Regulatory reform for industrialised construction (in progress)

What we are doing and why

The construction industry is moving towards more industrialised practices, including offsite manufacturing and assembly of building components that are transported to site for installation. However, current regulation may not be well-suited to accommodate these industrialised practices.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is supporting research by Queensland University of Technology, through the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre, to investigate and make recommendations for regulatory reform to ensure that the benefits of industrialised construction can be realised while ensuring that consumers and building occupants enjoy a safe and quality built environment.

The research aims to build on insights from previous research by Swinburne University of Technology (October 2022) on the regulatory environment for off-site construction. It seeks to identify how to improve current regulations to accommodate various industrialised practices, and how to “future proof” regulations for future innovations. This will be achieved through reviewing current regulations, considering new technologies, proposing standardised certification processes, and considering how proposed reform remains relevant in a changing environment.

Emeritus Professor Perry Forsythe and Queensland University of Technology’s Dr Sara Omrani are leading the research.

The project is jointly funded by Building 4.0, VBA and industry partners A.G. Coombs, Fleetwood, Lendlease Digital Australia, Standards Australia, Sumitomo Forestry Australia, and The Master Builders Association of Victoria.

What we have achieved so far

This research project commenced in November 2023 and is due for completion in 2024-25.