CAN-ASC-2.11 – Accessible-Ready Modular and Prefabricated Housing
6. Scope
Information
Table of contents
Technical committee members
- Amy Pothier Kelly, Senior Manager, Customer and Inclusive Design, Metrolinx
- Brad Humphrey, Architect, AIBC, Jensen Hughes
- Brieann Ventura, Building Code and Accessibility Consultant, LMDG Building Code Consultants Ltd.
- Christelle Montreuil, Founder and Senior Consultant in Inclusive Design and Universal Accessibility, Idéaux
- David Pereyra, Project & Outreach Coordinator, Inclusive Design Research Centre. OCAD University
- Dominic Esposito, Senior Project Consultant, Jensen Hughes
- Harold Locke, Consultant, Locke & Locke Inc.
- Julie L. Sawchuk, Principal, Sawchuk Accessible Solutions
- Linnie Tse, Provincial Barrier-Free Administrator, Government of Alberta
- Monica A. Contreras, Senior Manager, Facilities Infrastructure, Lead Architect Architectural Project Delivery, Bell Canada, Bell Real Estate Services
- Philip Rizcallah, Chief Executive Office, Engineers Canada
- Samiddha Aryasinghe, Senior Project Manager, Tiree Facility Solutions Inc.
- Sherry Hastings, Functional Planner – Capital Planning, Saskatchewan Health Authority
- Taghreed Al-Zubaidi, Accessibility Specialist, City of Mississauga
This document is for the design and construction of new accessible‑ready modular and prefabricated housing (including accessible-ready small modular and prefabricated housing). This Standard focuses on areas or elements that would reduce the effort and barriers associated with retrofitting typical modular and prefabricated homes into accessible ones. These include the following:
- Exterior areas and clearances
- Parking structures and garages
- Interior areas, rooms, spaces (e.g. kitchens and bathrooms) and circulation
- Operating controls
- Stairs
- Vertical paths of travel
- Doors
- Structural systems
- Emergency egresses
- Mechanical systems
- Electrical systems
Note: This Standard may also be used as guidance for substantial renovation projects to existing modular and prefabricated housing where accessible-ready provisions are required.
6.1 Inclusions
This Standard applies to modular and prefabricated housing, including small modular and prefabricated housing, that are required to be accessible‑ready or that desire to be labelled as accessible‑ready.
Note: For other off-site constructed or movable dwellings (e.g. tiny homes, park model homes, or manufactured homes not meeting the Clause 9.1 definition), CAN‑ASC‑2.8:2025 and CSA/ASC B652:23 should be consulted to avoid mislabelling units as “accessible-ready” where this Standard does not apply.
6.2 Exclusions
This Standard excludes housing that is not defined as modular and prefabricated housing as per Clause 9.1 of this Standard. Homes and dwellings that are not considered modular and prefabricated units may refer to CSA/ASC B652:23 and CAN‑ASC‑2.8:2025.
Note: For other off-site constructed or movable dwellings (e.g. tiny homes, park model homes, manufactured homes not meeting the Clause 9.1 definition), CAN‑ASC‑2.8:2025 and CSA/ASC B652:23 should be consulted to avoid mislabelling units as “accessible‑ready” where this Standard does not apply.
6.3 Applications
This Standard specifies the technical requirements for the design and construction of new accessible-ready modular and prefabricated housing. It does not, however, address the implementation and enforcement of these requirements. The determination of the scope and applicability of the technical provisions is the responsibility of the relevant Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), including bodies that regulate building officials.
6.4 Limits
Limitations in modular and prefabricated housing design lie in the pre‑planning that may be required for panels and module size, connections and layouts. When panel and module dimensions, connections, and placements are designed without consideration for future reconfiguration, such as widening hallways, adjusting circulation spaces, or altering room layouts, they can significantly restrict modular and prefabricated housing from being accessible-ready.
Note: Manufacturer’s instructions for the proper transportation, handling, storage, installation, and connections should be followed as the primary source of guidance. This Standard is intended to supplement, not replace, these instructions.
6.5 Other relevant restrictions or considerations
This Standard is intended to align as much as possible with previously referenced accessibility codes, requirements and standards.
The approach was developed to assist designers and builders in meeting accessibility requirements by making spaces accessible-ready for future purposes, while addressing the constraints typical of modular and prefabricated housing. Different manufacturers of modular and prefabricated housing may have different restrictions and constraints.
This Standard addresses some of the most common constraints that may prevent housing from being accessible-ready. This Standard incorporates creative design solutions to guide designers in preparing modular and prefabricated housing for accessibility.
6.6 Terminology
In this Standard, three terms are defined as follows:
- Shall: Expresses a requirement, or a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy to comply with the standard.
- Should: Expresses a recommendation, or that which is advised but not required.
- May: Expresses an option, or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.
Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate explanatory or informative material.
Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.
Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non‑mandatory) to define their application.
6.6.1 Use of the term “significant”
The adjective “significant” is frequently used throughout this Standard in contexts such as significant renovations or significant damage. It is acknowledged that this descriptor is not quantitative and is perceived differently by different individuals. However, as a person in the residential construction industry reads through this Standard, a feel for what is considered significant in this Standard will become obvious. In each clause and its commentary, some additional information is provided to give a better understanding of what significant entails. The philosophy adopted in this Standard is to qualitatively assess the design of a dwelling and the work required to replace, remove, or retrofit a component (e.g. replacing a bathroom vanity) relative to the level of effort required to modify the hidden systems of the home, i.e. non-value-added modifications (e.g. structural, building envelope, mechanical, and electrical systems).
6.6.2 Examples of “significant renovations”
Examples of “significant renovations” for the purposes of this Standard include, but are not limited to:
- Relocation of a toilet to achieve sufficient manoeuvring space in a bathroom.
- Removal of a load-bearing wall, requiring structural reinforcement.
- Structural modification of floor joist systems in order to accommodate an elevator.
- Running new dedicated electrical circuits for lifts, power-assisted door operators, and any other equipment.
- Relocation or rerouting of mechanical services where they were not installed to accommodate relocation.