Montana has become the first state in the nation to adopt broad-ranging regulatory approval for the use of 3D printing in construction.

The state’s building code regulators recently voted to approve local contractor Tim Stark’s request to 3D print walls as an equal replacement for either CMUs or standard cored concrete blocks. 

Stark was petitioning to use the special wall prototype developed by the Florida-based construction technology company Apis Cor and later tested at the University of Connecticut’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, resulting in a specification that was published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2019.

Stark seeks to incorporate 3D printing into multiple housing developments in the hopes of expediting the construction process while at the same time reducing overall costs that would otherwise be passed down to consumers. Industry statistics appear to support this decision. According to the company, the cost of a finished home built with an Apis Cor printer can equal up to 30% less than traditionally built concrete block or wood-framed houses.  

Montana has been particularly afflicted by an influx of out-of-state residents which has driven the average home price up by 23.8%, with Billings, the state’s largest municipality, increasing some 32% compared to 2020, earning it a place in the Top 10 of this year’s WSJ/Realtor.com Emerging Housing Markets Index.

Developers like Stark are now facing an uphill battle precipitated by two decades of underproduction they argue can only be assuaged through a rapid increase in production. Addressing the issue, state Commissioner of Labor & Industry Laurie Esau said: "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." 

This could set a very important precedent for the rest of the nation as states like California are facing even greater problems of supply and demand in their own housing markets as supply chain issues, labor shortages, and inflation abound. 

"This is exciting news for all home builders and of course the 3D printed homes industry," Apis Cor co-founder and CEO Anna Cheniuntai said in light of this fact. "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. 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."