PREFABRICATED

BATHROOM PODS
WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE
AND WHY
GUIDE

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS

Which ones to choose and why

Introduction 3

Materials: what is a prefabricated bathroom pod 6

made of?

Tailor-made....Industrially produced prefabricated pods: 11

project-based, bespoke design and production

Prefabricated combinations: 13
bathroom - kitchen

Examples of references 15

Costs/Prices 18

Choosing the supplier of the best 19

prefabricated pods

Helpful answers to the most frequently 20

asked questions
EUROCOMPONENTS

INTRODUCTION

In the development of new building techniques, off-site

construction is one of the key elements that allows you to
speed up building site lead times and reduce production and
labour costs, resulting in a more cost-efficient construction.

The prefabricated pods are delivered complete with all installations,

ready to be installed easily and rapidly at the building site.

Bathroom pods are particularly of interest in projects like hotels,

large residential buildings, care homes and hospitals. Furthermore,
they are suitable for constructions such as student accommodations
and detention centres.

It is in this constructive philosophy that prefabricated bathroom

pods find their true purpose. They consist of pre-assembled, self-
supporting cells with walls (with pre-arrangements for possible door
and windows), ceiling and floor. The prefabricated element is then
completed with plumbing and electrical installations, wall and floor
finishes as well as chosen accessories and furniture. The bathroom
pod is delivered as a complete product and needs only to be
positioned on the building floor screed and connected to the building
main installations.

The advantages are many, among others: fixed price and equally
high quality on all bathrooms thanks to an industrialized production
giving you increased control of the costs, reduced labour work on site
and just-on-time deliveries that allow you to reduce building site lead
times, simplified coordination thanks to one single contractor instead
of numerous trade teams as well as less material waste on site.

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EUROCOMPONENTS INTRODUCTION

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 4

EUROCOMPONENTS INTRODUCTION

The extra step is to rely on who, while having a serial and

industrialized production, at the same time can guarantee high
flexibility in finishes with the possibility to create bespoke products
of great value suitable for luxury contexts.

We have created this guide to help investors, construction

companies and architects choose consciously the prefabricated
pod that best adapts to the ever-changing construction and design
challenges.

Enjoy!

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 5

EUROCOMPONENTS

MATERIALS
what is a prefabricated bathroom pod made of?

There are two kinds of prefabricated pods: modules in reinforced,

light-weight concrete (MONOLITE® Concrete) or with structure
consisting of boards and galvanized metal profiles (MONOLITE®
Smart).

The prefabricated bathroom pods in reinforced, light-weight

1.1 concrete are adapted to projects using traditional construction
PREFABRICATED techniques, where robustness is preferred and the floor screeds do
MODULES IN not require weight reductions.
REINFORCED,
LIGHT-WEIGHT
Technical characteristics of the CONCRETE bathroom pods:
CONCRETE
• Walls and ceiling with standard thickness of 50mm.
• The MONOBUILD production system, which guarantees
continuity of the electro-welded reinforcement mesh inside the
structure and ensures elevated rigidity.

• Variable floor thickness from 50mm. The floor thickness may

vary depending on technical choices and evaluations made
together with the client on each project. The floor thickness
is a result of the installations in the floor and in the case of a
floor shower, where siphoned drains are required according to
European norms, the floor thickness normally reaches between
120 and 170mm.

• Electro-welded mesh inside the whole structure to reinforce the

pod shell.

• Water piping and electrical cabling can be cast inside the

concrete.

• Fire resistance
• Sound insulation

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EUROCOMPONENTS MATERIALS

 The prefabricated
bathroom pods in
reinforced, light-weight
concrete are adapted to
projects using traditional
construction techniques

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EUROCOMPONENTS MATERIALS

The prefabricated modules with boards and profiles in galvanized

1.2 metal are the maximum expression of dry construction and are ideal
PREFABRICATED where lighter elements are required due to lighter floor screeds.
MODULES WITH In addition, the dry modules are particularly sustainable in the case
STRUCTURE IN of a future refurbishment since they can be easily disassembled and
GALVANIZED METAL
the materials reused or recycled.
PROFILES AND
BOARDS Technical characteristics of the SMART bathroom pods:
SMART
• The DRYSTEP production system, which is the first production
system that prevents water leakage, protects the metal structure
from rust and guarantees the robustness of the product

