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August 2022 #14277 Page #96
Standards Ensure Off-site Built Tiny Homes Deliver Safety and Efficiency By Ryan Colker, Vice President, Innovation, International Code Council
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s many communities and potential homeowners struggle with housing affordability, tiny houses have emerged as part of the solution. Assuring these tiny houses deliver the same level of safety and efficiency of other permanent housing solutions is essential. Local building codes and the International Residential Code (IRC) and its Appendix AQ provide for the necessary requirements. Often, tiny houses are constructed away from their ultimate resting place—through off-site construction techniques. Off-site construction plays a vital role in the building and manufacturing industries by mitigating costs, consolidating labor needs, and saving time. The surge in off-site construction, along with the growing interest in tiny homes and minimalistic living, have all made an impact on the housing market in recent years.
What Are the Benefits of Off-site Construction? Off-site construction, also known as modular, prefabricated or industrialized construction, has been around for some time, and has not been without criticism for structural conformity. However, a recent report from McKinsey & Company shared that the combination of lightweight materials and digital planning and production technologies could enable the industry to attain new levels of quality, variability, and efficiency. The advancement of off-site construction is progressing at a rate that continues to grow both its reputation and demand, viewed by some as the future model for all construction. Valeria Montjoy of ArchDaily believes that because it is a centralized process, off-site construction is faster, safer, more regulated, and requires less coordination efforts, which results in higher productivity and improved quality control. This translates into major benefits for both manufacturers and contractors including reduced costs, time saved, and less labor required. According to an additional study done by McKinsey & Company, modular construction can speed up the building process by as much as 50% and cut costs by up to 20%. Additionally, an article by Modular Housing notes that materials built in a factory are cut according to the software input, reducing mistakes and waste. Continued next page
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