Onsite vs Modular
SITE-BUILT HOMES
Building Code Adherence & Construction
Homes are built to comply with the Provincial Building Code and are subject to the New Home Warranty as per the provincial legislation. Homes are built using “outside-in” construction, where the initial framing is done first, followed by internal components.Construction Conditions
Homes built outdoors in all weather conditions where materials are exposed to weather elements and where the home site is also exposed to potential vandalism and theft.Coordination of Trades
Generally, one general contractor will have a number of projects on the go at the same time. The coordination of trades is a challenging and time consuming task during site-built construction as they must travel between construction sites to set-up equipment and perform their duties where weather, equipment transport and other factors can lead to expanding timelines. Though the general contractor may utilize particular trade workers from job site to job site, there is no clarity around their training consistency.Construction Inspection
Inspectors must be called by the general contractor at each stage of construction, however, the contractor must wait to continue construction until the inspector schedules an appointment to inspect and approve what has been created thus-far prior to moving on with their processes.MODULAR BUILT HOMES
Building Code Adherence & Construction
Homes are built to comply with the Provincial Building Code where they will be placed and are subject to the New Home Warranty Program as per the provincial legislation and the individual manufacturers’ warranty. Homes are built using “inside-out” construction, where the internal components are built first, followed by connecting the outside framework.Construction Conditions
Homes are built in controlled conditions (indoors) where materials are protected throughout the building process from both weather and potential vandalism.Coordination of Trades
An internal quality control program & continuous monitoring are used throughout the building process. All trades are highly skilled and trained on in-house assembly processes, thus allowing for superior building consistency. All materials and tools are available and at the ready of workers at each work station, allowing for minimized loss of time for walking, set-up and down-time of equipment.Construction Inspection
Due to the use of assembly processes, precision work and attention to detail are inspected at each stage of construction.What is the Park Model Trailer?
PARK MODEL TRAILER - GENERICALLY DEFINED – A recreational unit limited to 50 m2 of floor area and designed as living quarters for seasonal camping. It can be connected to utilities necessary to operate installed fixtures and appliances. Under no circumstances is it suitable for, or legally permitted to be used as winter living quarters anywhere in Canada. PARK MODEL TRAILER - TECHNICALLY DEFINED - A recreational unit that meets the following criteria: a) It is built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; b) It is designed to facilitate relocation from time to time; c) It is designed as living quarters for seasonal camping and may be connected to utilities necessary for operation of installed fixtures and appliances; and d) It has a gross floor area, including lofts, not exceeding 50 m2 when in the set-up mode, and has a width greater than2>6 m in the transit mode.
What is the difference between Modular and Manufactured?
MANUFACTURED HOMES
CSA Z240 MH is the CSA National Standard for Manufactured (Mobile) Home Construction. CSA Z240 MH is in effect a building code for manufactured (mobile) homes. Alberta does not accept homes built to the CSA Z240 MH Standard (although there are some municipalities where bylaws have not been updated to reflect this information so some homes will have both labels); therefore, any home constructed to this Standard cannot be sited in Alberta. Many municipalities in other provinces might limit where a CSA Z240 MH Standard home can be sited. Consumers should check with their local municipal zoning bylaw. Building Inspectors from the jurisdiction where the homes are being located are responsible for the building inspection process. Homes built in a manufacturing facility which are certified to produce homes to the CSA A277 or CSA Z240 MH Standard are certified by one of the three inspection agencies accredited to certify to the applicable CSA Standard. The Certification Organizations; CSA, Intertek and Quality Auditing Institute (QAI) are accredited to perform compliance inspections within the manufacturing facility. To ensure the home has been built to the Regional or Provincial Building Code (CSA A277 or CSA Z240 MH Standard), the building inspector looks at the Label inside the door of the electrical panel to determine code compliance. If the Label is issued by one of the three noted accredited inspection agencies and it indicates CSA A277 Modular compliance or CSA Z240 MH Standard, it is in compliance with the regional or Provincial Government Building Code as per that Provinces’ requirement.MODULAR HOMES
The CSA A277 Standard is a Certification Standard (not a building code). This Standard is used to certify the residential building is in compliance to the building code it is required to comply within the jurisdiction where the home / building will be sited. CSA A277 can be used to certify compliance with the Japanese Building Code, the UK Building Code, the National Building Code of Canada, the Ontario and the Alberta Building Codes, etc. In the case of Alberta, all homes must meet the Alberta Building Code and therefore, the A277 Standard. Whenever a home is constructed in a manufacturing facility for placement in Alberta, it must be confirmed for compliance to the Alberta Building Code by labels in each home Certifying compliance under the CSA A277 Standard and Alberta Municipal Affairs.What is a Manufactured Home?
Manufactured (Mobile) Home MANUFACTURED (MOBILE) HOME - GENERICLY DEFINED – A single family detached one storey home comprising one or more large factory built sections produced in full compliance with the CSA Z240MH National Manufactured Home Standard. These homes are designed and produced to offer a level of performance suitable for usage in climatic conditions found anywhere in the 10 provinces and territories MANUFACTURED (MOBILE) HOME - TECHNICALLY DEFINED – A single family detached one storey home comprising one or more large factory built sections produced in full compliance with the CSA Z240MH National Manufactured Home Standard. Each home will bear a prominently displayed Label indicating compliance with the CSA Z240MH Standard, as well as Specification Sheet that provides technical information required by local building inspectors. Each section will incorporate longitudinal steel frame rails under the floor that become part of the permanent surface foundation system on which the home is supported. Manufactured Home foundations will be constructed in compliance with the CSA Z240.10.1 National Standard
What is a Modular Home?
What is a Modular Home The term modular simply describes a method of constructing a home in large sections, away from the home site, in a factory. The type of housing constructed is determined by the building code to which it complies and definitively described using the following common housing configurations: Single detached or multi-family, single level or multi-storey. The term modular does not describe a type of home, just as the term site-built does not describe a type of home. They both describe alternative construction methods. Therefore, type of homes commonly described as a single family, town-home, duplex, two storey, etc, can be site-built, modular built, or built using a combination of both construction methods. Modular homes can be designed to be placed on basements or other perimeter foundations compliant with the Alberta Building Code (ABC) or the National Building Code (NBC) {see appropriate Provincial Legislation}. Alternatively they can incorporate longitudinal sub-frame rails, in which case they have been designed for placement on permanent surface foundation systems that comply with ABC or NBC foundation requirements under the provisions of the CSA Z240.10.1 National Standard.