We’ve talked in the past about how modular construction is stronger and more durable than stick-built construction. A big reason for that is the extra materials that go into making a modular home (yet we’re able to use fewer materials overall and keep costs down because we produce less waste material). These added braces and stronger joints are in place mainly to reinforce the structure during its ride on the truck on the way to its final location.

But this method also makes modular homes more durable during hurricanes and other natural disasters. In December 1992, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a study of buildings and homes in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. The report was called “Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew in Florida.”

Below is an excerpt from the report that sheds some light on the findings in favor of modular construction, along with a graphic:

“Overall, relatively minimal structural damage was noted in modular housing developments. The module-to-module combination of the units appears to have provided an inherently rigid system that performed much better than conventional residential framing.”

The safety of modular homes is well known. Independent tests on homes in hurricane stricken areas have proven that modular dwellings stand up to the forces of Mother Nature better than stick-built homes, mainly because of the additional materials used in modular construction to help the home remain strong during the transport process.

Now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is taking steps to make modular homes – actually, all homes – safer by requiring all new homes to be built with fire sprinkler systems beginning in the year 2011.

These safety requirements are nothing new. Over the years, there have been many upgrades in the residential construction process designed to make homes more fire safe. Circuit breakers replaced fuse boxes. Fire separation walls were mandated between garages and homes. All of these requirements are put in place to make families safer.

According to a news release announcing the sprinkler requirement, the new mandate “could prevent more than 3,000 fire-related deaths and 60,000 serious fire-related injuries across the nation each year.” Firefighters are main proponents of the new law, and understandably so. They’re the ones who see, first-hand, the devastating effects of residential fires, and they’re the ones risking their lives to minimize those effects.

But how will these sprinkler systems affect the cost of new homes? That’s the question on the minds of builders and homeowners. Some estimates claim the safety upgrade could cost $5,000 for a 2,000 square foot home and as much as $20,000 for rural homes not connected to public water supplies. For some, it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind and what could be a break in homeowners’ insurance costs.

And for those concerned that a smoking pizza in the oven will set off the sprinkler system the same way it sets off the smoke detector, fear not. Sprinkler systems are triggered by heat, not smoke, which means dinner may be ruined, but your furniture will stay dry.