Regulatory Relief for Modular Housing
Bill Proposed by Lawmaker Han Junho
The Korea Steel Association announced on June 20 that it has pushed for an amendment to the Housing Act to foster the modular industry and create new demand for steel products. The amendment, which was proposed on June 13 as a parliamentary bill, is expected to significantly contribute to the revitalization of the modular housing market if it passes the National Assembly in the future.
The amendment introduces a legal definition for modular housing and includes key provisions such as the establishment of performance and quality standards and the introduction of a factory production certification system. Previously, the lack of a clear legal definition and certification system made it difficult to carry out projects and ensure quality. By strengthening quality control from the manufacturing stage?taking into account the characteristics of modular housing, which is produced in factories and installed on-site?it is expected that safety and construction quality will be improved and a foundation for standardization will be established.
In addition, the amendment includes regulatory easing measures that the industry has continuously requested. The modular construction method results in thicker slabs and top plates when connecting upper and lower modular units compared to general RC (reinforced concrete) methods, and there are also size limitations for modular units due to road transportation constraints. Under the current regulations, these factors have caused structural limitations when securing the same floor area. Therefore, by providing grounds for rational increases in floor area ratio and building coverage ratio, as well as relaxing height restrictions, it is expected that design flexibility will be secured and construction cost burdens will be alleviated.
Han Junho, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, explained the purpose of the amendment, stating, "Modular housing is a construction method in which more than 70% of standardized building modules are manufactured in factories and then installed and assembled on-site. This method offers the advantages of maintaining uniform quality and reducing construction costs through mass production, which highlights the need to promote the construction of modular housing."
A representative from the association stated, "The proposal of this amendment will further strengthen the foundation for the growth of the modular industry. In particular, if steel structure-based modular technology becomes more widespread, it will enable high value-added utilization of steel products and create new demand. If modular housing, which is characterized by shortened construction periods and secured quality, becomes more prevalent, it will also have a positive effect on the government's policy to expand housing supply."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
