The dry construction industry will be soaring at a rate of 4.90 per cent from 2021 to 2028. Having touched USD 77.7 billion in 2019, the market will be worth a whopping USD 79.08 billion by 2028-end.

The Lion Gate The Muragghi are in the Hyblaean Mountains based in Eastern Sicily. The Athens Parthenon is one of the most popular architectural wonders of ancient Greece.

What is the common factor between these three infrastructures?

These are the most popular examples of dry construction.

Dry construction can be described as a specialised technique that makes use of industrially prefabricated types of systems to carry out interior construction. It comprises two construction elements, namely load-bearing and lining construction, that are put together to create a static, aesthetic, and functional unit.

‘Market Research Future (MRFR)’ reveals that the dry construction industry will be soaring at a rate of 4.90 per cent from 2021 to 2028. Having touched USD 77.7 billion in 2019, the market will be worth a whopping USD 79.08 billion by 2028-end.

Apart from this, renowned dry construction companies are making efforts to elevate their positions in the industry by focusing on business expansion and forming alliances with other firms. To illustrate, in February 2022, LafargeHolcim (Russia) confirmed its plan to restart its Voskresensk cement unit near Moscow. The 1.3 Mt/year facility will receive an investment of 23 million euros, where the company intends to create a dry construction mix unit.

FDI and Its Effect on the Construction Business

Global foreign direct investment flows in 2021 showed a striking rebound of around 77 per cent to an approximate value of US$ 1.65 trillion, up from US$ 929 billion in 2020. This crossed the pre-COVID-19 outbreak level, reveals the latest report by UNCTAD’s Investment Trends Monitor.

Developed countries have seen the highest surge by far, given that FDI reached nearly USD 777 billion in 2021, which is almost three times the strikingly low level it was in 2020. In Europe, over 80 per cent of the surge in flows has been because of the exponential rise in conduit economies. Inflows in the US have more than doubled, all thanks to the increase in cross-border acquisitions and mergers.

FDI flows into emerging markets have increased by 30 per cent to around USD 870 billion, returning to pre-COVID levels in the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as an increase across West Asia.

These factors are bound to create favourable avenues for the worldwide construction sector in the coming years, thereby giving a significant boost to the demand for dry construction.

What are the Major Types of Dry Construction?

There are a few types of dry construction, varying as per the type of technique and material that will be used during the process.

The basic types of structure are steel frames and wood frames. The wood frame means that the whole structure is made using wood, while the steel frame comprises metal profiles. There are a few types where the coating is the structure itself, such as concrete double walls, plaster blocks, and EPS panels. When talking about cementitious or drywall plates, the structure can be either steel or wood framed.

Plaster Boards

Both of these can be fitted into a steel structure as well as wood, facilitating agility as well as economy during the process. This guarantees impressive acoustic and thermal insulation.

Cementitious Slabs

These are similar to plasterboards, but they are made of cement and can be installed on either a wooden or steel structure. But they do not offer good acoustic and thermal insulation.

Plaster Block

Plaster blocks form a part of the finish as well as the structure of the construction. These are known for speeding up the entire construction process.

EPS Panels

This is the most consolidated market worldwide, comprising expanded polystyrene sheets fixed on steel meshes that are either screwed or concreted. It ensures a lightweight, resistant structure that serves as thermal insulation.

Double Concrete Wall.

This construction system is widely used in precast concrete slabs that are to be deployed at the construction site. These slabs are interlinked with a lattice reinforcement having a structural function. The gap present between these plates making up the walls is generally filled with concrete, expanded polyurethane, or Styrofoam.

What are the advantages of dry construction?

Despite traditional construction practices being quite prevalent worldwide, the soaring awareness regarding the benefits of dry construction techniques has been a silver lining. Contrary to conventional construction techniques, which make use of water, sealing materials, and mortar, the dry construction methods don’t require after-pose stabilisation processes. With dry construction procedures, the final building structure can be achieved at the construction site by just putting together a few components, both complementary and structural.

Shortened Duration Time

Dry construction techniques help in shortening the total duration of the construction process, bringing down the downtime that is typical of conventional methods. Higher downtimes lead to an increase in the total production cost. Additionally, the dry construction techniques involve arranging the elements beforehand, which means that the construction site is only for carrying out assembly work.

Furthermore, in view of the rising industrialization of the construction processes and the fact that every structural element is ready to be used, the duration of the building work can be brought down by a whopping 50%. This, in turn, reduces the entire labour cost since the onsite activities generally cost a lot more than those at the plant.

Typically, a dry construction site is neater and tidier, better planned and organised than traditional ones. Dry construction can be carried out easily in narrow locations and even in less favourable conditions. Moreover, structural steel’s use generally means a much lighter structure, which helps reduce excavation and foundation work and bring down costs.

Environmental Sustainability

In addition to the economic benefits, buildings developed using dry construction techniques and steel are extremely sustainable. These techniques reduce the impact not just during the construction but also throughout the life of the building, owing to the significant proportion of recycled components. These construction processes also help reduce total energy consumption and waste, along with the need for reusing various construction components.

Dry construction techniques form a major part of sustainable construction, which helps bring down energy consumption, cool down housing and development board towns and recycle rainwater. In this regard, several government bodies are putting in efforts to ensure that sustainability and construction go hand in hand. To cite a reference, in February 2020, the Singaporean government set up a new programme that focuses on ensuring a sustainable lifestyle in the country. The program received an investment of around US$ 1.8 billion from the central bank and will aim to reduce total energy consumption and recycle rainwater, among other issues.

What Lies Ahead for the Dry Construction Industry?

Despite the economic slowdown in recent years, the construction industry has regained its previous position in terms of business. The Asia-Pacific market holds the highest value, followed by North America and Europe. However, with the dry construction industry in developed nations becoming mature, the growth rate of the markets in emerging countries like Indonesia, India, and China will be significantly high in the coming years. China will experience the fastest growth compared to other countries, considering its expanding population and the new construction projects coming up in the next five years.

The dry construction market’s growth is in line with the expansion rate of the construction industry. With soaring concerns due to global warming and the environment, the preference for eco-friendly construction techniques has been surging, which is bound to have a positive impact on the worldwide market.