly is a design approach that focuses on ease of manufacture and efficiency of assembly
Materials
We use sustainable timber framed construction. This uses less embodied energy than other common building materials and has superior insulation properties as compared to brick, concrete, aluminium and steel.
Prefabrication reduces construction waste, Australia’s largest contributor to landfill.
Our material selections consider environmental impact such as recycled content, renewable resources, low/ no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
All ARKit buildings use either plantation or sustainable managed and forested timbers.
Wood grows naturally, is renewable and costs less to produce than steel & concrete. It has been a primary building material within Australia for the past 150+ years.
Only 6% of Australia’s native forests are potentially available for timber harvesting. Timber is harvested from about 1% of these public native forests each year.
Performance
Maximise Passive Heating and Cooling principles and natural light.
The building envelope is designed to optimise thermal performance and targets a 50% reduction in annual energy consumption. Approximately 14% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions comes from the heating and cooling of buildings (AGO 2005).
The environmental footprint of our buildings is minimised through light weight construction and associated reduced site impacts.
This minimises loss of vegetation and top soil and avoids the use of portland cement and coastal sand.
Aligned with our organisational focus on sustainability, ARKit is experienced in design and construction to the Passive House standard.
Careful consideration of siting and orientation, together with local climatic conditions, are used to identify optimum energy efficient solutions.
Benefits
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is a design approach that focuses on ease of manufacture and efficiency of assembly.
By simplifying the design of a product it is possible to manufacture and assemble it more efficiently, in the minimum time and at a lower cost.
One of the primary advantages of DfMA in construction is the significantly reduced programme on-site through the use of prefabricated elements.
By using fewer parts, decreasing the amount of labour required, and reducing the number of unique parts, DfMA can significantly lower the cost of assembly.
A highly automated approach can enhance quality and efficiency at each stage.
There may be less waste generation in the construction phase, greater efficiency in site logistics, and a reduction in vehicle movements transporting materials to site.
DFMA shortens assembly time by utilising standard assembly practices such as vertical assembly and self-aligning parts. DFMA also ensures that the transition from the design phase to the production phase is as smooth and rapid as possible.
DfMA increases reliability by lowering the number of parts, thereby decreasing the chance of failure.
By removing construction activities from the site and placing them in a controlled factory environment there is the possibility of a significant positive impact on safety.
Sustainability
Aligned with an organisational focus on sustainability, ARKit offers a range of consultancy and construction options to suit varying requirements and to foster Ecologically Sustainable Development.
In addition to having a lower carbon footprint, buildings that embody ESD principles have superior thermal comfort and reduced running costs, making them a highly desirable outcome. These options are available for both residential and commercial projects.
The ARKit Standard approach provides high quality ecologically sustainable buildings.
It incorporates best practice building methods that provide exceptional comfort and building health, with a diminished environmental impact. A key element of this is the use of timber construction, which is a renewable resource with low embodied energy.
Other aspects include vented cavity wall systems, recycled polyester insulation, high performance external building wrap, Low or no VOC finishes and materials, construction from recycled, FSC or SFI certified timber, and waste minimisation through an efficient prefabrication process.
ARKit Plus is a design process for clients who require a building with enhanced thermal performance and reduced energy costs.
It expands on the qualities of the ARKit Standard approach with building fabric, glazing and shading systems optimised during the early design phases to achieve a NatHERS rating of at least 7 stars.
The ARKit Plus approach begins by including R4.0 insulation within 140mm stud walls, a highly efficient heat pump hot water system and a solar panel array.
The building elements can then be enhanced in a multitude of ways to achieve a desired thermal performance. Key to this approach is flexibility, with opportunity to balance the thermal performance outcome against the overall budget.
A 7+ star rating available for new builds only, excludes additions or renovations.
Passive House buildings are known for their unmatched energy efficiency, thermal comfort and indoor air quality.
Originating in Germany, it is a building standard that is backed by over 30 years of proven results and today stands as the highest international benchmark for building performance.
Buildings designed and constructed to the Passive House standard allow occupants to enjoy minimal energy costs as they reduce active heating and cooling by up to 90% whilst maintaining a healthy, comfortable interior environment.
ARKit is experienced in the design and delivery of buildings to Passive House standards and uses a building system that has been specifically designed to incorporate Passive House requirements.
ARKit’ system incorporates timber framed construction with high performance insulation for optimal thermal resistance. The system also includes vented wall cavities, specialty air tightness barriers and high-quality external building.