A new project by the Housing Industry Association (HIA), in collaboration with the Pre-Fab Innovation Hub, aims to identify and address the regulatory barriers affecting the use of prefabricated and modular construction methods in residential housing.
Australia’s current building codes and regulatory frameworks were designed for traditional construction, leading to difficulties in approving and implementing off-site building techniques.
The project focuses on analysing the obstacles related to off-site construction methods, offering recommendations to streamline regulations.
The recommendations may propose changes to the National Construction Code (NCC), Australian Standards, and state planning and building frameworks.
The goal is to develop a more adaptable regulatory regime that recognises the unique aspects of prefabricated construction.
The first phase of the project involved producing a briefing paper, offering background information and highlighting key issues.
The paper was shared for stakeholder review, with additional input gathered through targeted consultations.
Feedback from stakeholders, via surveys and interviews, aimed to uncover specific regulatory challenges for prefab and modular construction in Australia.
The project also examined international practices, looking at how countries like Japan, Sweden, and the US have embraced prefab construction.
These global examples provide valuable insights for Australia, where regulatory uncertainties are slowing the adoption of these methods.
Certification of factory outputs and clearer design and approval processes are needed to overcome these barriers.
The project’s recommendations suggest that addressing technical ambiguities in the NCC and publishing a dedicated protocol for prefabricated construction could clarify many uncertainties.
These regulatory changes would support the industry in meeting the expectations of both governments and consumers. Without these reforms, prefab construction will struggle to deliver the productivity gains it promises.
HIA stated that "a vast number of construction projects including housing, will move to off-site and modular or systems-based construction methods over the next 5, 10 and 20 years," emphasising the need to address current regulatory barriers to ensure the future success of prefab construction in Australia.
The Pre-Fab Innovation Hub, part of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), is at the forefront of this effort.
Launched in 2019, the Hub aims to connect the construction and manufacturing sectors, promote advanced technologies, and foster smarter, more sustainable building solutions.
The Hub’s Steering Committee, which includes experts from HIA and Pre-Fab Australia, is guiding the industry’s transformation towards a prefab future.
Read more about the HIA research on LinkedIn.
Get the hottest and freshest mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter.
