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Front page
Front page

NHA Standard Housing Models
MANUAL GUIDELINES
SECOND EDITION
Published By:
HOUSING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
2016
NHA Standard Housing Models
MANUAL GUIDELINES
SECOND EDITION
Published By:
HOUSING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
2016

NHA Standard Housing Models Manual
This second edition of the NHA Standard Housing Models Manual serves the following purposes:
An official document:
The manual serves as an official document to which NHA officials and stakeholders can refer to for information
about agency-approved standard housing models. As such, the existence of the manual indicates that other
housing models, those which are not included in the manual, are not official and cannot be implemented for
housing projects being undertaken by the NHA.
A planning tool in the housing production and delivery process:
The manual compiles information about all standard housing models that are relevant in the planning stage of
a housing project so that planners and stakeholders can easily review and compare available options.
Furthermore, the manual communicates the design goals and strategies behind the housing models, clarifying
why models are designed the way they are. In effect, the manual serves as a guide for selecting housing
models that are well-suited to project requirements.
NHA Standard Housing Models Manual
This second edition of the NHA Standard Housing Models Manual serves the following purposes:
An official document:
The manual serves as an official document to which NHA officials and stakeholders can refer to for information
about agency-approved standard housing models. As such, the existence of the manual indicates that other
housing models, those which are not included in the manual, are not official and cannot be implemented for
housing projects being undertaken by the NHA.
A planning tool in the housing production and delivery process:
The manual compiles information about all standard housing models that are relevant in the planning stage of
a housing project so that planners and stakeholders can easily review and compare available options.
Furthermore, the manual communicates the design goals and strategies behind the housing models, clarifying
why models are designed the way they are. In effect, the manual serves as a guide for selecting housing
models that are well-suited to project requirements.

CONTENTS
CONTENTS

BACKGROUND
The first edition of the manual was the result of a standardization effort to ensure that housing units produced
by the agency were of good quality. Existing housing structures at the time were reviewed and analyzed.
Cost-efficiency, code compliance, functionality, and cultural appropriateness were examined. Through
the study, specific design and construction strategies for adaptability and cost-effectiveness were formulated.
Having these strategies in hand, housing prototypes were designed, the plans and details of which comprised
the first edition of the manual.
Since the first edition, product requirements have changed significantly so, such that the plans of the
prototypes in the first edition have ceased to be applicable to NHA housing projects. As new requirements
emerged, some aspects of the prototypes were adjusted to suit. In other cases, new building prototypes were
developed altogether. These new prototypes, or models, being the applicable and relevant solutions at present,
comprise this second edition of the manual.
BACKGROUND
The first edition of the manual was the result of a standardization effort to ensure that housing units produced
by the agency were of good quality. Existing housing structures at the time were reviewed and analyzed.
Cost-efficiency, code compliance, functionality, and cultural appropriateness were examined. Through
the study, specific design and construction strategies for adaptability and cost-effectiveness were formulated.
Having these strategies in hand, housing prototypes were designed, the plans and details of which comprised
the first edition of the manual.
Since the first edition, product requirements have changed significantly so, such that the plans of the
prototypes in the first edition have ceased to be applicable to NHA housing projects. As new requirements
emerged, some aspects of the prototypes were adjusted to suit. In other cases, new building prototypes were
developed altogether. These new prototypes, or models, being the applicable and relevant solutions at present,
comprise this second edition of the manual.

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