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This thesis addresses the role that building regulationsÌýand codes have in shaping the way in which the pre-fabricated building industryÌýdesigns, manufactures and installs Relocatable Buildings (RB) used within theÌýInstitutional, Commercial and IndustrialÌý(ICI) sectors.ÌýÌýIt looks at the history and development ofÌýthe Relocatable Building industry with particular focus on their applicationÌýand use in the Province of Ontario, within the larger North AmericanÌýcontext.ÌýÌýFamiliar typologies under theÌýumbrella of relocatable buildingsÌýinclude: Manufactured Homes, EmergencyÌýShelters, Portable Classrooms and Industrial Accommodations[1].ÌýÌýOf these categories of relocatable buildings,Ìýthe latter two will be the focus addressed within this work

The majority of relocatable buildings areÌýmanufactured and constructed without the direct involvement of theÌýarchitectural profession.ÌýÌýMany of theseÌýbuildings barely meet basic requirements of health, safety, durability, andÌýoccupant comfort that is expectedÌýof contemporary construction for all otherÌýoccupied building typologies[2].ÌýÌýThis problematic building type needs toÌýgarner greater attention from designers, regulators and building officials inÌýorder to set in place the framework for clearer regulatory guidelines andÌýrequirementsÌýfor these structures.ÌýÌýSuchÌýa framework has the potential to lead to overall improvement of the quality ofÌýconstruction and product delivery within this sector.

This thesis illustrates proposed modificationsÌýof the primary documents which set the current regulatory framework for theseÌýbuildings in Canada: the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z240 Standard forÌýManufactured Homes[3];Ìýthe CSA A277 Standards forÌýFactory Built Buildings; the Ontario Building CodeÌý(OBC) 2012 edition[4];Ìýand the National Building and model voluntary standards, intend to increase andÌýimprove the baseline expectations and requirements of building construction inÌýthis category with the intent of directlyÌýimproving the quality of end productÌýbeing generated by this billion dollar annual Canadian industry.ÌýÌýThe resultant goal being that design andÌýconstruction improvements based on changes in regulation, extend to benefit theÌýlives, and day-to-day experiences, of users andÌýoccupants of these relocatableÌýstructures.ÌýÌýThis thesis examines the potential, details and positiveÌýoutcomes for revising the OBC to reflect the addition of this new chapter toÌýthe code.
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