SmartLIFE – Lessons Learned, a new BRE report published on the 4th of November brings forth the industry's first hard data gathered from ground-breaking research into both modern and traditional methods of construction.

Fusion Building Systems were selected to provide the light gauge steel frame structure for the development at Norwood Road, March, Cambridgeshire. Relatively favourable site conditions facilitated Fusion’s site progress but the key success factor for the delivery of the system was the strong partnering relationship, communication and knowledge transfer that have been established with main contractor Inspace.

Robert Clark, Fusion’s UK General Manager stated: "Through successful partnering the true benefits of MMC can be realised. Firms stand to gain through mutual benefits such as programme savings, cost savings, improved efficiencies, economies of scale and also the long term benefits of improved teamwork across partner firms."


Fusion's service offering includes pre-design, design for manufacture, a dedicated structural engineer and site supervisor for each project. This high level of client service was evident in the SmartLIFE project, through Fusion's successful performance in terms of programme delivery and overall cost effectiveness.

The Fenland district of Cambridgeshire played host to this research project which was carried out by SmartLIFE, a not for profit partnership between Cambridgeshire County Council and BRE. The completed project brings 106 new, affordable homes rated Eco Homes 'Very Good' to the March and Chatteris areas of Fenland.

The SmartLIFE Housing Project involved an extensive 140,361 hours of data collection. The project was monitored, measured and reported upon using BRE’s CaliBRE and SmartAUDIT data collection and reporting mechanisms which allowed for accurate data comparisons of the four different construction methods utilised for the development.

The new report SmartLIFE - Lessons Learned is published by IHS BRE Press as 'BRE Report BR500’ and is available from www.ihsbrepress.com. This publication includes a CD Rom with a detailed technical report on the site measurements.

Russell Coleman, Project Manager for Fusion at the Norwood Road, March project said: "Fusion's team work hard to deliver at every level, we are proud of the results of the SmartLIFE report and are delighted to have scientific data that proves the key benefits of our system."