The Building System Councils’ new online videos offer value to both new and experienced offsite builders.
All homebuilding professionals interested in exploring offsite construction should check out a new educational resource: the Offsite Construction Video Series. It’s being offered by the National Association of Homebuilders’ Building Systems Councils (BSC). We’ve been following this series here at Offsite Builder Magazine, and so far, we like what we see.
Launched in April of 2024, the series features 15 to 30-minute, monthly videos put on by industry experts. Each video explores an essential topic pertaining to modular, panelized, concrete, and log and timber frame home construction.
In the past, the best place to get this kind of information was at the Building Systems Housing Summit, which was held annually in the fall. That’s no longer an option; after concluding the 2023 event, the BSC decided to put the Summit on hold. However, BSC Director Devin Perry says that this new video resource demonstrates an ongoing commitment to industry education. “When we decided to pause the Summit, we felt we could reach a wider audience by offering online educational opportunities,” he says.
The monthly videos are available to all NAHB members, regardless of whether they’re a part of BSC, or not. Those who do not have an NAHB membership can purchase a 9-month subscription to the video series for $50.
Videos are posted the first Tuesday of each month. Go to nahb.org/education, then click on the link for the Offsite Construction Video Series.
Baseline Information
The videos explore a variety of topics that include construction method overviews, best practices for building with offsite methods, codes and standards that regulate the industry and resources available to builders who want to adopt systems-built construction.
At the time of writing (July 2024), four videos have been posted:
Additional videos scheduled for 2024 include:
- August: The Basics of Insulated Concrete Forms
- September: Handling Change Orders in Offsite Construction
- October: Estimating for Offsite Construction Projects
- November: Cash Flow for Offsite Builders
- December: The Basics of Modular Construction
(Currently, presenters for the upcoming videos have not been announced.)
Readers should be aware that the videos do not claim to offer in-depth training. Instead, they’re aimed at the curious and interested. They provide broad overviews with the goal of getting viewers to want to know more. “The videos are meant to highlight foundational aspects of offsite,” says Perry. “They offer baseline education.”
Additional BSC Resources
Viewers who are getting their first taste of offsite construction methods will naturally want to know where to go for more information and for help getting started. That’s the whole point. The series’ big goal is to interest more professionals in BSC membership, where they can get that help.
Perry says that a good start would be to visit nahb.org/whybsc. The site includes links to various assets about modular, panelized, concrete and timber frame homes. “The majority of what’s there is targeted to homebuilders,” he says.
Once on the site, he suggests downloading and reading the free, 60-page “Homebuilders Guide to Offsite Construction”. It’s an excellent resource and is free to anyone, NAHB member or not.
Of course, education is just the first step when getting started with offsite; those wanting to learn more about adopting this way of building will want a network of personal connections. According to Perry, that’s where BSC membership really earns its keep. “When someone joins, they receive a directory of members they can connect with,” he says.
For anyone serious about moving into offsite, a mentor is an invaluable resource. This person will be an experienced offsite builder who can help new builders use the system more efficiently and avoid costly mistakes while learning. For those who want a mentor, Perry says that his staff is available to help them find one. “We work as de facto matchmakers. We’re happy to try and match new people up with appropriate individuals.”
For the More Advanced
The online effort isn’t just for offsite beginners. BSC is also using hosting live, interactive Shop Talks with scheduled lengths of approximately one hour to allow presenters to go into more depth.
The audience is established manufacturers and builders of prefabricated structural building systems, as well as suppliers of goods and services that serve offsite construction. “Rather than being foundational, the Shop Talks are geared toward people already in the systems building construction community,” says Perry.
Shop Talks are presented every other month, with the schedule posted on the website. Each one will delve into a specific topic in offsite construction.
The past and future 2024 lineup for the Shop Talk series consists of:
- May: Selling Systems-Built Construction to Consumers and Builders, by Alex Berlin, Rochester Homes
- June: Taking on Partners or Selling Your Manufacturing Facility, by Margaret Whelan, Whelan Advisory
- August: Finding Labor for Your Offsite Construction Factory or Home Building Business, by Ken Semler, Impresa Modular
- October: Enter the Offsite Construction Supply Chain, by Laura Dwyer, DuPont
- December: NAHB Special Report on Systems-Built Homes, by Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB
Shop Talks are free and open to all, including non-members. They’re not recorded and must be accessed live.
How to Access the Content
Again, anyone interested in the new Video Series can go to nahb.org/education, then click on the link for the Offsite Construction Video Series.
For those interested in the Offsite Shop Talks go to nahb.org/education, click on the Shop Talks link, and look for those that say Hosted by Building Systems Council.
