IFD Building

IFD stands for Industrial, Flexible, Demountable. In other words: working with prefabricated elements produced under standard conditions, with maximum design freedom, and which can be applied quickly and efficiently.

IFD Building: Building with Standardized Blocks

A bridge consists of the bridge design, the superstructure, substructure and intermediate interfaces. These interfaces are standardised at IFD: standard connections, fixed dimensions, fixed grid sizes and unambiguous assembly. The elements fit exactly on and in the connections, just like Lego® bricks.

IFD building contributes to the circular economy

With IFD building it is possible to reuse elements and parts at the highest achievable level. Because elements are designed detachable, they are reusable. In addition, agreements have been made about the interfaces/interfaces of the elements. As a result, the parts are interchangeable with each other.

Construction volume is crucial for success of the IFD principle

Only if we embrace this approach with all market parties and throughout the chain, it is possible to manufacture elements in larger series. Road managers and the market have a role to play. Small investments are necessary in the adaptation of production and logistics processes. We can choose a different way of working together and a different way of infrastructure management. Clients have a responsibility to include IFD in their requests and to really apply IFD in practice.

Research by the Dutch Economic Institute for Construction (EIB) shows that we can achieve significant social benefits if we apply prefabrication, standardisation and adaptable building on a larger scale to bridges.

Not only can IFD save up to 15 percent on the construction and maintenance costs of bridges, but also the construction time and traffic nuisance can be greatly reduced. In addition, CO2 emissions are lower compared to existing practices. In this way, IFD also contributes to achieving the climate goals.
• 15% faster (and therefore less nuisance to the environment)
• 15% cheaper
• 15% more sustainable

Standard and also unique

The fact that common elements can be produced in series and factory does not mean that every bridge in Europe will look the same. IFD focuses on the connections between elements of a bridge. The elements themselves can remain unique in architecture and functionality, matching the location.

Janson Bridging and IFD

Janson Bridging has been working with the IFD principle for many years. The rental market is ideally suited to work according to the industrial principle. Our bridge systems are designed according to our standards, in compliance with the Eurocode. They are produced according strict industrial standards and tolerances to be perfectly joined with other bridge elements of our stocks. Due to the temporary nature of our projects, dismantling is an important requirement for the elements. Flexibility and reparability are also of obvious importance.