Identification of regulatory constraints and strategies for dealing with them in a context of exporting to local markets (1000km)

This dissertation is the result of my MSc project in Wood Engineering and Bio-Sourced Materials at the CIRCERB (Industrial Research Chair on Eco-Responsible Wood Construction) at Laval University, Quebec. 

You can read it in full here.

Abstract

In Quebec and around the world, prefabricated wood construction has been booming for several years now, thanks to new technologies, new know-how and new political and public awareness of the need to use biobased materials as part of an effort to decarbonise the economy. Today, companies of all sizes are competing for the local market in the Quebec construction industry, and that's the context in which this research took place. 

The general aim of this research project is to help Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the prefabricated wood construction sector to understand the regulatory constraints involved in exporting their products to the New England states. By facilitating access to this local market (1000km by road), these SMEs may be able to take on projects that were previously inaccessible due to a lack of understanding of the various regulations and certifications in place. This research is therefore divided into two main areas. 

The aim is to create a decision-making tool by characterising the regulatory constraints associated with the certification of the export of prefabricated wood construction products by Quebec companies to New England. This objective was the subject of a scientific article introduced in this dissertation. 

The second work carried out during this master's degree was to create a guide to exporting prefabricated building sections from Canada to the United States for the benefit of the uninitiated or construction professionals wishing to learn more. This document summarises the standard framework for prefabricated construction projects, identifying the various regulations, certifications and sources of information to help overcome the constraints associated with exporting. These two objectives lay the foundations for future research on the subject.