Carbon Reduction Potential of Modular Bathroom Systems Through LCA and Mock-Up Performance Verification

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across various sectors are continuously underway to overcome the global climate crisis induced by global warming. The construction sector is a significant contributor to GHG emissions due to the complexity of its diverse processes and the extensive use of various materials. Consequently, there is an urgent need to simplify construction processes and adopt low-carbon materials and processes through rigorous review of material carbon footprints. This study focuses on bathrooms (wet areas), which are characterized by complex procedures, the utilization of diverse materials, and significant carbon emissions and material waste often resulting from high defect rates. We conducted a comparative analysis of the carbon reduction effects between the conventional wet construction method and the modular construction method specifically for bathroom construction. The analysis in-volved selecting materials, assessing their suitability against performance standards using a mock-up evaluation, and subsequently evaluating the construction applicability of the modular bathroom. Furthermore, through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), it was confirmed that the selected materials and the modular construction method could significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to the existing wet construction method. The findings of this research provide a crucial direction for the expanded ap-plication and utilization of modular construction methods in future building projects.