The British Standards Institute (BSI) has recommended residential projects using modular construction designate an MMC adviser, in new guidance hailed as a \u201cmajor step towards wider adoption\u201d of volumetric housebuilding.<\/p>\n
Published on Tuesday (29 April), PAS 8700:2025, which was developed in collaboration with industry, aims to encourage the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in residential projects by enabling greater consistency in how such technologies are used.<\/p>\n
It recommended residential projects employ an MMC adviser to be responsible for the procurement, design, finances and safety risks of using modular construction.<\/p>\n
Outlining its recommendation, the report acknowledged that the skills for assessing MMC options were \u201cnot generally acquired during professional or construction training\u201d.<\/p>\n
The role could be filled by a design team member, project manager, system manufacturer or external consultant, the document said.<\/p>\n
Katie Saunders, partner at law firm Trowers & Hamlins, said: \u201cThe intention doesn\u2019t appear to be to create a new role but for existing designers, either client- or manufacturer-side, to step up and provide strategic advice and expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n
PAS 8700 was developed in collaboration with trade bodies including the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Offsite Alliance and Buildoffsite. It also covers how projects should be designed, assembled and inspected.<\/p>\n
Saunders added that while it is helpful that the document encourages early engagement with latent defects insurers, \u201cthe PAS cannot overcome insurers\u2019 reluctance to insure SME manufacturers in an uncertain housing market\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dirk Vennix, chief executive of the Construction Industry Research and Information Association, which manages Buildoffsite, said the standard would help MMC operators \u201cdispel some misperceptions of pre-manufacturing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite government policy consistently advocating its use across all construction sectors, uptake in the residential market has been limited. There is clearly a lack of knowledge about the art of the possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why PAS 8700 is so timely and potentially impactful. It identifies areas where an early consideration of an MMC approach applied in the correct way can make a significant difference to successful delivery of housebuilding projects. It also helps practitioners implementing MMC avoid potential pitfalls such as non-compliance with regulations and legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christy Hayes, chief executive of volumetric modular developer Vision, which also advised on the standard, said its publication represented a \u201cmajor step towards wider adoption\u201d of volumetric systems.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cMMC has the potential to deliver housing at pace and scale, while significantly reducing embodied carbon and protecting architectural creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The British Standards Institute (BSI) has recommended residential projects using modular construction designate an MMC adviser, in new guidance hailed as a \u201cmajor step towards wider adoption\u201d of volumetric housebuilding. Published on Tuesday (29 April), PAS 8700:2025, which was developed in collaboration with industry, aims to encourage the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141524,"featured_media":458330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[579],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n