• Profiles in galvanized metal, assembled without welding

• Maximum stability, easy and rapid assembly
• Boards in high-performance material like, for example, panels in
gypsum with non-organic fibre (gypsum fibre)

• Inspectable technical installations

 The maximum
expression
of dry
construction

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EUROCOMPONENTS MATERIALS

The bathroom pod is delivered to the building site as a turnkey

THE BATHROOM
product, complete with all technical installations, wall and floor
POD
finishes, sanitaryware, accessories and taps. Once the tap water and
waste connections as well as the electrical connections have been
made, the bathroom module can be immediately put into use.

Da qui si deducono i principali vantaggi per la gestione

del cantiere:

• Fixed costs from the start without surprises along the way
• Deliveries just-on-time according to agreed delivery schedule in
line with the progress of the building site

• Elimination of construction downtime

• Drastic reduction of labour work on site
• Reduction of different companies overlapping or interfering with
each other

• Reduced logistics on site

• Reduced waste handling on site

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 9

EUROCOMPONENTS MATERIALS

The door and door frame are more exposed and difficult to protect
ARE DOORS AND during the transportation and installation of the bathroom pods
DOOR FRAME on site and up until the completion of the building structure.
INCLUDED? Therefore, they are generally installed on site to avoid possible
damages, even aesthetic ones. Upon request the door frame and
door can however be part of the supply and installed in the factory.

In the construction of health facilities such as hospitals, care

1.3
homes and generally buildings adapted for people with disabilities,
FOCUS ON
particular attention needs to be paid to the mobility inside the
DISABILITIES
room with the aim of creating a bathroom environment where
routines can be lived in a safe manner and in accordance with the
current norms of the product’s final destination.

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 10

EUROCOMPONENTS

TAILOR-MADE....INDUSTRIALLY
PRODUCED PREFABRICATED PODS
Project-based, bespoke design and production

Can the words ”prefabricated” and ”tailor-made” be parts of the

same project without contradicting one another? The answer is
yes! The industrialized manufacturing of prefabricated pods is
compatible with the personalization of the final product.

Every bathroom is unique and customized specifically according to

the request of each project.
The prefabricated pod is adaptable and it is therefore possible to
pay particular attention to the design. Every prefabricated pod is
specifically designed and personalized to be adapted to the context in
which it will be inserted, both from a technical and an aesthetic point
of view.

The personalization of the Monolite is possible thanks to the design

phase which proceeds simultaneously on two fronts:

A. The structure
The design of each prefabricated bathroom pod, both
architectural and in terms of the technical installations, is
developed by the technical department in collaboration with the
client and consultants involved in the project to align fully with
the project’s requests and in accordance with current norms and
standards.

B. Personalized finishes
Focus on the design: off-site manufacturing at an industrial price
but with handcrafted quality, particularly adapted to luxury
hospitality or residential developments. The wall and floor
finishes, sanitary ware and bathroom furniture are all chosen by
the client to create a bespoke and unique product in line with the
investor and the architect’s requests.

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 11

EUROCOMPONENTS TAILOR-MADE....INDUSTRIALLY PRODUCED PREFABRICATED PODS

 The prefabricated pod is adaptable

and it is therefore possible to pay
particular attention to the design

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 12

EUROCOMPONENTS

PREFABRICATED
COMBINATIONS:
BATHROOM - KITCHEN
If you are considering modular bathrooms, why not also
consider modular kitchens? The prefabricated kitchen module
is suitable for all residential and hospitality developments such
as resorts, apartment hotels, student accommodations and
senior housings.

They are manufactured using the same concept as the prefabricated

bathroom pods, in concrete (Monolite Concrete) or in the lighter
version with galvanized metal profiles and boards (Monolite Smart),
and with the same possibilities to personalize the final design: a
convenient choice for larger construction sites.

