FAQs - Modular Construction

A modular construction or modular building consists of prefabricated room units that are industrially manufactured in our production halls. They can be made of steel, concrete, wood or a mixture of the different building materials in hybrid construction.

In the form of a modular construction system, the modules are assembled into a building on a suitable foundation within a very short time. Seamless interior finishing as well as façade work can begin without the progress of the building project being affected by weather conditions. The degree of completion is determined by the customer's requirements and wishes.

Modular buildings can be erected for long-term or temporary use. If more space is needed, extensions or a further storey is possible at any time.

Modular construction is a flexible, modern and future-oriented construction method that is in no way inferior to conventional construction. Accordingly, modular construction is ideally suited for all sectors: whether industry, trade, services or municipalities. SÄBU Morsbach GmbH specialises in the construction of office and administrative buildings, educational facilities of all kinds such as schools, day-care centres or universities, training and research centres, as well as buildings in the healthcare and nursing sectors. With the modular construction method, hospitals, residential buildings or hotels can also be realised.

Modular buildings are structurally advanced, architecturally equivalent to conventional buildings, and meet all energy efficiency requirements. Factory prefabrication enables short assembly times and allows foundation work to be carried out in parallel, eliminating weather-related delays. Components are manufactured to precise specifications, minimizing dimensional tolerances.

Modular construction conserves resources through highly efficient industrial prefabrication, which significantly reduces material waste compared to on-site construction. We use quality-tested materials with transparent Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). As our room modules are based on a robust steel structure, they can be dismantled at the end of their service life, allowing the steel content to be returned to the material cycle almost in its entirety.

Additional benefits include reduced impact on the construction site, particularly in terms of noise and dust, as well as less construction traffic. SÄBU provides fixed completion dates, a single-source solution, and a dedicated contact person throughout the entire construction phase.

The room modules are prefabricated in SÄBU's production halls regardless of the weather. The foundations and the building site equipment are laid in parallel. After transport to the construction site, the modules are erected and connected by crane within a few days. The final interior work and the assembly of the façade and roof can then begin immediately.

In contrast to conventional construction methods, the construction process with the modular construction method can also be continued during the cold season due to the prefabrication. This shortens the entire construction time considerably, which is a great advantage especially for inner-city construction sites as well as for building in existing structures, as noise, traffic and construction disruptions can be reduced to a minimum.

• Planning, cost and schedule reliability from the first customer contact to turnkey handover
• High quality through industrial prefabrication with quality-tested materials and fulfilment of all building physics requirements 
• Free architectural planning and design options for planners and architects
• Resource conservation through recyclable materials (high steel content), reduced emissions, and less traffic directly on the construction site
• Flexibility and adaptability according to individual needs due to the possibility of expansion through additions or extensions
• Good fire protection (tested by MFPA Leipzig) as well as sound insulation (soundproofing report)

Yes. Modular buildings meet the same building regulations and quality standards as conventional buildings and offer additional precision through controlled factory production.

Production takes place in our facilities under consistent, weather-independent conditions. Thanks to precise prefabrication and continuous in-house production controls, we ensure fully documented processing quality for every component—something that is more difficult to control on an open construction site due to weather conditions.

Independent quality seals and industry standards provide additional assurance for these processes (see the next question or go to our certificates).

SÄBU Morsbach GmbH holds recognized, independently audited certificates and credentials that document the quality, environmental management and production processes across our entire company:

• ISO 9001: Certified quality management system that ensures stable, controlled and continuously optimized production and work processes.
• ISO 14001: International standard for environmental management aimed at continuously reducing environmental impacts.
• RAL Quality Mark for Steel System Construction: Ensures strict quality criteria through regular independent inspections by the quality association.
• PQ-VOB Prequalification: Official proof of our suitability, reliability and professional expertise for public construction contracts.
• EN 1090-2 and EN 1090-4: Certified manufacturing of load-bearing steel components.

→ Find all certificates in detail here

The service life of a modular building is no different from that of a conventionally constructed building. Modular buildings are planned in accordance with the applicable building regulations and technical requirements and are designed for long-term use.

How long a building can actually be used depends, among other things, on the quality of the materials used, the quality of workmanship, as well as regular maintenance and upkeep.

