– Emergence of 3D printed housing for low-income families
– Advantages of low cost and short construction period
Recently in the United States, 3D printing house construction technology has been proven, attracting attention as a way to solve the housing difficulties of the low-income class. It is possible to create a completed residential space within a few days with less manpower and low cost input than conventional construction methods.
3D printer, Habitat's solution for the poorest living conditions
Recently, housing supply shortages and price rises have occurred in the United States. According to a March 2020 report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is a need for 3 million affordable rental units for households earning less than 30% of the median income. As the demand for housing for actual residence increased following the implementation of telecommuting after Corona 700, the housing shortage intensified. In addition, the average housing price in the US has soared by more than 19% over the past two years due to rising prices of raw materials such as lumber.
One of the reasons for the shortage of housing is the delay in construction due to outdated building technology. In the United States, housing supply is still not keeping up with demand, using low-productivity building technologies from 100 or 200 years ago. If the construction period is shortened by the 3D printing method with greatly improved productivity, the housing shortage may be solved.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit private organization established to address the housing shortage of low-income people. Since its founding in 1976, the organization has built hundreds of thousands of affordable homes for low-income and homeless people. Habitat attempted a new challenge in January 2021. It is a 1D printed house construction for low-income people. It was a project to build a 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom 2 m² 110D printed house, and the result was a success. The house was built in just 3 hours. It also achieved a cost reduction of about 28% per square foot compared to homes built with conventional construction methods.
<Habitat 3D Printing House>
[Source: Habitat]
3D printing house construction is carried out in the form of squeezing cement like a large 3D printer squeezing toothpaste, and stacking frames and walls, which are the basic framework of the building, one after another. It can be built without skilled workers, and all you need is a space to install 3D printing without any external environment or location restrictions. Construction waste emissions and construction costs can also be significantly reduced compared to the existing ones. In addition, wooden houses were common in the United States, but 3D printing has the advantage of being able to construct using concrete. Cement can reduce heating and cooling costs due to its excellent thermal insulation properties, and it is more resistant to tornadoes and hurricanes.
Habitat has demonstrated the potential of 3D printing in residential architecture through this project. Of course, 3D printing housing alone will not solve the current housing shortage in the United States at once, but 3D printing is expected to emerge as a major technology that can solve the housing supply shortage in the future as it is sustainable and cost-effective. Habitat also announced plans to build additional 3D printed houses in the future using this experience.
Establishment of 3D printing regulations is still in its infancy
Due to the rapid adoption of the technology, there are still no clear regulations or standards for 3D printing housing technology in the United States. Although 3D printers have appeared in the construction industry, they are still facing several barriers due to unclear building laws. For example, in a house construction method using a 3D printer, an exterior wall is made by squeezing concrete in the space with a pair of parallel supporting walls 2 inches thick in between. The roof construction has not been approved, so the existing construction method is being used. Piping and wiring work also has limitations in the 3D printing method.
There is no uniform building code in the United States. States and cities basically follow international building codes, but they also have their own building codes. In general, it follows three standard codes, International Code Counsel (ICC), International Residential Code (IRS), and International Energy Conservation (IEC), which are international building codes. Home use is approved in the United States. Habitat's 3D printed house was also created after constant communication and coordination with government officials.
implication
A 3D printer company official said in an interview with KOTRA's Chicago Trade Center, "In the case of buildings, there are design and design restrictions according to usage or laws. A professional printing company that can change these parts flexibly will attract the attention of the market.” Habitat, which worked on a project for the poorest living spaces, is not a 3D printing technology company. The 3D printing company that actually installed the exterior wall of the house is a company called Alquist located in Iowa. Although construction 3D printing technology is emerging one after another in the market, there are many areas that can be improved from technology to architectural design, commercialization, and stability verification.
In Korea, institutions and companies have also completed the development of 3D printing technology. However, until now, 3D printing buildings are not legally inhabitable, so the commercialization stage is blocked. Korean companies need to take a closer look at the current state of the construction industry through 3D printing in the future by referring to changes in US laws and the movements of companies in order to advance overseas.
Source: Habitat for Humanity, National Low Income Housing Coalition, ICC, IRS, IEC, KOTRA Chicago Trade Center