Vetting a modular manufacturer: checklist
From the OffsiteStack guide "How to vet a modular manufacturer." offsitestack.com
State approvals
- Approved in the state where the building will stand
- Current approval documents provided
- Time needed for approval in a new state
Third-party inspection
- Name of the in-plant inspection agency
- How often the agency is in the plant
- Recent inspection reports available to review
Matching experience
- Recent projects of the same use, height, construction type and size
- Addresses and owner contacts provided
- Reference calls completed
Capacity and schedule
- Current backlog and earliest realistic start
- Weekly output on a project like ours
- What happens to our slot if permits or site are late
- Storage of finished modules, and the cost
Plant visit
- Material storage is organized and protected
- Quality checkpoints posted and in use
- Finished modules protected before shipping
Engineering
- Who engineers the modules
- Who engineers module-to-module and module-to-foundation connections
- Who stamps which drawings
Scope boundaries
- Foundations and anchoring
- Transport and permits
- Crane and setting crew
- Weather protection during and after set
- Work at module joints: marriage lines, fire-stopping, finishes
- Utility hookups
- Final inspections and certificate of occupancy
Money and warranty
- Deposits tied to production milestones we can verify
- How deposits are protected
- Warranty coverage, length and who answers callbacks
General guidance only. Confirm requirements with your state program office and local building department.