When both the bathroom and the kitchen are required, it is possible
to opt for the Combi solution, which consists of a hybrid module
where the kitchen plumbing and electrical installations are installed
onto one of the bathroom walls together with finishes, kitchen
furniture and domestic appliances and become an integrated part of
the bathroom pod.

In this case the time saved on site multiplies since the need for
coordination of on-site teams is reduced even further.

 If you are considering modular

bathrooms, why not also
consider modular kitchens?

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 13

EUROCOMPONENTS PREFABRICATED COMBINATIONS: BATHROOM - KITCHEN

 When both the

bathroom and the
kitchen are required,
it is possible to opt for
the Combi solution.

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EUROCOMPONENTS

EXAMPLES OF REFERENCES

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EUROCOMPONENTS EXAMPLES OF REFERENCES

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EUROCOMPONENTS EXAMPLES OF REFERENCES

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EUROCOMPONENTS

COSTS/PRICES

Cost certainty in a project is important.

Too often it is difficult to estimate a budget, monitor it and then keep

it. In addition, cost variations are usually strictly connected to on-site
labour work and lead times of the building site, which are normally
difficult to keep and therefore create delays in the time schedule.

With prefabricated bathrooms the price is defined well beforehand,

remains fixed for the whole duration of the contract and the
delivery times are certain. To all effects the use of prefabricated
bathrooms and kitchens avoids the typical line of unexpected
events and contractual additions which commonly occur on a
traditional building site where there are multiple labour phases
by many different trade teams.

 With prefabricated bathrooms the price

is defined well beforehand, remains fixed
for the whole duration of the contract

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 18

EUROCOMPONENTS

CHOOSING THE SUPPLIER

OF THE BEST PREFABRICATED
PODS
How to recognize the ideal partner for the supply of
prefabricated pods?

Commonly, manufacturers propose more standardized pods to be

more economically competitive: the problem is that the final aesthetic
effect usually turns out somewhat standardized.

The possibility to personalize the design and the internal

equipment, without having to limit oneself to the choice between only
a few standard options, is the first indicator to find the right partner.

Furthermore, here are some additional factors to consider before

choosing a supplier:

• 10-year product liability insurance

• Quality certifications

Certificazioni di prodotto:
> TÜV CLS 2,500 kg/m3 fire resistance certificate
> TÜV CLS 2,500 kg/m3 sound insulation certificat
> TÜV CLS 1,600 kg/m3 fire resistance certificate
> TÜV CLS 1,600 kg/m3 sound insulation certificate

> SINTEF 20041 certificate for Monolight Concrete body

> SINTEF 20518 certificate for Monolight Smart body

Certificazioni aziendali:
> ISO 9001 quality management system certification
> ISO 14001 environmental certification

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 19

EUROCOMPONENTS HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE

MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

01
How to choose between the two different types of
prefabricated pods: Monolite Smart or Monolite Concrete?

The difference between the Monolite Concrete pod and the Monolite
Smart pod is the kind of shell structure used.
In projects where resistance, solidity and durability are of great
importance and where the floor screeds can tolerate an elevated
weight load, the Monolite Concrete module is definitely the ideal
choice.

The Monolite Concrete module is made of light-weight concrete with

metal reinforcement mesh. It is the ideal structure for the end user
who is looking for a robust and durable structure that will last in time.
The standard wall thickness in reinforced concrete is 50mm. The wall
thickness is then completed with the chosen internal wall finish. The
thickness of the walls and ceiling can be increased if requested as well
as the density of the concrete. With this construction technology it is
also possible to create irregular or rounded pod shapes.

The Monolite Concrete modular bathroom has a smooth external

concrete finish from the concrete moulds and needs only to be
completed with suitable panelling or shaved and painted. All electrical
and plumbing installations can be recessed inside the concrete
structure during casting and normally there are no protrusions on the
external walls towards the room and the corridor.
Concrete, intended as a synonym of robustness and durability,
means that even after decades, when there might be need for a
refurbishment to renew finishes and sanitary ware, it is possible to do
so without damaging the bathroom structure. Even a future addition
of an accessory or equipment for persons with special needs is easy
to do and does not require any particular pre-arrangements.

