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Mobile home crawl space (C) Daniel FriedmanManufactured Home & Mobile Home Tie-Downs & Stabilizing Systems
Tie-Down Specifications & HUD Wind Zone Maps, Wind Design Pressures, Roof Live Load Specifications

Mobile home stabilizing systems & tie down requirements for doublewides, mobile homes, multiwides, & trailer.

Here we describe defects commonly found in the stabilizing systems, cables, & tie downs for wind & storm damage resistance of mobile homes, doublewides, multiwides, trailers, risking lack of resistance to wind or storm damage.

We include HUD Specifications for wind zone data, design loads, roof loads & tie-down specifications to protect manufactured homes and mobile homes or trailers in high wind areas.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Tie Downs & Stabilizing Systems for Mobile Homes

Types of mobile home anchors or tie down systms, exerpted from HUD Mobile Home Anchoring System Guidance cited & discussed at InspecApedia.comMobile home, trailer, singlewide, or doublewide stabilizing systems are required to prevent these homes from being flipped over or simply blown away during hurricanes and other severe storms.

A stabilizing system consists of strapping that secures the mobile home's frame to anchors set into the ground as shown in this HUD illustration of a diagonal tie-down using a vertical anchor. Adding to HUD's confusing terminology the same illustration shows a second anchor installed diagonally. [colored annotations are ours.]

You will see that the tie down in this installation connects between the top of the pier under the mobile home, through a cable-strap and to a pair of anchors to secure the tie-down system. Other under-home tie down designs are illustrated below.

Not all mobile home tie-downs connect the pier or frame to earth-set anchors.

For certain homes, as we will explain here, the strapping or anchoring system may instead have to extend over the home's roof and then connect to anchors on each side of the home rather than connecting between the home's floor frame and anchors.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Source: HUD TIE DOWN REQUIREMENTS for MOBILE HOMES [PDF] retrieved 2019/11/24, original source: http://wchapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Tie-Downs.pdf

Definitions of Tie-Downs or Stabilizing Systems for Manufactured / Mobile HOmes

After the very extensive damage and flooding caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida in 2017, the New York Times reported that a number of Florida mobile homes had survived the Category 4 hurricane, most likely due to both the rapid decline in the storm's strength as it moved across the state but

also due to "... toughened construction and installation regulations for mobile homes ...". - Treaster, Joseph B., Henry Fountain, "Stricter Regulations, and Depleted Storm, May Have Helped Save Mobile Homes", The New York Times, 15 September 2017 p. A14.

Types of mobile home anchors or tie down systms, exerpted from HUD Mobile Home Anchoring System Guidance cited & discussed at InspecApedia.com

Above, illustrating

The New York Times reporters noted that increased building standards put in place in Florida after Hurricane Andrew (August 1992) and mobile homes built to those new standards meant that homes had a significantly improved survival rate.

While carports and awnings blew to smithereens and some building siding and roof shingles were lost, fewer homes in Key Largo Florida, about ten percent, suffered significant roof damage. (Those homes suffered significant water damage though.)

It appears likely that the requirement for multiple anchor cables including over-roof cabling added after Hurricane Andrew protected many mobile or manufactured homes in the area.

Illustration: a simpler vertical anchor and diagonal tie down connected to an anchor set below the perimeter of the mobile home. Source: HUD Op. Cit.

Types of mobile home anchors or tie down systms, exerpted from HUD Mobile Home Anchoring System Guidance cited & discussed at InspecApedia.com

Illustration above: six types of anchors used with mobile home tie-down or anchoring systems, illustrated in the HUD document cited above and again at the end of this article.

The concrete deadman anchor at left or anchors in concrete slab are installed at time of slab or tie-down construction; the auger anchor is turned into the earth like a giant screw; the drive anchor and hard-pack anchor are driven into the earth. Just which type of tie-down anchor is suitable for a specific mobile home or doublewide depends chiefly on soil conditions.

Inspection Points for Mobile Home Anchoring Systems

Mobile home on blocks (C) Daniel FriedmanWatch out: when working under a mobile home, manufactured home, or any tight crawl space, there may be serious health and safety hazards. More than one reader have reported getting an electrical shock while working under a mobile or manufactured home.

Hazards in these crawl areas are outlined

at MOBILE HOME CRAWL SPACES and also

at CRAWL SPACE SAFETY ADVICE

Mobile home still on wheels (C) Daniel FriedmanOur photo shows that although this trailer has been placed on a concrete slab foundation, it still rests on its wheels and on temporary jack stands. No piers, no tie-downs, no permanent support was provided.

