Modular offices are one of the fastest and most reliable ways to set up workspace on-site. But buying the right one isn’t just about size and price, it comes down to getting the details right from the start.
We’ve been manufacturing modular buildings for over 20 years, with proven setups delivered across WA’s toughest regions and industries.
We’ve put together this buying guide to help you choose the right modular office for your job. It covers building types, layout options, services, approvals, site preparation, delivery, and costs so you can plan properly and avoid delays later.
What is a Modular Office?
A modular office is a pre-manufactured building designed to be transported and installed on-site. It’s built off-site in a controlled environment, delivered complete, and ready for connection to power, water, and data.
These buildings are used when permanent construction is too slow, too costly, or not practical. They’re common on construction sites, mine camps, logistics depots, regional government projects, and anywhere temporary or semi-permanent infrastructure is needed.
At Instant Transportable Offices, we see modular buildings as more than just ‘offices’. They’re open-plan, adaptable spaces that can be used for admin, lunchrooms, training rooms, meeting areas, or storage (essentially, whatever the job needs).
Modular offices come in a range of sizes and layouts, from your everyday open-plan site offices to high-spec, premium setups that visually look like normal buildings. They can be customised to suit almost any requirement, including accessibility, cyclonic compliance, and placement alongside other buildings such as lunchrooms, ablution blocks, or modular accommodation units.
Once on-site, they’re fast to deploy and easy to relocate or expand. For businesses needing flexibility without cutting corners on compliance or comfort, modular offices are the go-to solution.
What’s Included as Standard
All our modular offices come pre-finished with durable materials and essential features ready for immediate use. Standard inclusions across most builds include:
- Steel modular frame with floor-mounted lifting points
- Fully insulated floors, walls, and roof
- Commercial-grade vinyl flooring
- Prefinished off-white internal walls and ceiling (Colorbond Surfmist tone)
- Secure doors and windows (can include mesh or tint)
- Power, lighting, and split-system air conditioning
Every unit is manufactured in WA under strict QA, ensuring a clean, strong, and comfortable workspace that’s built to last.
Key Benefits of Modular Offices
Modular offices are built to solve real problems on-site. They save time, reduce risk, and give you a fully functional workspace without the overheads of traditional construction. Below are the key reasons they’re used across WA’s commercial, government, and industrial sectors.
Fast to Deploy
Modular offices are manufactured off-site and delivered ready to use. That means no lengthy construction windows, no waiting on trades, and no weather delays. Most buildings can be delivered and installed within days, not months, so operations don’t stall waiting on infrastructure.
Built for WA Conditions
From high heat to remote terrain, modular offices are made for tough environments. Insulation, ventilation, split-system air conditioning, and structural reinforcements are all standard. For northern regions, buildings can be rated for Cyclonic Region D, with engineer-certified tie-down systems ready to go.
NCC and AS-Compliant
All offices are built to meet the National Construction Code (NCC) and can be supplied to AS1428 standards for accessibility. This covers everything from structural safety to door widths, ramps, and handrails. Whether you’re dealing with government approvals or internal compliance, boxes are ticked.
Custom Fit-Outs Available
Need a kitchenette, additional power points, split-system air conditioning or security upgrades installed? Modular doesn’t mean basic. Offices can be configured with custom flooring, lighting, windows, electrical, and internal linings to match your use case. External cladding options are also available for branded or public-facing setups.
If you need something more specific, we offer custom design options to suit your project.
Easy to Relocate
Modular buildings are designed to move. They can be lifted by crane or Hiab, transported to a new site, and reinstalled with minimal downtime. This makes them ideal for shifting project sites, seasonal work, or temporary infrastructure that doesn’t need to be rebuilt from scratch.
Lower Disruption
Because buildings arrive finished, there’s no extended crew on site, no heavy machinery tying up access, and no clean-up or curing time. This reduces the impact on day-to-day operations, which is especially useful on active job sites or community facilities.
More Predictable Costs
With modular builds, you know the cost upfront. There’s no blowout from weather delays, subcontractor issues, or mid-build changes. You also avoid the lengthy planning, resourcing, and project management that comes with on-site construction.
Buying vs Hiring: What’s Best for Your Project
Although this is a buying guide, it’s still worth quickly covering the difference between hiring and buying a modular office. Both options have their place depending on how long the building is needed and what the job demands.
Buying a Modular Office
Buying is perfect for projects with ongoing or repeated use. It gives you full ownership and more control over how the building is customised. If you’re setting up permanent infrastructure or know you’ll be relocating the same unit from site to site, buying often works out better in the long run.
