Following years of research, seeking input from the industry, and negotiating potential changes on Capitol Hill, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development has finalized and published the most significant update to the HUD Code in roughly 10 years. Revisions to the HUD Code determine the construction and safety standards of manufactured homes, and the rule changes touch on a dozen sections of the code, from data plates to home ventilation. Below provides a brief summary of the changes and will point to the public record for further reading and contemplation.

HUD Final Rule Published

The final rule issued by HUD on the construction and safety of manufactured homes was published in the Federal Register and takes into consideration industry recommendations including public comment through March 31, 2020. Changes have been considered by a multitude of industry leaders, including those on the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee and at the Manufactured Housing Institute. The published final rule is made available with public comments that drove the changes, arranged by section.

HUD Code Sections with New Language

Data Plate – 3280.5

Language changes implemented for the home’s data plate will provide information on whether a structure is able to handle the load of an accessory dwelling unit or another kind of attachment.

Interior Passage – 3280.108

Modifications to this section provide instruction for the use of doors and closures on single-section homes regarding small space areas such as closets and pantries.

Stairways – 3280.114

Changes the requirements for rise and run on interior stairways.

Smoke Alarm Requirements and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – 3280.209 and 3280.211

The smoke alarm section was altered to note the acceptance of dual smoke and carbon monoxide devices, and a commenter’s observation has been brought to the record regarding the distinction between alarms and detectors.

Factory Constructed or Site-Built Attached Garages – 3280.212

The reconsidered section provides clarity for fire protection standards on garages that come from the factory or are attached on-site versus unattached garages.

Factory Constructed or Site-Built Attached Carports – 3280.213

Revisions to the section take into consideration the same fire standards noted in the previous section, but for carports as opposed to garages.

 Condensation Control and Installation of Vapor Retarders

The rewritten section clarifies the difference between mating walls and fire separation walls in regard to the use of a vapor sheet. It also states that any wall between adjoining sections of a home must be considered an exterior wall pursuant to subpart K.

Water Distribution Systems – 3280.609

HUD updated exterior water pipe turn down requirements to within six and 24 inches above ground, which public comment showed would be beneficial in reducing the likelihood of injury while continuing to protect against back flow.

 Gas Piping System – 3280.705

The phrase “hard pipe” in the section was eliminated to make way for flex and easy-off connectors.

Venting, Ventilation, and Combustion Air – 3280.710

Updates references for the exhaust of fuel burning appliances to be in regard to “habitable room”.

Specific Requirements for Designing the Transportation System – 3280.904

Among the changes, the most impactful is the requirement to check the weight of the home when at a level position poised for transport.

 

Originally published by MHInsider