NIBS, MOD X Launch Initiative to Streamline Housing Approval Through System Certification

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has announced the formation of a specialized work group to develop a Housing System Certification Program Standard, signaling a potential transformation in how residential construction is regulated nationwide.

Launched December 13, 2025, in partnership with industry collaborator MOD X, the initiative aims to deliver a pilot-ready program specification by the end of 2026. This milestone would enable early trials with progressive Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and system providers. The volunteer-driven partnership underscores a shared industry commitment to modernizing the approval and regulatory process for housing.

Unlike the prevailing model, in which residential buildings are permitted as one-off, site-specific projects, the proposed certification program treats homes as complete systems or products, similar to regulatory frameworks for automobiles and aircraft. Under this model, projects built with certified systems would be permitted and inspected against the system-level certification, greatly simplifying the current process. The overall goal is to improve how jurisdictions evaluate repeatable, configurable housing systems while providing a code pathway for increasing the supply, affordability and resilience of U.S. housing.

"Most housing is still permitted as one-off buildings under prescriptive, fragmented codes, even when delivered using offsite methods," said George Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS. "Under the proposed system, projects built with certified housing systems would be permitted and inspected against the system certification rather than the full prescriptive code, significantly reducing permitting and inspection time and project-level design and engineering costs."

Beyond accelerating approvals, the Housing System Certification Program is expected to create opportunities for pre-qualified, performance-verified solutions. Certified systems could help owners, developers, and municipalities access incentive programs, grants, and awards through shorter, more predictable review cycles, thereby expanding the impact of industrialized and offsite construction innovations.

"In practical terms, Housing System Certification aims to support reduced redundancy for repeat deployments, clearer verification and accountability, more predictable review and inspection workflows enabling more consistent outcomes across jurisdictions, and greater confidence for lenders, insurers, and owners through verifiable evidence and repeatable quality processes," said Ivan Rupnik, Founding Partner of MOD X.

The initiative is guided by an expert steering committee representing diverse leadership across the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) and manufacturing sectors. Committee members include:

• Dennis Michaud, Managing Director of Offsite Solutions at Saint-Gobain CertainTeed
  
  
• Vikas Enti, CEO of Reframe Systems
  
  
• Cindy Davis, former Director of Virginia's State Building Code Office

NIBS is represented by George Guszcza and Stephanie Stubbs, Vice President of NIBS. MOD X's representation includes Founding Partners Ivan Rupnik and Ryan E. Smith and Managing Partner Tyler Schmetterer.

A 16-person Technical Committee composed of prominent experts from design, engineering, construction, and manufacturing will support the development of the standard and ensure broad industry alignment. The initiative is informed by extensive research conducted by MOD X on innovative regulatory reforms piloted in the U.S. and subsequently refined and scaled internationally, including in Sweden and Japan.

NIBS and MOD X invite inquiries from potential future pilot participants including AHJs, state industrialized building programs, housing system providers, developers, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders who want to support credible, performance-based pathways for scaling housing.

About the National Institute of Building Sciences  

Created by an act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation's authoritative source of findings and recommendations on the impact and improvement of the built environment for the American people.  At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens our nation's future.  

From shaping industry standards to guiding digital transformation, we empower building professionals, policymakers, and owners to make informed decisions that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. We convene experts across sectors to develop solutions that ensure construction, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness keep pace with evolving challenges.  

Building American Innovation isn't just our tagline—it's our commitment. We foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don't just build structures, we build solutions.  

About MOD X

MOD X is a research-based advisory group and international knowledge exchange network integrating academic, industry, government, and related non-profit sectors (quadruple helix) in the prefabricated and volumetric modular offsite construction industry. The organization fosters a global network of industry leaders and organizations focused on advancing scalable offsite construction through specialized knowledge exchanges, factory/site tours, custom research, and advisory services.

For more information, visit nibs.org or follow @bldgsciences on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 

For more information, visit modx.world  or follow LinkedIn.

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SOURCE National Institute of Building Sciences