International Code Council, Modular Building Institute Release New Standards for Offsite Construction

The International Code Council and the Modular Building Institute have published two new comprehensive standards that will accelerate the offsite construction industry.

ICC/MBI 1200-2021 Standard for Off-Site Construction: Planning, Design, Fabrication and Assembly and ICC/MBI 1205-2021 Standard for Off-Site Construction: Inspection and Regulatory Compliance are intended to promote consistency around the globe of regulatory requirements for offsite construction processes. As the building industry continues to face multiple challenges including workforce availability, housing affordability, jobsite safety, building quality and sustainability, the expanded use of offsite construction, often called modular or prefabrication, is one approach that has risen to address these challenges.

“The Code Council family already offers multiple solutions to support the safe and efficient use of offsite construction. However, as we continue seeing a surge in global demand for offsite construction, we knew more guidance would be necessary, to add consistency to a global market” said Dominic Sims, CBO, CEO, International Code Council. “The new standards align perfectly with the Code Council’s mission to ensure building safety. The standards are also part of our commitment to encourage affordability, in this case by lowering the regulatory barriers to trade, that offsite products often face by having to navigate a patchwork of regional regulations.”

ICC/MBI Standard 1200-2021 addresses important facets of the offsite construction process including planning, designing, fabricating, transporting and assembling commercial and residential building elements. This includes componentized, panelized and modularized elements.

ICC/MBI Standard 1205-2021 addresses the inspection, approval and regulatory compliance of offsite residential and commercial construction components, as well as their assembly and completion at the final building site. This includes permitting, in-plant and onsite final inspections, third-party inspections, the role of industrialized building departments, state modular programs and the authority having jurisdiction. The standards do not apply to HUD manufactured housing.

The new American National Standards were developed by the Off-site and Modular Construction Standard Consensus Committee under the Code Council’s ANSI-Approved Consensus Procedures.

The Code Council and MBI are continuing their partnership with the future development of additional offsite construction standards including Standard 1210, which will address requirements for mechanical, electrical and plumbing system elements, energy efficiency and water conservation in offsite construction projects.

An educational course on the two standards is in development and will be available by the end of the year. The standards are available for purchase in digital and print versions on the Code Council website.

For more information, visit https://www.iccsafe.org/offsite.