Instilling quality into our modular homes is our number one priority, and the regulation is instrumental in providing a universal standard for that quality. First published in 1963, the British Standards Institution’s (BSI’s) BS 3632 specifications for residential park homes have become a leading guideline for constructing and maintaining these homes. By adhering to the BSI’s BS 3632 specifications, manufacturers and investors can better determine the overall quality of a park home and its security as both a place of residence and a tangible real asset.
At Concept Capital Group, we use modular construction to create high-quality residential properties that function similarly to traditional park homes. As alternative social housing, these homes offer a long-term residential solution for low-income and vulnerable tenants, many of whom would otherwise find themselves trapped in temporary accommodation. As part of our commitment to creating lasting social impact and offering reliable passive income to our clients, we build all our homes to the BSI’s BS 3632 standard.
But what does the BS 3632 mean for the quality of modular homes, exactly? For more on the BS 3632 and the quality it assures with your modular property investment, this blog has everything you need to buy with confidence.
What is the British Standards Institution (BSI)?
The British Standards Institution (or BSI) is the national standards body of the United Kingdom responsible for producing technical standards and specifications for a variety of products and services. As part of the BSI Group, the organisation operates in 195 countries offering standards and standards-related services alongside management systems assessment and certification.
With 80,000+ clients worldwide, the BSI is one of the largest certification bodies in the world. In addition to its primary function as an auditor and certifier of global industries and their operators, the BSI also offers training to help the companies it audits understand the requirements and implementation of its standards.
In addition to the BS 3632 standard for park homes, the BSI also oversees specifications that include the ISO 9001 for product quality, the ISO 14001 for environmental management and the BS 65000 for organisational resilience.
You can read more about the BSI by visiting its website.
Breaking Down the BS 3632:2015 Standard
Up until last year, the BS 3632’s 2015 revision imposed an industry-leading standard of quality for building park homes. The key requirements of a home built to the BS 3632:2015 included:
Design and Construction
Park and mobile homes must be built to a high quality using materials, components and systems that are both appropriate and sustainable. This requirement detailed specific approaches to structural design, foundational stability, and the installation of electricity, water, and ventilation systems to ensure any park homes built to their specifications would be comparable to a traditionally built house in terms of comfort and quality.
Safety
Safety requirements for homes built according to the BS 3632:2015 include universal standards for fire safety, electrical safety, and gas safety. They specify both the type of materials used to ensure safety and the installation of those materials, including fire detection and alarm systems, escape routes, wiring, appliances and ventilation.
Accessibility
The BS 3632:2015 includes basic minimum requirements for accommodating disabled tenants and those with mobility issues. All homes built to its standards require accessibly wide or open entrances, doorways, corridors and facilities.
Durability
The BS 3632:2015 ensures the lifespan of park homes by prioritising durability at the manufacturing level. This includes recommendations for design, materials and construction methods that can minimise the need for costly repairs. Modular construction, for example, is an increasingly relevant approach to building static park homes and other alternative properties for its ability to blend speed of construction with overall quality and durability.
Performance Testing
As part of the BS 3632:2015, extensive performance tests are carried out on all homes. This may include testing for structural integrity, fire resistance, or thermal insulation, ensuring compliance with the standard’s specifications for the safe and secure function of a permanent park home.
Maintenance and Servicing
Although not strictly required, the BS 3632:2015 also lays out recommendations for the maintenance and servicing of park homes to ensure consistent performance throughout their operational use. Regular inspections, repairs and cleaning are considered an important aspect of owning and operating a park home that abides by the BS 3632’s standards.
What Does the BS 3632:2023 Change?
The most recent revision to the BSI 3632 was published last year, adapting the terms outlined by its 2015 predecessor to more fully encompass the impact of technological and ecological progression on the residential use of park homes.
As a contributor to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities and Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production, the BSI has taken on a regulatory responsibility in fostering a more sustainable housing market. As such, the BS 3632:2023 introduces the following improvements to the 2015 standards:
Improved Energy Efficiency
The new BS 3632:2023 standard raises the U-values required by floors and walls, ensuring that homes are warmer and energy bills are much lower. It also introduces thermostatic radiator valves as a standard, ensuring better temperatures, comfort and energy savings in park homes.
Better Ventilation
Under the BS 3632:2023, all rooms within a compliant park home require a permanently open vent to improve air quality and reduce condensation. A range of updated designs for roof ventilation are also part of this update, with moisture control and ventilation being a renewed priority.
More Safety
Smoke and heat alarms must be installed to a defined grade and category to ensure optimal safety for park home residents under the BS 3632:2023. All entrance doors must meet a means of escape requirement and internal doors must meet a minimum clear opening width.
Miscellaneous Improvements
Homes built to the new standard must have serial number identification markings in at least three set places to provide buyers and tenants with full commercial transparency. Sound insulation and alternative energy systems are also fully incorporated into the BS 3632:2023, offering a greater degree of flexibility for manufacturers building sustainable properties.
Why the BS 3632 Makes a Difference with Concept Capital Group
According to a 2022 Park Homes Research Report by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, an estimated 85,000 households live in 2,000 parks across the UK, with the vast majority of those household members aged 65 or older. As such, there is a necessity for park home developers and managers to minimise the risk of exploitation by providing secure, transparent housing services that cater to a range of accessibility needs.
While the homes sold at Concept Capital Group are modular properties and not conventional park homes, our alignment with the BSI’s ever-evolving BS 3632 standards allows us to convey the quality of our homes to investors and tenants through a widely recognised, government-backed body. As a socially impactful real asset investment opportunity, our modular homes promote sustainability and housing affordability for our tenants while representing a reliable, ethical source of passive income for our investors. With the BS 3632 as a guideline, we constantly seek innovative ways to create more equitable property investment solutions for alternative investors.
For more information on the BS 3632 and our real asset investment packages, book a call with our team today.
