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In September 2025 the federal government launched Build Canada Homes, a $13-billion initiative aimed at doubling annual housing production and scaling innovative construction technologies, including modular, panelized and mass timber systems, to deliver homes faster and with greater predictability.
As policymakers point to timber construction as one approach toward affordability, FPInnovations’ new Offsite Wood Construction Handbook, funded by Forestry Innovation Investment, provides the practical, technical and operational guidance required to make the shift to the shift attainable for builders, architects, engineers and developers.
“Offsite wood construction can shift a significant portion of the construction process into controlled factory environments,” says Dorian Tung, manager, technology assessment at FPInnovations. “To scale these approaches under Build Canada Homes, the industry needs a shared technical resource. This handbook delivers clear, evidence-based guidance for modernizing project delivery.”
The handbook outlines how panelized and modular construction can improve schedule reliability by reducing exposure to weather and labour shortages. It details the implications on cashflow, procurement sequencing and material logistics, which are critical considerations as offsite construction requires earlier design decisions and front-loaded manufacturing commitments.
Central to the publication is the application of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA). The handbook explains how early involvement of manufacturers, builders, architects, and engineers stabilizes the design process, reduces rework and supports predictable site assembly. It provides detailed direction on information exchange, model coordination, and design freeze procedures, helping teams shift from traditional design-bid-build approaches to integrated workflows.
Builders and contractors will find practical instructions on staging, crane planning, lifting, storage, inspection and sequencing of prefabricated assemblies, along with insight into factory quality-control processes.
“As Canada pushes to build more homes, faster, project teams need clarity,” Tung adds. “This handbook equips industry professionals with the technical knowledge needed to integrate offsite wood systems confidently and effectively.”
The Offsite Wood Construction Handbook is now available for download and serves as a technical resource for construction professionals seeking to adopt panelized, modular and mass timber solutions at scale. For more resources on wood design and construction, visit naturallywood.com.
About Forestry Innovation Investment
Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) is British Columbia’s market development agency for forest products. Developed by FII, naturally:wood is an information resource showcasing B.C. as a global leader in wood construction and a supplier of quality products from sustainably managed forests. Topics covered range from the latest research in wood performance, code development, prefabrication and mass timber construction. Explore nearly 250 wood building profiles and connect with 400 BC wood product and service suppliers.
