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Montana Adopts New Standards to Boost Off-Site Construction

Montana is the third state to adopt ICC and MBI standards for off-site construction.

In a move to support regulatory consistency, Montana has officially adopted the International Code Council (ICC) and Modular Building Institute (MBI) standards 1200 and 1205. These standards are specifically designed to address the unique needs and challenges associated with off-site construction. By adopting these standards, Montana becomes the third state in the country to do so, and the second in the Mountain West region.

Off-site construction, which involves the prefabrication and assembly of building components in a controlled factory environment, has been gaining popularity in recent years. This method offers a number of benefits, including reduced construction time and costs, improved quality control, and a smaller environmental footprint. However, the lack of consistent regulations and standards has been a barrier to the widespread adoption of off-site construction.

The ICC and MBI standards 1200 and 1205 were developed with the goal of providing a clear and comprehensive framework for the design, fabrication, and installation of off-site constructed buildings. These standards address a wide range of factors, including structural integrity, fire safety, and energy efficiency. By adopting these standards, Montana is taking a proactive approach to support the growth of the off-site construction industry.

Back in July, we spoke to Ryan Colker, Vice President of Innovation at the International Code Council, to chat about the development and impact of standards in ensuring compliance and quality in off-site construction, and how this method can contribute to affordable housing with up to 20% cost savings and 20-50% faster completion times.

You can listen to that podcast to hear more about the International Code Council, in partnership with the Modular Building Institute (MBI), and the development of a coordinated set of standards, ICC/MBI Standard 1200-2021 and ICC/MBI Standard 1205-2021, that capture best practices for the entire off-site construction process.

The Advanced Building Construction Collaborative (ABC-C) Working Group (WG) on Codes, Standards, Permitting, Testing, and Accreditation released a brief detailing the role of newly developed Off-site Construction Standards 1200-2021 and 1205-2021 in transforming the construction industry. The brief highlights the current fragmented landscape of code compliance pathways for off-site construction inspections and approvals.

For more information on off-site construction and available solutions like the ICC/MBI standards, visit www.iccsafe.org/offsite.