Life Cycle Assessment of Prefabrication Construction: A Review

The construction industry plays a vital role in the global economy and has been viewed as one of the main industries that can promote global sustainability. The construction industry is responsible for around 40% of the energy consumed, 39% of the global CO2 emissions, and 35% of landfill wastes. It also consumes about 50% of the global materials and water resources. 

Prefabrication construction has been fostered by many associated benefits including shorter construction times, higher quality, less cost and fewer on-site requirements, higher safety, and lower environmental impacts. Yet these benefits come with a price as they are normally challenged but the slow adoption of this technology in most countries, particularly developing countries. 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its extensions, including life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), and social life cycle assessment (SLCA), are among the effective analytical tools that allow for a comprehensive sustainability analysis including environmental, economic and social impacts over the life cycle of the structure. The current research undertakes a comprehensive review of the prevailing literature on prefabrication construction, identifies the gaps in knowledge, and establishes a fundamental understanding of the importance of LCA in comparing modular and conventional construction methods. In addition, this study aims to review the sustainability of modular construction and compare it with traditional construction.