Kathmandu Although prefab was an option available in the market for construction since the year 2003, the demand for prefab structures skyrocketed after the Gorkha Earthquake in 2015. Fast forward two years later, private companies now have the consumers’ attention with the introduction of prefab structures equipped with new technologies. Prefabricated homes, often referred to as prefab homes or simply prefabs, are specialist dwelling types of prefabricated building, which are manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled. Prefab houses are all purpose which can be used to build provisional offices, houses, dormitories, shops, schools, hospitals et cetera. Quake-resistant structures Although house developers swear by the quality of their products, Kathmanduites still hesitate to invest in such structures. The trend has not yet caught on. Most cite inconvenience with regards to security prefab structures offer when compared to concrete houses. Claiming to be the first to introduce prefab in Nepal, Arati and Company said that the demand for prefab has been growing since the earthquake. Preeti KC of Arati and Company said that most demand is being generated from government institutions and non-governmental organisations mostly to build health posts and temporary residences. They have not seen much demand from individuals as such. She said, “Though people often come to inquire about the features of prefabs, nobody has approached us to build a house. The government, Red Cross and few other I/NGOs are the only ones using prefab structures.” KC said that people should opt for prefabs for its earthquake-resistant and fire-proof features. She said, “The fabricated walls and roof are lighter in weight than the concrete materials used in Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) buildings. It is safer to be in a prefab house when an earthquake hits. The threat to one’s life is significantly minimised.” Affordable dwellings A prefab home is cheaper to build than a RCC house. Managing Director of Bira Furniture, Suresh Shrestha said that the price of the prefab is 50 per cent cheaper than the RCC buildings. He said that the total cost of a prefab home is based on size, amenities, and location. It comes between Rs 1,600 and Rs 2,200 per sq ft inclusive of home’s interior fixtures and amenities. He said, “To build a 5,000-sq ft concrete house, you could expect to pay Rs 80 lakhs minimum, and if you want to build a 1500-sq ft concrete house, you could expect to pay about Rs 30 lakhs,  not including the cost of land, site costs, or taxes.” Bira Furniture estimates that the average cost to build a prefab structure per sq ft in a 5,000 sq ft area — not including the cost of land (including taxes or fees), the setup of utilities, or exterior touches (driveways, landscaping, and porches) — is Rs 1,600. The price could go higher as per the designer finishes and touches — closer to the Rs 2,000 to 2,200 per sq ft. Time saver House developers claimed that the other advantage of building a prefab house is that it takes a much shorter time to construct one. Shrestha said that a normal two-storeyed prefab house needs only one month to be completed. He said that although prefab technology has become the dominant part of housing sectors of developed countries, Nepal is still in the trial phase in application of prefab technology. He said, “We haven’t yet completely adopted the prefab technology in our country. For now, we are equipped to only build five-storey tall structures not more.” When you have several groups of contractors delivering materials to a site and building a house (RCC) on location, there’s a lot of waste created in the form of excess materials. When a prefab home is built in panels or modules in a factory, the waste generated can be reduced. During the building of RCC houses, multiple groups of subcontractors (such as plumbers, electricians, painters, and framers) all come out separately to do their designated work. This work is often delayed or hampered by the work of other subcontractors. When prefabs are built, the labour can be more effectively managed so that the work is done quickly and efficiently. It is a little early to pass the verdict on prefab houses but it sure must be tried given its long-term sustainable nature and its feasibility and most of all the safety it provides during natural disasters.