Off-site construction is the planning, design, fabrication, and assembly of building elements at a location other than their final installed location to support the rapid and efficient construction of a permanent structure. It often is characterized by an integrated planning and supply chain optimization strategy.

The NIBS Off-Site Construction Council serves as a research, education and outreach center for relevant and current information on off-site design and construction for commercial, institutional, and multifamily facilities. It’s looking to form some subcommittees.

They include: 

• Administrative. This subcommittee will look to improve outward-facing materials on the OSCC website, best practices and code compliance, and standardization of codes.
• Factory capacity/capability. The goal will be to keep our factories working (creating a pipeline), create relationships with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Housing Preservation & Development, and other organizations for approved factories. Also, this subcommittee will stay up to date on innovation (advanced robotics, BIM, module storage).
• Retrofits/existing buildings. This subcommittee will stay informed on pods to outfit portions of buildings (bathrooms and additions), removing fossil fuels and MEP/HVAC to gain higher levels of sustainability, and superinsulation, high efficiency windows, toilets, lighting, etc. 
• Remote inspection. The goal is to know about approved 3rd party inspectors in factories, follow jurisdiction code requirements, and BIM requirements for approved factories.
• Financing and affordable housing. The subcommittee will be for lenders to understand draw schedules, module/material ownership and liability in and out of the factory, and how to make modular affordable.

To join one of the OSCC subcommittees, reach out to Jennifer Hitzke at jhitzke@nibs.org. For more information about the OSCC, visit nibs.org/oscc.