Relocatable Structures

The Manufacturers Association for Relocatable Structures (MARS) –a not-for-profit trade association located in Alberta whose members include companies that manufacture, supply, lease, operate or own modular commercial and industrial structures –has identified a need for a national standard that addresses the necessary safety and quality management requirements for modular built relocatable structures that can be used and referenced in all 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada. MARS has successfully worked with the Alberta government to develop Part 10 of the Alberta Building Code which deals specifically with relocatable structures by setting out specific requirements for a quality management system of relocatable structures from out-of-province. Although this approach has been used in Alberta, other provincial Building Codes across Canada do not currently include specific requirements for a quality management system for relocatable structures from out-of-province. As well, the National Codes Commission, responsible for maintaining the National Building Code (NBC), has indicated it does not intend to issue a new chapter in the NBC to cover temporary relocatable structures since only a handful of provinces use them. Similarly, other provinces, including British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, indicated they too would not develop requirements within their building codes but would prefer that an NSC could be referenced as needed. The lack of harmonized requirements has created barriers and challenges that would not exist if a harmonized quality management system were accepted across Canada. This project is intended to use the industry best practice, as set out under Part 10 of the Alberta Building Code.