A prefabricated modular building is planned around the module, not around the site. At CDPH, every project begins with the same question: what has to happen inside the building, and how does that map onto factory-built modules that can be bolted together, relocated and reused? Because the modules are manufactured under controlled conditions and assembled on site, the planning sequence is fixed early — module size and count, structural loads, services routing and transport — and each decision is reviewed by our engineering team before any quotation is issued.
Step 1: Establish the Functional Brief
Planning starts with the use case. The standard module system serves engineering camps, commercial buildings, emergency facilities, education facilities and military sites, and the brief determines which configuration follows. Layouts can be single, double or triple storey and arranged in I, U, L or courtyard plans. Two module sizes are available: 6055 × 2990 × 2896 mm (internal 5845 × 2780 × 2500 mm) and 6055 × 2435 × 2896 mm (internal 5845 × 2225 × 2520 mm). For larger clear spans, the ZA and ZM series are planned instead — see our modular buildings range and the prefabricated houses series.
Step 2: Confirm Structural and Service Requirements
Loads and services are fixed before layout is frozen. The module frame is galvanised cold-formed steel, t=3.0 mm, SGH340, factory prefabricated. Roof and floor insulation is 100 mm glass wool; walls use 75 mm colour-steel sandwich panels and seamless S-type rock wool composite panels. Electrical circuits are pre-fitted in the roof, water supply runs along the walls, and drainage is wall-side — decisions that must be settled at planning stage, not on site.
| Parameter | Module system |
|---|---|
| Roof live load | 1.0 / 0.5 kN/m² |
| Floor live load | 2.0 kN/m² |
| Wind load | 0.6 / 0.5 kN/m² |
| Frame | Galvanised cold-formed steel, t=3.0 mm, SGH340 |
| Flooring | 1.5 / 1.6 mm rubber-plastic flooring |
Step 3: Select the Format Variant
Two format variants are built on the same module system, and the choice affects transport and assembly planning:
- Flat pack — the 6055 mm standard box packed flat for transport and assembled on site.
- Detachable — bolted, demountable modules that can be taken apart and reused.
Where the brief calls for accommodation or offices, the modular office buildings and modular dormitories pages set out the relevant configurations; camp-scale work is covered under container camps.
Step 4: Engineering Review and Quotation
There is no standard MOQ — every project is quoted individually after engineering review. Our engineering team replies within one business day with a concept proposal and a budget range. Certifications are held at category level, including CE for modular container houses, prefab houses and light steel villas, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and product carbon footprint certification; certificates are available upon request. Overseas projects are run through CDPH (HAINAN) COMPANY LIMITED, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Beijing corporation.
Step 5: Plan Transport and Site Assembly
Transport planning follows the format selection. For the ZA series, about 200 m² of structure ships in one 40 ft container, and 4 workers erect about 40 m² of structure per day. The ZM wide-span series ships about 170 m² per 40 ft container, with 10 workers erecting about 1,000 m² of structure in 5 days. The Hebei production base is 48 km from Tianjin Port, which keeps export logistics predictable.
To start a planning review, send the functional brief and site conditions through our contact page. Our team will confirm the module configuration, format variant and budget range within one business day.