Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
As Canada looks to increase the pace of housing and infrastructure construction, a new national standard is establishing a common approach to the design of volumetric modular buildings.
CSA Group has released CSA Z251, Design of volumetric modular structures, a National Standard of Canada covering the design of buildings assembled from modules manufactured off-site and installed at the construction site.
Modular construction is being used to shorten project schedules, reduce material waste, improve worker safety and provide greater predictability in construction. The federal government has also identified modular construction as one of the modern construction methods that could support large-scale housing delivery through Build Canada Homes.
Canada’s modular construction industry is valued at more than $5.5 billion and is expected to grow by more than five per cent annually through 2029, according to the Modular Building Institute.
CSA Z251 is intended to complement the National Building Code of Canada by addressing design considerations specific to volumetric modular construction. It covers structural design, building services, environmental separation, fire protection, manufacturing and architectural considerations.
“Modular construction has the potential to help Canada deliver housing and infrastructure faster, but scaling the sector requires a consistent approach to how buildings are designed,” said Dwayne Torrey, director of Construction and Infrastructure Standards at CSA Group.
“CSA Z251 provides that common framework, giving architects, engineers, manufacturers and building officials clear recommendations and guidance specific to volumetric modular design.”
The standard is intended to improve consistency across projects and jurisdictions while providing a common reference for those involved in the design and approval of modular buildings.
“The future of construction is faster, greener, and more modular,” said Tom Hardiman, executive director of the Modular Building Institute. “The modular industry is primed for growth, and standards like CSA Z251 provide the consistency and clarity needed to scale modular construction and give confidence to the companies and communities investing in it.”
CSA Z251 was developed by a technical committee comprising architects, engineers, modular building manufacturers, and provincial and municipal building officials.
The standard joins CSA Group’s existing standards covering other stages of the modular construction process.
CSA A277, Procedure for certification of prefabricated buildings, modules, and panels, establishes procedures for certifying prefabricated buildings, modules and panels. CSA Z250:21, Process for delivery of volumetric modular buildings, addresses the delivery process, while CSA Z252:23, Volumetric modular construction – Guide to compliance and approval processes, provides guidance on compliance and approvals.
Together, the standards cover key stages of modular construction, from design and manufacturing through certification, inspections and approvals.
CSA Group said the standards are intended to support a more consistent process for delivering modular buildings in Canada as adoption of the construction method grows.
