Life cycle assessment of seismic resistant prefabricated modular buildings

Prefabricated Volumetric Modular Buildings (PVMB) have the potential to transform the construction industry and make a significant contribution to reaching sustainable development goals. Nevertheless, it is crucial to carefully evaluate the tangible benefits of implementing these systems, especially in buildings that require seismic calculations. This article compares three innovative PVMB structural systems, two reinforced concrete and one steel, with a conventional system, focusing on the economic and environmental aspects of a high seismic hazard zone. An end-to-end life cycle analysis was performed, and the results were used as quantitative criteria for a two-dimensional sustainability assessment. Five multi-criteria decision-making methods were used to identify the optimal alternative, resulting in a ranked list of solutions. The modular steel alternative is the most favorable option due to its balanced performance across all evaluation criteria despite being the most expensive. The conventional reinforced concrete alternative comes in second place, followed closely by the reinforced concrete modular alternative with dry connections. The modular reinforced concrete alternative with wet connections is the least favorable regarding environmental impact due to the extensive use of concrete and reinforcing steel. This study contributes significantly to sustainable construction research by establishing the tangible benefits of innovative systems compared to traditional methods. It offers specific insights into overcoming barriers to their more widespread adoption.