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 20

EUROCOMPONENTS HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Monolite Smart modular bathroom is made with a structure

of galvanized metal profiles and gypsum fibre boards on top of a
floor base in reinforced concrete to maintain the robustness of the
structure. Upon request it is possible to use a thinner floor consisting
of sandwich panels. The standard wall thickness of the Smart
structure is 72,5mm and is composed of metal profiles of 60mm and
gypsum fibre boards of 12,5mm. The wall is then completed with the
chosen internal wall finish. The Smart pod is chosen especially for its
light weight and ease of handling. If the building floor screeds have
limits with regards to weight loads the Smart pod is the ideal choice.
The modern dry wall construction system together with the above-
mentioned characteristics allow you to build structures that are
lighter and taller, more rapidly and more economically. The installation
and the handling of the prefabricated pods on site are easier as well.

What is the weight difference between the Smart and

02 the Concrete module?

The weight difference per square meter between the Concrete and
the Smart module is significant. The Monolite Concrete pod weighs
approximately 800 kg/m2 while the Monolite Smart pod weighs
approximately 450 kg/m2. Upon request it is possible to reduce the
weight of both pod types by for example reducing the concrete density.

What are the maximum dimensions?

03 There are actually no limitations for our production system with
regards to dimensions.
What limits the pod dimensions is the width of a standard trailer, our
standard way of transport, which allows for an external pod width
of maximum 2420mm. There are no particular limits regarding the
length of the module except for the potential savings on the price of
each bathroom pod based on the number of elements that can be
loaded on each trailer.
When necessary, special transport options can be evaluated for non-
standard pod dimensions.

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EUROCOMPONENTS HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

04
How thick is the floor of the prefabricated bathroom?

The floor thickness of a prefabricated bathroom depends on several

factors such as: the position of the technical shaft, bathroom
dimensions, whether a shower tray or a tiled shower is used, possible
requirements for slope towards shower drain and whether the slope
is required on the whole bathroom floor or only in the shower area,
floor drain model, the dimensions of the waste piping recessed in the
floor as well as other design choices.
The only addition to the effective floor thickness of the prefabricated
pod is the thickness (standard 10mm) of the neoprene support pads
supplied with each pod. The neoprene functions as a decoupling
between the building floor screed and the modular bathroom.
The floor thickness required for your project will be analysed and
specified in the offer phase. The minimum floor thickness using a
concrete floor is 50mm and depending on the above-mentioned
factors it can reach a thickness of 170mm or even more.
If the required thickness should exceed the limits of your project, it
is possible to reduce the floor thickness by making a partial recess
underneath the bathroom pod in the most critical areas such as
the floor drain area. The details of the local recess to prepare in
the building floor screed are defined during the design phase of the
prefabricated bathroom pods.
In certain cases, the floor can also be reduced to a thickness of only
20mm by using composite sandwich panels.

05
Is there a price difference between the two types of
prefabricated modules?

No, the price difference between the two types of structures,

Monolite Concrete and Monolite Smart, is minimal.
What defines and affects the price are rather the characteristics of
your project in terms of the quality of interior finishes and equipment,
specific technical or design solutions, desired energy rating, the kind
of waterproofing system required or other specific norms.

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 22

EUROCOMPONENTS HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Also, the cost impact of the transportation needs to be considered

which is based on the module dimensions and the geographic
location of the building site. The price per module is calculated in the
offer phase by our Estimating Department based on your project
specifications while taking into consideration the above-mentioned
parameters. Once the pod bathroom has been defined together with
you, the unit price per pod remains fixed and will not be subject to
variations.

06
Does the prefabricated bathroom have the same internal
finishes and functionalities as a site-built bathroom?

Yes, the prefabricated bathroom and the site-built bathroom are

equivalent in terms of functionality, internal finishes and interior
fixtures such as tiles, sanitary ware, accessories, plumbing and
electrical installations as well as the possibility to personalize the
internal layout of the bathroom. From an aesthetic and functional
point of view there is therefore no difference from a site-built
bathroom. Since the design and layout possibilities are infinite, the
Eurocomponents highly skilled team can work with you and your
company to find the most ideal solutions to optimize the pods both
from a technical and an economical point of view while creating
aesthetic and functional solutions in line with the end client’s and the
architect’s requests.

