Canada’s first 3D-printed homes completed
May 15, 2023
Huntsman Building Solutions (HBS), Nidus3D, Great Northern Insulation (GNI), and Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex have completed the first 3D-printed homes in Canada with plans for more to come in the following years.
The project will provide affordable housing to those at risk of homelessness. Four units have been built and certified, with designs focused on accessibility and net-zero emissions. The four-plex housing offers a kitchen and living space, a bathroom with mechanicals, and a bedroom that suits one to two residents.
Planning for the project began in 2021 when Habitat for Humanity and the University of Windsor partnered with HBS and GNI on delivering 3D-printed housing.
For this groundbreaking project, HBS used closed-cell pour-in-place foam (PIP Foam 250) due to its ability to virtually fit any space. An insulation product that can also provide an air and vapour barrier, as well as weather resistance, means less products are required for the construction process, according to HBS territory manager for Ontario Rob Serino.
Less products for the construction process translates into lowered costs and construction times, and lowers environmental impact, according to Serino.
“What’s great about using our PIP Foam 250 in these homes is that no maintenance of the insulation will be required. The product will remain durable and airtight for the home’s lifetime,” he said.