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Industry Under Construction: Will Eleventh Hour
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The Manufactured Home Installation Program, Federal Register June 14, 2006
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An
Industry Under Construction: Will Eleventh Hour
Politics Slow the Rush of Change Under the New
HUD Code Home Installation Plan?
Automated
Builder, September 2006
By
Art Angelo
ESCONDIDO,
CA - On June 14, 2006, the Nation had it's first
look at the new Manufactured Home Installation
Program as seen in the Federal Register
reflecting an intensity and commitment to change
the way manufactured homes are built and
installed under the new Manufactured Housing
Improvement Act. So, I'd like to break for a
moment and commend HUD and all those involved in
drawing the necessary policy lines that will
ensure this new caliber of durable, quality
affordable housing by adding new minimum
standards to the installation and their
commitment to enforcement of the new Act.
The
Manufactured Housing Industry was long overdue
for an overhaul. That's because, until now,
there were no real installation standards or
requirements for the installation of a
manufactured home other than the manufacturer's
installation instructions.
Accountability
and enforcement were nearly non-existent and
most states treated manufactured homes as travel
trailers. As a result, what was actually a
well-built home performed just like a travel
trailer, mostly traveling through the air when
struck by hurricane or earthquake forces. For
many, the pursuit of the American Dream of home
ownership became an American nightmare of costly
structural repairs resulting from improperly
installed manufactured homes.
Before
you purchase a manufactured home, HUD and
Congress think there are some things you need to
know. Under the new act, certain disclosures
would be required to help home purchasers
understand the installation requirements and
installation related responsibilities of home
manufacturers, retailers and installers. These
disclosures advise purchasers of the
installation requirements that will apply to
their manufactured homes, including verification
that the home is designed for wind, thermal and
roof loads where the home is to be sited.
In
the event the initial home site is not yet
known, the retailer must provide additional
disclosures to the purchaser about the design
limitations and the risk that an improperly
sited home may not pass the required
inspections.
Manufacturers
will be required to provide installation
instructions for supporting the manufactured
home for both temporarily and permanent
installations to prevent the home from being out
of compliance. If the manufacturer's
installation instructions do not provide the
required level of protection, the manufacturer
will be responsible for the failure of the home
to comply with the installation standards.
In
the past, and even now, non-compliant support
systems ranging from unreinforced concrete
blocks to steel piers and other types of wind
systems and earthquake braces have resulted in
costly structural damage to manufactured homes
simply because they were designed to hold the
home in place rather than transforming and
distributing the weight of the building onto the
ground.\
The
new act recognizes that a properly engineered
foundation is the first step in creating
durable, quality affordable housing. Even homes
that are temporarily installed on a retail
dealer's lot or rented space in a mobile home
park will be required to be installed in
compliance with HUD's requirements.
Retailers
and distributors also will share the
responsibility of preventing the home from being
out of compliance insuring each transportable
section (permanent or temporary) is set up in
accordance with the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
The
act recognizes quality installation work to be
essential to the performance of the new home.
Installation of new manufactured homes in states
without a qualifying installation program must
hire a licensed installer who will retain the
primary responsibility for performance of the
installation work in compliance with the
requirements of the act.
The
act mandates quality installation work to
include the following:
- Verifying
the suitability of the site for the
placement of the home.
- Ensuring
the installation has been performed in
accordance with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.
- And
the suitability of the proposed foundation
or support stabilization system.
If
the installer believes the home cannot be
installed properly at the site, the installer
must notify the contracting parties, including
the retailer and must decline to install the
home unless or until the deficiencies are
remedied.
After
completion the installer would be required to
arrange for the work to be inspected by a third
party in a timely manner. Upon verification of
compliance from a qualified inspector the
installer would then certify the installation.
Licensed
installers will be required to obtain training
from approved trainers who would be responsible
for teaching a curriculum that enables
installers to pass a HUD administered or HUD
approved test.
In
addition to the required disclosures, any
agreement or contract that would cause you as a
purchaser to waive any rights afforded you under
the act will result in the agreement or contract
you under the act will result in the agreement
or contract you signed becoming null and void.
For
more information about the new Act, a copy of
the Federal Register with important highlighted
sections can be obtained at www.suresafe.com/MH%20Installation%20Program.pdf
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