| Structural Design | Confirm the structural system, design loads, connection method, and foundation requirements for the destination country. | Project-specific structural calculations should cover dead, live, wind, snow, seismic, transport, and lifting loads where applicable. | Signed structural drawings, calculation package, connection details, foundation loads, and engineer credentials. | Transportable cabins can experience different loads during lifting, shipping, installation, and long-term occupancy. |
| Applicable Building Codes | Check whether the design complies with the building, fire, electrical, plumbing, and accessibility rules of the installation location. | Compliance should be assessed against the destination jurisdiction rather than relying only on factory or export-country approval. | Code compliance statement, local consultant review, permit drawings, and certificates required by the importing authority. | Prefabricated construction does not automatically exempt a cabin from local permitting or inspection requirements. |
| Fire Performance | Review the reaction-to-fire and fire-resistance performance of wall, roof, floor, insulation, façade, doors, and interior finish materials. | Specify the required fire classification and resistance period according to the local building code and occupancy type. | Material fire-test reports, classification reports, fire-door certificates, and tested wall or floor assemblies. | Fire performance depends on the complete assembly, not only on the insulation or external cladding used. |
| Thermal Insulation | Verify the insulation material, thickness, thermal bridges, window specification, roof build-up, and floor insulation. | Use a calculated whole-envelope U-value appropriate for the project climate; do not evaluate insulation by thickness alone. | Thermal calculations, material datasheets, condensation analysis, and window performance data. | Insufficient thermal design can increase energy costs and create condensation or mold risks. |
| Moisture and Condensation Control | Check vapor-control layers, ventilation paths, drainage details, roof penetrations, wet-room waterproofing, and sealant durability. | The envelope should have a documented water-management strategy and a condensation assessment for the destination climate. | Wall-section drawings, waterproofing specifications, test records, installation instructions, and warranty terms. | Moisture damage is often caused by interfaces and installation details rather than by the main wall panel. |
| Electrical Safety | Confirm voltage, frequency, plug type, earthing, distribution-board design, residual-current protection, cable ratings, and appliance compatibility. | Electrical equipment and installation should comply with the destination country’s electrical regulations and inspection process. | Single-line diagram, wiring diagram, component certificates, inspection records, and load schedule. | Electrical systems designed for one market may not be legal or compatible in another market. |
| Plumbing and Sanitation | Review water pressure requirements, drainage slope, pipe materials, hot-water capacity, freeze protection, and wastewater connection options. | The system should be tested for leakage and configured for the available water, sewer, septic, or treatment infrastructure. | Plumbing drawings, pressure-test results, drainage details, equipment manuals, and winterization instructions. | Remote sites may require tanks, pumps, septic systems, or special freeze-protection measures. |
| Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality | Check fresh-air supply, exhaust capacity, bathroom ventilation, kitchen extraction, filtration, and heat-recovery options. | Ventilation capacity should be calculated for the occupancy level and local residential or hospitality requirements. | Ventilation drawings, airflow calculations, fan specifications, noise data, and commissioning procedure. | Well-sealed cabins need controlled ventilation to manage humidity, odors, and indoor pollutants. |
| Water and Airtightness Testing | Ask how the manufacturer tests the finished cabin, windows, doors, roof joints, service penetrations, and external panels. | A documented inspection and testing plan should be completed before dispatch, with defects recorded and closed. | Factory acceptance test, inspection checklist, photographs, leak-test records, and nonconformity report. | Factory testing can identify defects before international shipping makes correction expensive. |
| Factory Quality Management | Assess production controls, incoming-material inspection, welding or assembly procedures, traceability, and final inspection. | A documented quality-management system with controlled drawings and revision records should be in place. | Quality manual, inspection and test plan, process records, audit reports, and sample production records. | Repeatable quality is more important than appearance in a single showroom or sample unit. |
| Materials and Durability | Verify corrosion protection, façade finish, roof membrane, sealants, fasteners, flooring, cabinetry, and exterior exposure ratings. | Materials should be selected for the site’s humidity, UV exposure, temperature range, salt exposure, and maintenance plan. | Material schedules, coating specifications, product datasheets, expected service-life information, and maintenance instructions. | Low initial cost may lead to higher replacement and maintenance costs in harsh environments. |
| Transport Dimensions and Weight | Confirm packed dimensions, gross weight, lifting points, center of gravity, route restrictions, and unloading equipment. | The final shipping plan should be based on verified production weight and the actual route, port, vehicle, and crane limits. | Certified weight sheet, dimensional drawing, lifting plan, packing list, and transport method statement. | Unexpected oversize, overweight, or lifting requirements can substantially increase landed cost. |
| Installation Scope | Define what is included in delivery, placement, utility connection, interior completion, commissioning, and site restoration. | The contract should include a responsibility matrix identifying supplier, buyer, contractor, and utility-provider tasks. | Installation manual, scope-of-supply list, method statement, site-readiness checklist, and commissioning report. | Many disputes arise from unclear exclusions such as foundations, cranes, local wiring, and utility connections. |
| Lead Time and Production Capacity | Separate design approval, permitting, production, inspection, shipping, customs clearance, and installation time. | The purchase contract should include milestone dates, approval deadlines, production status updates, and delay remedies. | Detailed project schedule, production plan, capacity statement, progress-report format, and milestone payment terms. | A quoted manufacturing lead time may exclude engineering, export documentation, shipping, and site preparation. |
| Warranty and After-Sales Service | Review coverage for structure, waterproofing, electrical equipment, plumbing fixtures, appliances, finishes, and replacement parts. | Warranty periods, exclusions, response times, repair responsibilities, and spare-parts availability should be stated in writing. | Warranty certificate, service procedure, spare-parts list, maintenance schedule, and escalation contacts. | International warranty support can be difficult if repairs require proprietary parts or factory technicians. |
| Commercial Terms | Compare the full landed cost, including tooling, packaging, inland transport, freight, insurance, duties, taxes, installation, and inspection. | Use a line-by-line quotation with currency, Incoterms, payment milestones, validity period, exclusions, and change-order rules. | Pro forma invoice, commercial quotation, Incoterms reference, packing specification, and total-cost worksheet. | The lowest factory price may not be the lowest delivered and installed cost. |
| Pre-Shipment Inspection | Arrange an independent or buyer-approved inspection before final payment and dispatch. | Inspection should cover dimensions, materials, finishes, operation of systems, documentation, and correction of recorded defects. | Inspection checklist, test certificates, photographic record, punch list, and signed acceptance report. | Resolving defects before shipment is generally faster and less expensive than correcting them after arrival. |
| Payment Risk | Link payments to verifiable milestones rather than paying the entire balance before production and inspection are complete. | Use staged payments tied to drawing approval, production completion, inspection acceptance, and shipping documentation. | Contract milestone schedule, retention terms, inspection rights, cancellation provisions, and dispute-resolution clause. | Milestone-based payment reduces exposure if specifications, delivery dates, or quality requirements are not met. |
