Today’s guest is Tom Hardiman, the official spokesperson for the modular construction industry. 

Key Takeaways

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• Tom ’s Background
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• MBA from Marshall University 
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• Had a passion for entrepreneurs and small business owners. 
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• Director of the Associated Builders & Contractors 
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• Modular Construction 
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• Modular Construction is a process of constructing a building or home in an off-site factory in modules, transporting to the site and then assemble. 
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• Shortened schedule with offsite construction. Allows you to have 2 sites going simultaneously. 
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• Much less material waste in modular construction. Whatever doesn’t get used is saved for later projects, not going to waste. 
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• Worker safety is improved by transporting the construction site into an indoor factory setting. 
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• Life Safety standards 
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• IBC
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• Construction has to meet the local building codes wherever the site is, regardless of modular construction. 
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• 36 states have their own modular programs. 
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• Half of the total construction process occurs in the factory, the rest is site build. That is the jurisdiction of the local officials. 
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• Modular Building Institute
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• Have great relationships with local agencies. Can help with dealing with state programs and local officials regarding the modular process. 
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• Biggest barrier has been lack of understanding amongst code officials who are not familiar with modular. 
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• Perception of modular has changed. 
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• Modular Homebuilders Association
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• Single family modular industry
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• Been director for 10 years. 
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• Hardiman and Williams 
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• Residential and other forms of offsite construction work. 
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• Able to put the offsite construction umbrella under the same management team. Cost sharing, etc. 
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• Offsite Construction Expos. Coming up in Sacramento, DC & Denver. 
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• World of Modular Expo coming up in San Antonio. 
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About Tom

As the official spokesperson for the modular construction industry, Tom has been involved in leadership roles in modular construction since 2004 when he was named the Executive Director for the Modular Building Institute, the international non-profit trade association for the commercial modular industry. In 2012, he took on the additional role as Executive Director for the Modular Home Builders Association, the national non-profit trade association serving the modular home...