Modular construction has been used in industrial settings for decades but lacks comprehensive guidelines for civil engineers. The ASCE Energy Division’s Task Committee on Onshore Heavy Industrial Modularization Guidelines worked for six years to help fill that gap, and the result is the recently published Structural Design of Modules for Energy and Industrial Facilities, which provides best practices for modularization. The authors of the book will present their findings at the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute’s Structures Congress 2025.

The guide primarily targets structural engineers designing modular structures but is also useful for project teams, building officials, and educators. Modularization offers cost-effectiveness, quality control, and sustainability benefits, particularly in remote or congested areas. It also mitigates skilled labor shortages by shifting work to controlled environments.

Offsite fabrication provides better quality control and project efficiency but requires early planning and management coordination. The key takeaway is that modularization must be decided early in a project’s lifecycle, as it fundamentally impacts design, logistics, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Since no standard codes exist, engineers must rely on fundamental engineering principles and judgments in modular design.

Major process and engineering companies, who have heavily used modules were on the task committee.  There were also representatives from the transport companies who haul the modules.  It was a joint effort with Process Industry Practices (PIP) who developed specifications on modules based on the report.

Its lead authors will be presenting key findings April 10 at the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute’s Structures Congress 2025. They also spoke with Civil Engineering Source about their book, along with the how and why behind modularization.

Presentations of the session will be as follows:

  • ASCE Task committee chair, David Kerins, will provide an overview of the New PIP Design Criteria, PIP STC01016 – Structural Design Criteria for Modules.
  • ASCE Task committee members will discuss the topic of Weight Management from the ASCE report and PIP specifications.
  • Mammoet USA will share module engineering and design considerations for the design of rigging and lift lugs focusing on heavy modules / processing vessels from the land transporter’s perspectives.
  • Co-authors of the proceeding paper will discuss Land Transport Securement of Equipment and Modular Structures for Energy and Industrial Facilities from owner, EPC, and heavy haul/heavy lift consultant’s perspective.

Read more about the new guideline at ASCE's Civil Engineering Source.

Learn more about the guideline, Structural Design of Modules for Energy and Industrial Facilities.

Attend Structures Congress 2025.

Find additional ASCE resources on modular construction including the Special Collection on Modular Construction/Off-site Construction’ and infographic available in the ASCE Library.