The materials used by SÄBU and the manufacturing processes are subject to defined quality standards and regular inspections. Weather-independent prefabrication in the factory enables controlled production and continuous quality checks. Further finishing work on site is carried out by qualified specialist companies.

Even if requirements change, modular buildings can, depending on the building concept, be adapted and repurposed so that they remain usable over the long term.

SÄBU Morsbach GmbH specialises in the construction of modular buildings with up to five storeys. These are buildings of medium height that are below the high-rise level. However, higher buildings can also be realised with the modular construction method.

Modular construction is suitable for extensions and additional storeys on both existing modular buildings and conventionally constructed buildings. The short construction time can help reduce noise, traffic and construction-related disruptions in the surrounding area.

For additional storeys, the comparatively low dead weight of modular construction can offer structural advantages. Whether an additional storey or extension is feasible in an individual case depends on the specific structural and static conditions and is planned accordingly.

For a new modular building, a future extension can already be taken into account during the planning and design phase.

The design options for modular buildings are not fundamentally different from those of conventionally constructed buildings. The building shape, façade design, building services and interior finishes can be individually planned and tailored to the respective requirements. Single- and multi-storey buildings as well as combinations of different building materials, for example with wood, can also be realised.

More information and images on the design options can be found on the page Design diversity in modular construction.

In addition to permanent use, modular buildings can generally also be used for a limited period of time. Which construction method is suitable for a particular project depends, among other things, on the planned period of use and the individual requirements.

For short-term and temporary needs for replacement or alternative accommodation, the use of modular containers is particularly suitable. Depending on requirements, container-based buildings can be used at different locations and for various purposes. Their level of comfort and functionality is comparable to that of a conventional building.

Thanks to the prefabrication and standardization of the modular containers, temporary buildings can be erected in a short time and, once they are no longer needed, dismantled with almost no lasting impact on the site. The containers can then be refurbished and used for a different purpose.

→ Find out more about our interim solutions.

Various environmental aspects are taken into account when planning and manufacturing modular buildings. These include, for example, the choice of materials, the precise factory prefabrication to reduce waste, and options for the subsequent conversion, extension or adaptation of a building.

Steel is an essential component of our modular construction system and can be recycled after use and returned to the material cycle.

High-performance thermal insulation reduces heat loss and helps to meet the applicable energy requirements of the German Building Energy Act (GEG). Solutions for the use of renewable energies, such as photovoltaic systems or heat pumps, can also be integrated into modular buildings. Suitable building component designs can also provide good sound insulation.

More information about sustainability at SÄBU can be found here: Company/Sustainability.

Modular buildings are subject to the same valid energy-saving ordinances and regulations as conventionally constructed buildings. In general, all energy standards can be realised with modular construction. Important and decisive for the realisation of the desired energy standard is the early individual examination and inclusion in the planning of the modular building.

After the first customer contact at SÄBU, the project development starts, which includes personal consultation and individual concept development. If designs are already available from an architect or a planning office, the concept development phase is omitted. The next step is the construction and implementation planning.

Then the construction phase begins with industrial prefabrication in the factory and parallel construction measures on site as well as the subsequent assembly of the individual room modules on site. The fourth step is the coordination of companies and partners of SÄBU Morsbach GmbH involved in the construction, as well as the construction supervision until the completion of the building and the handover of the keys.

Six to eight modules can be placed on an assembly day. The required modules are loaded onto trucks in the factory during the day and transported to the construction site in the evening and at night by heavy transport. The next morning, assembly can begin immediately. SÄBU Morsbach GmbH works with long-standing forwarding partners. The contracted freight forwarder carries out an inspection of the construction site and the surrounding traffic situation in advance and then organises all the necessary permits to ensure that the heavy transport runs smoothly.

The costs for the construction of a modular building are comparable to the costs for the construction of a conventional building or even lower, depending on the circumstances. The modular construction method convinces with a construction time that is up to 70 % faster, which is possible due to the weather-independent prefabrication in the factory and parallel foundation construction on the construction site.

The shorter construction time enables the building to be put into operation more quickly, so that revenues can be generated much faster. This reduces the time for investment and interim financing, interest costs are saved. This leads to a faster return on investment compared to conventional construction methods. 

The expensive budget supplements that are common with conventional construction can be reduced from the outset thanks to the precisely fitting prefabrication, the constant quality controls and the high quality of workmanship.