An Argument for Uniform Pre-Fab Construction Standards

In an opinion piece published in Governing, Matt Belcher, chair of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Building Systems Council, argues for reforming regulations governing prefabricated housing construction, which according to Belcher is limited by “a patchwork of state and local regulatory requirements and a lack of understanding of the off-site construction process.”

The diversity of regulations, where they exist, hinders the ability of builders to scale regionally, Belcher writes. Belcher includes a list of benefits of prefabricated, or off-site, construction, which “can deliver projects 20 to 50 percent faster than traditional methods at a cost savings of up to 20 percent” and produce less waste than traditional construction sites.

Belcher advocates for the adoption of a nationwide standard based on local and state regulations developed by Salt Lake City and Virginia, suggested by the International Code Council and Modular Building Institute. “Developed and supported by a broad cross-section of manufacturers, builders, design professionals, affordable-housing advocates and building code officials, ICC/MBI Standards 1200 and 1205 capture best practices from across the country to streamline the deployment of modular projects.”

In Belcher’s view, “Off-site construction offers a unique means to tackle the affordable-housing crisis head on. Policymakers and industry leaders must work together to remove regulatory barriers, including the patchwork application of inconsistent building standards, that are stifling its growth.”