07
What is the external finish of the modular bathroom?

The Monolite Concrete module is supplied with an external concrete

finish. Thanks to our concrete moulds used during casting the wall
finish remains smooth and needs only to be finished on site. It is simply
enough to either shave and paint the concrete walls or mount the
desired panelling directly onto the external bathroom walls.

The Monolite Smart module has a metal structure on the external

bathroom walls, consisting of vertical metal profiles. To complete the
walls on site it is sufficient to mount the desired panelling directly
onto the profiles.

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EUROCOMPONENTS HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are fire resistance and sound insulation included?

08 The Monolite Concrete standard wall is TUV-certified for a sound
insulation of 42dB and a fire resistance of EI45.
The Monolite Smart structure allows instead for customization of the
insulation and resistance by adding necessary stratigraphy to achieve
required levels requested by the project. It is enough to simply mount
the desired stratigraphy directly onto the external bathroom pod wall.

Are the door and the door frame included in the price?
09 Normally the door and door frame are not part of the modular
bathroom supply because of the elevated risk of damage during
transportation or installation on site. Therefore, the door and
frame are usually mounted on site once the bathroom pod has been
positioned inside the building structure. Upon request, it is in any case
possible to add these elements to the supply and have them mounted
already in the factory.

How are the prefabricated modular bathrooms

10 transported?

Usually, the freight cost DAP building site (Incoterms 2020) is already
included in the unit price of the prefabricated bathroom and is
calculated in the offer phase.

If the buyer should have any particularly advantageous agreements

and thus prefer to organize the transportation separately, the
bathroom pods can also be quoted EXW factory (Incoterms 2020).
Normally, the modular bathrooms are transported on trailer and, if
possible, on train to the station closest to the construction site.

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EUROCOMPONENTS HELPFUL ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens when the prefabricated modules arrive

11 to the building site?

Before the modular bathrooms are delivered, the site is inspected

by one of Eurocomponents’s technicians in order to coordinate
the site personnel and resolve possible difficulties in advance. The
tracing out of the modules’ positions on the building floor screed is
responsibility of the client and should be done in compliance with the
project before the first delivery. Eurocomponents’s skilled personnel
is always present at the first pod delivery to supervise and assist with
instructions during the first installation. Following the last bathroom
pod delivery, one of our technicians will perform a joint inspection
together with the site personnel in order to verify the integrity and
the correct execution of each bathroom pod. Our after sales service
remains at your disposal for the entire duration of the contractual
warranty and even afterwards if needed.

At what stage of the project is it advisable to decide

12 whether to use prefabricated bathroom pods or site-
built bathrooms?

It is preferable to make this decision already in the initial design phase.

In addition, it is advisable to allow for a medium of 6 months lead time
from written order confirmation until the first delivery of modules on
site.

Compared to a site-built bathroom, how much does a

13 prefabricated bathroom pod cost?

The unit price of a modular bathroom, like the site-built bathroom,

varies according to various parameters. There are bathrooms of all
types, levels and prices. Knowing the unit price of each bathroom
already in the design phase and before the start of the works on site
represents however an enormous benefit in terms of transparency,
planning and budget.
The list of benefits obtained by using modular bathrooms can easily
be transformed into economic advantages of great value.

PREFABRICATED BATHROOM PODS: WHICH ONES TO CHOOSE AND WHY - 25

 Now that you have the complete picture we advise you
to rely on a supplier that guarantees the price of an
industrially produced, prefabricated product together
with the quality of artisan craftsmanship, delivered just-
on-time when you need it and at a fixed cost.

Present us your project

and request a quote!

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For over 43 years, Eurocomponents has designed and manufactured

MONOLITE ® prefabricated bathroom pods and kitchen pods: these
prefabricated pods, which are fully furnished and fitted, are ready for
installation in many kinds of structures.

 EUROCOMPONENTS ITALIA S.P.A.  www.eurocomponents.eu

Via Benaco, 90  info@eurocomponents.eu
25081 Bedizzole (BS)
Italy  (+39) 030.6871387