What Are Modular Classrooms Made From?

The cost of a modular is determined by factors such as the type of classroom, location, and size.

This might sound obvious but I’m going to focus mostly on the construction of our modular classrooms; others might differ.

Our designs meet your every need. We can make sure the property is compliant with all legal and statutory requirements and get it constructed to incorporate superior thermal comfort, air quality and sound insulation. But how do we do this?

The Frames

PF Modular provides modular building solutions which comprise of steel beams and posts. In the simplest form, each module is about 10m x 3m in size with non-structural infill panels.

• A basic floor frame with approx. 200mm deep beams on all four edges
• The floor joists are about 150mm deep, and span across the frame between the long edges
• 100mm x 100mm vertical hollow steel sections are positioned at each corner, supporting the…
• Frames with deep beams which span from the long sides may be used for the ceiling because they need to span a greater distance than the floor.

All the materials used are corrosion-resistant, including heavy-duty steel with zinc-rich paint and thin steel made of pre-galvanised material. Thanks to our new engineering features this provides the added security of over 40 years of life

We build posts and beams because it maximises design flexibility. The load is collected to the post locations, which reduces the number of load paths and in turn improves structural integrity running through the structure to the underlying foundation

This means you can have large windows and open internal spaces.

Floors

For our standard floor, we use a minimum 18mm specialist timber floor decking. Between our insulation, steel sheet and hardened joists, you can be sure that your house is tightly sealed up to keep out moisture and pests.

The result is a firm floor, which is warm, dry and durable; well-able to take the loads of a typical classroom.

Reinforced flooring can be great for libraries. Our specialists can make them stronger than before, and also have water-tight seals to avoid any water damage.

Roofs

Your roof will be made up of sandwich panels- the ‘sandwich’ may be a trapezoidal steel exterior and insulation within- which run in lengths from the highest point down to the eaves.

The result is a long lasting, waterproof roof which keeps the heat in. A more insulating alternative is available – it costs extra but will provide better insulation and keep your home warm even when the temperature drops.

External Walls

External walls get a structural framework of studs with insulation and then wrapped with 11mm OSB – a strong, durable engineered wood board.

The inside is protected from water vapour and external moisture by a vapour barrier and breather membrane, respectively. The vapour control layer prevents water vapour from seeping into the building and condensing there; this damages the health of inhabitants. The breathable membrane prevents external humidity or sweep

We use a high-quality steel panel that is fire retardant, insulated and waterproof. This has a standard external appearance and also provides an airtight layer for insulation. If you prefer a different ‘look’, we can make most finishes – traditional and modern – work with our buildings, from renders to cedar board and even brickwork.

Doors and Windows

All external doors and windows will be the same style. You’ll probably want to go for a powder-coated aluminium framed solution; in our experience, this is the best type of door or window to use if you have children at school. UPVC is a good short-term solution if you are looking for something cheaper or if you only need plastic windows to work as a temporary fix.

Double-glazing is the standard type of glazing, but triple-glazing is worth considering as it can help you minimise your energy usage and hence your energy bills.

Ceilings

We enclose the roof and provide protection from fire by using a 15mm plasterboard ceiling. This can be decorated, or in some cases where there is more room at the top of the room, have a suspended grid ceiling with lights which covers up services. This hides all those wires for electricity and water pipes that might spoil an otherwise clean look.

Internal Walls

Internally, we’ve finished the walls with plasterboard. When painting your walls for a school, it’s better to use a wrapped and cover strip solution. Our flush-jointed plasterboard finish will allow you to create a beautifully finished surface without having to strip the old layer of plasters off. We can also help with acoustic treatments and soundproofing for drama & music suites.

Recently, we have been installing structural plasterboard to support fixtures and fittings. This works in situations such as projectors, cupboards, teaching walls and notice boards.

Interior Fit-out

You’ll be impressed with our range of equipment. From the usual classrooms to more specialist items such as teaching kitchens, labs, and music studios; we can provide you with everything your school needs. Our team will work with you to find the right kind of flooring, mirrored walls (great for dance or drama), and black-out drapes that will improve your space the way you want it to.

We realize that you might already have a supplier that you like for the construction. This is great! We can make sure it fits your contractor’s needs and requirements for the project to be successful.

Exterior Landscaping

That’s why we offer landscaping services too. We make all the necessary service connections and complete the hard landscaping, which finishes your build, giving you access to safe areas of your property. There is soft landscaping too which we can create and coordinate for you; our expert team can also install other exterior features such as railings, decking and fencing.

The Finished Look

“We often ask: ‘What will it look like?’ What that means depends on your choice of finishes.”

Modular construction has been around for a while and is an excellent option for any building project. One of the many benefits of modular construction is that it looks good on the outside and seems seamless from both the inside and outside.

Speak to our design team about how we can tailor your educational space so that students are able to have the freedom to learn at their own pace.

Let us make your new classrooms a pain-free reality

We offer a quality and turn-wrong service. So whether you’re a school business manager, headteacher, governor, facility manager or school administrator, we’ll find the right solutions for you as well as providing high-quality writing advice according to all regulations and legislation.

For an initial discussion, please call or mail us via the contact page.