Key Benefits of Buying
- Long-term cost savings
- Full control over layout and fit-out
- Treated as a business asset
- Suitable for repeat use across multiple sites, with no hire limits
Hiring a Modular Office
Hiring works well for short-term projects or temporary needs. It gives you fast access to a fully functional building without the upfront capital cost. Maintenance is included during the hire period, and once the job is done, there’s nothing to store or move.
Key Benefits of Hiring
- Lower upfront cost
- Fast deployment for short-term jobs
- No ownership or storage to manage
- Maintenance handled as part of hire
Want a full comparison to help make the call? Read our blog on Hiring vs Buying Portable Offices.
Other Site Office Options We Offer
While this guide focuses on modular offices, we also offer a full range of portable site office buildings for shorter-term jobs or where modular isn’t required. These are fast to deploy, fully functional, and ideal for day-to-day site needs.
Portable Site Offices
Tough, practical, and built for daily use on active worksites. Portable Site Offices are typically open-plan or two-room setups (we also offer three-room setups), fitted with air con, lighting, power points, and secure access. These are perfect for supervisors, admin, or short-term teams needing a functional base.
To learn more about how portable offices are built and used, read our blog on What is a Transportable Building.
Portable Premium Offices
Designed for more ‘permanent use’ or client-facing operations, Portable Premium Offices come with architectural finishes, commercial glazing, plasterboard linings, integrated air conditioning, and options such as timber-look cladding. They’re often used for sales suites, head contractor spaces, or where presentation matters.
If you’re wanting a full breakdown of the differences between our standard and premium offices, read our blog on Portable Site Offices vs Premium Offices.
Office Complexes
Multiple units can be combined to create a larger office footprint. Portable Office Complexes can be configured with meeting rooms, breakout areas, private offices, and shared admin zones. These are common on longer-term projects with higher headcount or layered departments.
Key Factors to Consider Before Buying
a) Size, Layout and Usage
Start with what the building needs to do. Will it be a shared admin space? A private office for site management? A training room or a secure area for storage? That will determine the layout and whether you need an open plan, two-room, three-room, or partitioned setup.
Think about how many people will be using it, what equipment needs space, and whether foot traffic, noise, or split teams need to be managed. Internal fit-outs such as kitchenettes, desks, power points and air con can all be configured based on usage.
Not sure on what layout works best? Read our guide on Choosing the Right Donga Size and Layout.
b) Location and Climate Requirements
If your building is heading into cyclone-prone regions (such as Region D), it needs to meet reinforced wind loading standards under the National Construction Code. That means cyclonic tie-down systems, upgraded structural framing, and engineered footings.
We manufacture both standard and cyclonic-rated modular offices. For northern WA sites, Region D compliance is non-negotiable and must be considered at the quoting stage to avoid issues during install or inspection.
Learn more in our blog on Cyclonic vs Non-Cyclonic Buildings, or view our full breakdown of Cyclonic Rating Building Codes.
c) Services: Power, Water, Data
Each building needs to be connected to site services. Power is typically required for lighting, split systems, and internal equipment. Depending on use, you may also need water and waste connections for kitchenettes or adjacent amenities such as toilets and showers.
Plan where the building will be placed and check whether services are already in place or need to be added. We can coordinate this during delivery, but clear plans help avoid downtime on install day.
d) Approvals and Compliance
Most modular office installs require approval through local councils or private certifiers. Buildings must meet NCC standards, and if accessibility is required, they’ll need to comply with AS1428 (e.g. ramp access, door widths, and clear turning space).
We offer assistance with approvals if needed and can build to spec for both standard and accessible use cases. It’s worth checking early what documentation is needed so there are no surprises closer to handover.
If the building is being installed permanently or needs council sign-off, you may also need a 6-star energy efficiency assessment under the NCC. We can help organise this as part of the compliance process and advise on what’s required for your site.
Costs, ROI, and Long-Term Value
Modular offices offer strong value, especially when time, flexibility, and future use matter. The initial cost depends on the size, layout, spec, and site conditions, but long-term savings are where modular shines.
Compared to traditional construction, modular buildings are faster, simpler to install, and easier to manage. And once the building’s on-site, it becomes a working asset.
Key benefits from a cost and ROI perspective:
- Faster setup means less downtime and quicker project starts
- Off-site manufacturing avoids weather delays and site disruptions
- Fewer trades required and minimal project management overhead
- Reusable across jobs for long-term value (if purchased)
- Depreciation benefits as a movable capital asset
- Predictable pricing with minimal variation from quote to delivery
If you’re looking to compare modular builds with permanent construction, read our guide on Modular vs Traditional In-situ Buildings.
