Montana Approves 3D Concrete Walls

Montana's Department of Labor & Industry is the first state to recognize 3D concrete printing as a replacement for walls traditionally made of concrete masonry unit blocks.

Montana Approves 3D Concrete Printed Walls
Apis Cor

While a handful of 3D-concrete printed buildings have already been placed in the U.S., the state of Montana has become the first to approve 3D-concrete printed walls as a replacement for walls traditionally made with a standard cored concrete block. 

The state granted approval to Tim Stark, a general contractor from Billings. Contracted for a single-family housing development project, Stark hoped to lower the cost of production by utilizing automation technologies and requested permission to use the 3D-printing process and equipment by Apis Cor.

While housing prices nationwide have risen dramatically over the past few years, Montana was more affected than most interior states as residents left coastal cities seeking a higher quality of life and affordable living. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Montana had a 23.8% increase in average home price in 2021. The national average was 17.4%. 

Billings alone was in the Top 10 of the WSJ/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index and has seen a 32% increase in home prices from 2020 as demand outstrips supply.

Housing developers are eager to make up for two decades of underproduction that led to the housing crisis by increasing their output, but in many cases, red tape, excessive fees, and exclusionary zoning policies can artificially cap the supply of housing. In the case of Montana, regulators are doing the opposite.

Montana Approves 3D Concrete Printed WallsApis Cor

The approval applies not just to single-family dwellings but also to all types of construction that must follow the state building code. The code includes requirements for construction and construction materials to be consistent with accepted standards of design, engineering, and fire prevention practices, and to use technology that reduces cost of construction and promotes efficient use of energy use but still complies with health and safety standards.

"The need for safe, quality affordable housing is significant across Montana, and this approval puts Montana at the forefront of innovative housing construction technologies nationwide," says Commissioner of Labor & Industry Laurie Esau. "The Department will continue to work to ensure that our standards and regulations are keeping pace with the innovation taking place in the industry to help facilitate new construction for Montana's workers and families."

Apis Cor co-founder and CEO Anna Cheniuntai is excited as to what this means for all home builders. "Having this clear support from the state of Montana paves the way for faster decisions at the county level, which will make it easier for developers to move forward on their 3D-printed housing projects," she says. "While the path is open in all states, Montana is taking a stand in advocating for the smooth approval process, thus opening up massive opportunities for efficiently produced housing."

This marks a significant move in both the construction industry as well as for the 3D-printing world. Earlier 2022, the company received official Regulation A+ qualification by the SEC to investors. 

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