Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) All new manufactured homes shall be
installed by a licensed installer and in accordance with the home
manufacturer's DAPIA-approved installation instructions.
(b) All used manufactured homes shall be
installed by a licensed installer to resist overturning and lateral movement of
the home, and the installation must be completed in accordance with
instructions appropriate for the Wind Zone where the home is to be installed as
per one of the following:
(1) the home
manufacturer's DAPIA-approved installation instructions;
(2) the state's generic standards set forth
in §§
RSA
80.22,
RSA
80.23,
RSA
80.24, and
RSA
80.25 of this subchapter (relating to
Installation Standards and Device Approvals);
(3) the instructions for a stabilization
system registered with the Department in accordance with §
RSA
80.26 of this subchapter (relating to
Registration of Stabilizing Components and Systems); or
(4) the instructions for a special
stabilization system which:
(A) may or may not
be a permanent foundation;
(B) is
for a particular manufactured home or an identified class of manufactured homes
to be installed at a particular area with similar soil properties according to
county soil survey or other geotechnical reports; and
(C) is either:
(i) a pre-existing foundation for which a
professional engineer or architect licensed in Texas has issued written
approval for the installation of a particular home, and the written approval
shall be submitted to the Department with the installation report; or
(ii) installed in accordance with a custom
designed stabilization system drawing that is stamped by a Texas licensed
professional engineer or architect. A copy of the stabilization system drawing
must be forwarded to the Department along with the installation
report.
(c) When a home is installed on a
stabilization system registered with the Department or a special stabilization
system, the installer must follow the home manufacturer's DAPIA-approved
installation instructions for any aspect of the installation that is not
covered by the system's installation instructions or drawings.
(d) The installer must use stabilizing
components that have the required capacity and install them according to the
anchor or stabilizing component manufacturer's current installation
instructions. All stabilizing components must be resistant to all effects of
weathering including that encountered along the Texas gulf coast. Anchors must
be made resistant to corrosion. Nonconcrete stabilizing components and systems
for use within 1500 feet of the coastline shall be specifically certified for
this use. Preservative treated (PT) wood components shall conform to the
applicable standards issued by the American Wood Preserver's Association and
referenced by the latest edition of the International Residential Code. The use
of re-conditioned equipment (i.e. anchor, strap, and clip) or any anchoring
component by licensed installer on the new installations is not permitted.
Homeowners are exempt from this requirement provided the integrity of the
component is acceptable and approved by the state and the original product
number, vendor name, and/or patent number must be legible on the
product.
(e) Site Preparation
Responsibilities and Requirements:
(1) The
responsible installer of a new manufactured home is responsible for the proper
preparation of the site where the manufactured home will be
installed.
(2) A consumer acquiring
a used manufactured home to be installed is responsible for the proper
preparation of the site where the manufactured home will be installed except as
set forth in §
RSA
80.22 of this chapter (relating to Generic
Standards for Moisture and Ground Vapor Controls).
(3) Whenever a licensed retailer intends to
sell a used manufactured home, regardless of where it is located or is to be
located, the retailer is required to give the consumer the Site Preparation
Notice, for signature by the consumer, in the form set forth on the
Department's website PRIOR to the execution of any binding sales
agreement.
(4) Whenever a licensed
installer proposes to move a used manufactured home, the installer is required
to give the consumer the Site Preparation Notice, for signature by the
consumer, in the form set forth on the Department's website PRIOR to entering
into a binding agreement to move that home.
(f) If at the time of installation or within
90 days thereafter as stated on the contract, the retailer or installer
provides the materials for skirting or contracts for the installation of
skirting, the retailer or installer is responsible for installing any required
moisture and ground vapor control measures in accordance with the home
installation instructions, specifications of a registered stabilization system,
or the generic standards and shall provide for the proper cross ventilation of
the crawl space. If the consumer contracts with a person other than the
retailer or installer for the skirting, the consumer is responsible for
installing the moisture and ground vapor control measures and for providing for
the proper cross ventilation of the crawl space.
(g) Clearance: If the manufactured home is
installed according to the state's generic standards, a minimum clearance of 18
inches between the ground and the bottom of the floor joists must be
maintained. In addition, the installer shall be responsible for installing the
home with sufficient clearance between the I-Beams and the ground so that after
the crossover duct prescribed by the manufacturer is properly installed it will
not be in contact with the ground. Refer to §
RSA
80.25 of this chapter (relating to Generic
Standards for Multi-Section Connections Standards) for additional requirements
for utility connections. The Installer must remove all debris, sod, tree stumps
and other organic materials from all areas where footings are to be
located.
(h) Drainage: The
Installer is responsible for proper site drainage where a new manufactured home
is to be installed. The consumer is responsible for proper site drainage where
a used manufactured home is to be installed unless the home is installed in a
rental community. Drainage prevents water build-up under the home. Water
build-up may cause shifting or settling of the foundation, dampness in the
home, damage to siding and bottom board, buckling of walls and floors,
delamination of floor decking and problems with the operation of windows and
doors.
(i) Frost Line Zone.
(1) The following Texas counties have a 12
inch frost line depth to consider for the installation of a new manufactured
home: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran,
Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd,
Foard, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley,
Hutchinson, King, Knox, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree,
Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Wheeler, and
Wilbarger.
(2) For a new home to be
installed in a Frost Line Zone county, footings placed in freezing climates
must be designed using methods and practices that prevent the effects of frost
heave by one of the following methods:
(A)
Conventional footings. Conventional footings must be placed below the frost
line depth for the site unless an insulated foundation or monolithic slab is
used (refer to
24 CFR
§3285.312(b)(2) and
(3)).
(B) This is not subject to the provisions in
24 CFR
§3285.2(c)
that also require review by the manufacturer and approval by its DAPIA for any
variations to the manufacturer's installation instructions for support and
anchoring.
(C) Monolithic slab
systems. A monolithic slab is permitted above the frost line when all relevant
site-specific conditions, including soil characteristics, site preparation,
ventilation, and insulative properties of the under floor enclosure, are
considered and anchorage requirements are accommodated as set out in
24 CFR
§3285.401. The monolithic slab system
must be designed by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect:
(i) In accordance with acceptable engineering
practice to prevent the effects of frost heave; or
(ii) In accordance with SEI/ASCE 32-01 as
defined in
24 CFR
§3285.4.
(D) Insulated foundations. An insulated
foundation is permitted above the frost line, when all relevant site-specific
conditions, including soil characteristics, site preparation, ventilation, and
insulative properties of the under floor enclosure, are considered, and the
foundation is designed by a licensed professional engineer or registered
architect:
(i) In accordance with acceptable
engineering practice to prevent the effects of frost heave; or
(ii) In accordance with SEI/ASCE 32-01 as
defined in
24 CFR
§3285.4.
(j) Electrical testing. At the
time of installation, the following tests must be performed on all new
manufactured homes:
(1) All site installed or
shipped loose fixtures shall be subjected to a polarity test to determine that
the connections have been properly made;
(2) All grounding and bonding conductors
installed or connected during the home installation shall be tested for
continuity; and
(3) All electrical
lights, equipment, ground fault circuit interrupters and appliances shall be
subjected to an operational test to demonstrate that all equipment is connected
and functioning properly.
