1. Module 7: Challenges – Saskatchewan
Prefabricated Buildings in Canada – Evolution, Regulatory Requirements and Confirmation of Compliance
Module 7: Challenges – Saskatchewan
Prepared for Municipal Officials in the Prairie Provinces March 2018

2. Modules Who We Are – CHBA-MOD and MHAPP
Prefabricated Buildings Then and Now
The Industry
Applicable Technical Requirements
Facilitating Compliance
Confirming Compliance
Challenges
Take-Aways
Module 7 - Outline
This module describes some of the challenges that are being faced by the prefabricated building industry today.
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3. Challenges
Subjects
acceptance of surface foundations and anchorage that complies with CSA Z Site Preparation, Foundation and Installation of Buildings
acceptance of factory-constructed buildings that comply with the Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Amendment Regulations (UBASAR) based on certification in accordance with CSA A277 Procedure for Certification of Prefabricated Buildings Modules and Panels
Module 7 – Challenges
Subjects
Two of the main challenges that the industry is facing in Saskatchewan have been discussed in previous modules
Acceptance of surface foundations and anchorage that comply with CSA Z is discussed in Module 4
Acceptance of prefabricated buildings that comply with the Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Amendment Regulations (UBASAR) based on CSA A277 certification is discussed in Module 6.
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4. Challenges
Subjects
acceptance of surface foundations and anchorage that complies with CSA Z Site Preparation, Foundation and Installation of Buildings
acceptance of factory-constructed buildings that comply with the National Building Code based on certification in accordance with CSA A277 Procedure for Certification of Prefabricated Buildings Modules and Panels
Land-use bylaws
discrimination against prefabricated buildings
park model trailers
Energy efficiency and transportation
Module 7 – Challenges
Subjects
Three additional challenges are discussed in this module.
Two are related to land-use bylaws
discrimination against prefabricated buildings
park model trailers
The third relates to energy efficiency and transportation.
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5. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination
Supreme Homes
Moduline,BC
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination
Most land-use bylaws discriminate against factory-constructed homes.
sometimes this appears to be intentional
sometimes it appears more accidental because the terminology that is used is out of date with current industry use.
It is understandable that a municipality may not want factory-constructed houses such those illustrated on this slide….
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6. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination Module 7 – Challenges –
Brookfield Homes
Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination
Supreme Homes
Moduline,BC
Brookfield Homes
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination
… to be mixed in with site-built houses such as these.
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7. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination Module 7 – Challenges –
Brookfield Homes
Brookfield Homes
Module 7 – Challenges –
Discriminatory Bylaws
But if site-built houses in the area look like this ….
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8. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination Module 7 – Challenges –
Brookfield Homes
Maple Leaf Homes
Brookfield Homes
Guildcrest Homes
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination
… it’s hard to argue that prefabricated homes should be prohibited when they can look the same or very similar.
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9. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination Module 7 – Challenges –
Supreme Homes
Profab Homes
Triple M Housing
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination
Discriminating against factory-constructed homes – all of these homes are factory-constructed – cannot be supported
As discussed in Module 2, it is also counter-productive in terms of providing quality, energy efficient and sustainable housing.
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10. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Discrimination Module 7 – Challenges –
The Modular Housing Association of the Prairie Provinces has developed a set of guidelines that can be used where architectural compatibility is an issue
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11. Technical Requirements
Park Model Trailers
constructed in accordance with CSA Z241, “Park Model Trailers”
NOT to be confused with: - modular homes complying with Saskatchewan’s building regulation - manufactured homes complying with CSA Z240 MH Series
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
The other land-use bylaw issue related to park model trailers.
Park model trailers should not be confused with code-compliant homes or manufactured homes.
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12. Technical Requirements
Manufactured Home – a single- or multiple-module, one-storey home for year-round use
current requirements
NBC is the default
exceptions or additional requirements provided only as necessary to address issues specific to prefabricated buildings
few remaining requirements that are less stringent than the NBC
some lower energy efficiency performance levels
greater floor deflection allowed where assembly is not supporting a gypsum board ceiling or rock, ceramic or porcelain tile flooring
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
For reference –
Manufactured homes are single- or multiple-module, one-storey homes that re designed and constructed for year-round use.
The standard references the National Building Code and then provides some exceptions or additional requirements to address issues that are specific to prefabricated buildings.
The only significant difference is in the area of energy efficiency.
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13. Technical Requirements
Park model trailer — a recreational unit that:
a) 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 those 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 than 2.6 m in the transit mode.
Module 7 – Challenges –
Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
On the other hand, park model trailers are recreational units
They MUST be constructed on a chassis.
They are meant to be used only for temporary accommodation in the warmer seasons.
and the standard specifies dimensional limits.
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14. Technical Requirements
Manufactured Homes Park Model Trailers
Moduline, BC
Grandeur Homes, MB
Module 4 – Technical Requirements
Z240 MH vs. Z241
While park model trailers may look very similar to some manufactured homes or small modular homes, their construction is quite different.
For example:
minimum insulation levels in park model trailers are lower than the minimums required for manufactured homes built from 1986 onward,
there are no requirements for air barriers or vapour barriers
no standard is referenced for windows
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15. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
a recreational unit, not a dwelling unit
meant to be installed in “parks” or “resorts” for “seasonal camping”
Module 7 – Challenges
Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
It is important for land-use bylaws :
to recognize park model trailers as recreational units
and
to ensure that these are not used for year-round accommodation.
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16. Challenges Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
Implications of inadequate bylaws
allows residents to live in structures that will not provide the minimum acceptable levels of health or safety
will use much more heating energy than homes that comply with the Saskatchewan building regulation
lower municipal tax revenue
Module 7 – Challenges
Land-Use Bylaws – Park Model Trailers
To do otherwise allows residents, who may not understand the consequences, to live in structures that:
will not provide the minimum acceptable level of performance
will use considerably more heating energy than code-compliant homes.
It may also have adverse implications for municipal property tax revenues.
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17. Challenges Energy Efficiency and Transportation maximum dimensions
regulations, infrastructure, geography
increases in thermal resistance levels = increases in building envelope thickness
Module 7 – Challenges
Energy Efficiency and Transportation
The final challenge is energy efficiency.
New homes have taken the brunt of recent initiatives despite ever-improving performance achieved on a voluntary basis.
Factory-constructed buildings face special challenges because of the dimensional restrictions imposed by transport regulations, infrastructure and geography.
In Saskatchewan, this is not typically a problem.
Current minimum insulation levels have not resulted in insurmountable problems.
As we move toward 2030 and net-zero ready, the challenges could become significant, particularly for smaller homes.
The industry will be paying very close attention to how new requirements are proposed to be implemented.
Maple Leaf Homes
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