Delivery and Installation Process
We’ve delivered thousands of modular buildings across Western Australia and know exactly what’s needed to get the job done right. That’s why we typically handle the full delivery and installation process ourselves to make sure your building arrives exactly as it should, without the risk of delays or mistakes from third-party contractors.
Once your modular office is signed off, our team takes care of the rest. Here’s what the process typically looks like.
Step 1: Build and Preparation
Once approved, your building is constructed in our WA-based manufacturing facility under controlled conditions. All units go through a multi-point QA process covering frame integrity, cladding, internal fit-outs, lighting, air con, flooring, and window security. If custom modifications are part of the scope, we handle those in-house before dispatch.
Step 2: Site Preparation
Your site needs to be ready before delivery. We’ll confirm access requirements, site levels, and advise if concrete footings or groundworks are needed — especially in cyclonic regions. In most cases, footings are required for structural stability, long-term levelness, and council compliance.
If you’re unsure about the difference between footing types or whether your building needs them, we’ve covered that here in our blog on Why Are Concrete Footings Needed for Transportable Buildings?.
We can supply standard or cyclonic-rated footings ex-Perth and arrange installation, ensuring the whole process aligns with engineering specs and NCC guidelines.
Step 3: Transport
Depending on your location and site access, buildings are transported using tilt trays, side-loaders, or crane assist. All units are secured, protected during transit, and delivered with clear communication around arrival time and on-site positioning.
We deliver across the Perth metro area and throughout regional WA, including remote mine and infrastructure sites.
Step 4: Installation and Connections
Once on site, the building is craned into position (or slid into place) and installed on the prepared footings. We ensure level alignment, tie-downs are properly fixed, and the structure is stabilised per Region A or D compliance if applicable. If steps, ramps, or access systems are required, these are installed at this stage.
Service connections (power, water, and data) can be handled by your contractors or coordinated through our team, depending on your preference.
Step 5: Handover
A final walkthrough is completed to ensure the building meets spec and is ready for use. All internal systems (lights, power points, AC) are tested, keys handed over, and any additional details (such as maintenance or warranty info) are explained on-site.
From this point, the building is ready for immediate operation.
Common FAQs about Buying Modular Offices
How are modular offices used?
We’ve supplied modular offices to construction, mining, transport, logistics, education, government, and private sector clients. They’re commonly used as:
- Site offices and meeting rooms
- Project management bases
- Admin blocks and storage areas
- Training rooms and breakout areas
- Temporary or permanent operational HQs
With custom layouts and fit-outs available, these buildings are made to suit your use case.
Read the full breakdown of Industry Use Cases.
Do I need council approval to install a modular office?
In most cases, yes, especially for permanent installations. Approval requirements vary by council and use case. You’ll likely need a building permit and to meet all NCC and accessibility regulations. We offer help with this process if you need support getting things over the line.
How quickly can a modular office be delivered?
We keep a wide range of standard modular offices in stock and ready for dispatch. If a custom setup is needed, we’ll manufacture it to spec. Timeframes depend on scope and requirements, but standard offices can often be delivered in under 1–2 weeks for metro WA.
Get Expert Help Choosing the Right Modular Office
Hopefully this guide has given you a clear understanding of what to consider when buying a modular office.
At Instant Transportable Offices, we’ve been manufacturing and delivering modular buildings across Western Australia for over two decades. If you’re looking for modular offices for sale, we’ve got proven solutions that are ready to go and we can customise to suit.
If you’ve got questions, need help with a quote, or want advice on your site setup, give us a call on 1300 315 950 or contact us online. Our team’s here to help you get it sorted.
Managing Director at Instant Transportable Offices
Scott Rawson is the Managing Director of Instant Products Group, a specialist group of companies that offer portable building solutions, including sea containers, transportable offices, and portable sanitation products. With more than 20 years of experience in various management positions and a finalist in the WA Business News 40 under 40 awards in 2013, Scott is a highly motivated entrepreneur that has a passion for designing products to suit the needs of individual markets. From the creation of Instant Products Group over 20 years ago, he has successfully grown the group into a multi-million dollar corporation and his success is widely recognised in Western Australia. Scott is dedicated to expanding Instant Products Group nationally and providing high-quality products to a range of sectors, including mining, engineering, property development, and government.