Watch out: HUD-7584 prohibits dependence on screw-in type tie-down anchors commonly used in manufactured home anchorage systems.

HUD Codes on Manufactured & Mobile Home Tiedown Systems for Wind & Earthquake Damage Protection

Excerpts below describe wind zone specifications & requirements for manufactured homes.

HUD Wind Zone Map for Manufactured Housing

HUD Wind Zone Data Map

[Click to enlarge any image]

Part 3280 (the document link just above) discusses preemption of state laws, among other things, and requires a new unit to be delivered with a "consumer manual" containing required information about the unit.

Thanks to NHFireBear for this update, April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015, original source: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2001-title24-vol5/pdf/CFR-2001-title24-vol5-subtitleB.pdf [note this is a very large PDF that contains other sections.

Our live link above has excerpted the Manufactured Home standards section from the HUD document Ed.]

Excerpting from the above:

§3280.305 Structural design requirements [for Manufactured Housing]

(a) General.

Each manufactured home shall be designed and constructed as a completely integrated structure capable of sustaining the design load requirements of this standard, and shall be capable of transmitting these loads to stabilizing devices without exceeding the allowable stresses or deflections.

Roof framing shall be securely fastened to wall framing, walls to floor structure, and floor structure to chassis to secure and maintain continuity between the floor and chassis, so as to resist wind overturning, uplift, and sliding as imposed by design loads in this part.

Uncompressed finished flooring greater than 1/8 inch in thickness shall not extend beneath load-bearing walls that are fastened to the floor structure.

(b) Design loads for Mobile Home Tie Downs & Anchoring Systems

(1) Design dead loads.

Design dead loads shall be the actual dead load supported by the structural assembly under consideration.

(2) Design live loads.

The design live loads and wind and snow loads shall be as specified in this section and shall be considered to be uniformly distributed.

The roof live load or snow load shall not be considered as acting simultaneously with the wind load and the roof live or snow load and floor live loads shall not be considered as resisting the overturning moment due to wind.

(3) When engineering calculations are performed,

allowable unit stresses may be increased as provided in the documents referenced in §3280.304 except as otherwise indicated in §§3280.304(b)(1) and 3280.306(a).

(4) Whenever the roof slope does not exceed 20 degrees,

the design horizontal wind loads required by §3280.305(c)(1) may be determined without including the vertical roof projection of the manufactured home.

However, regardless of the roof slope of the manufactured home, the vertical roof projection shall be included when determining the wind loading for split level or clerestory type roof systems.

(c) Wind, snow, and roof loads—(1) Wind loads—design requirements for Mobile Home Anchors

(i) Standard wind loads (Zone I).

When a manufactured home is not designed to resist the wind loads for high wind areas (Zone II or Zone III) specified in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section, the manufactured home and each of its wind resisting parts and portions shall be designed for horizontal wind loads of not less than 15 psf and net uplift load of not less than 9 psf.

(ii) Wind loads for high wind areas (Zone II and Zone III).

When designed for high wind areas (Zone II and Zone III), the manufactured home, each of its wind resisting parts (including, but not limited to, shear walls, diaphragms, ridge beams, and their fastening and anchoring systems), and its components and cladding materials (including, but not limited to, roof trusses, wall studs, exterior sheathing, roofing and siding materials, exterior glazing, and their connections and fasteners) shall be designed by a Professional Engineer or Architect to resist:

(A) The design wind loads for Exposure C specified in ANSI/ASCE 7–88, ‘‘Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures,’’ for a fifty-year recurrence interval, and a design wind speed of 100 mph, as specified for Wind Zone II, or 110 mph, as specified for Wind Zone III (Basic Wind Zone Map); or

(B) The wind pressures specified in the following table:

HUD Table of Design Wind Pressures for Manufactured Housing § 3280.305

[Click to enlarge any image]

HUD Wind Zone Data Table from 3280.305: Design wind pressures for manufactured Housing

(2) Wind loads—zone designations.

The Wind Zone and specific wind design load requirements are determined by the fastest basic wind speed (mph) within each Zone and the intended location, based on the Basic Wind Zone Map, as follows:

(i) Wind Zone I.

Wind Zone I consists of those areas on the Basic Wind Zone Map that are not identified in paragraphs (c)(2)(ii) or (iii) of this section as being within Wind Zone II or III, respectively.

(ii) Wind Zone II.....100 mph - list of Wind Zone II cities, counties, parishes by U.S. State

The following areas are deemed to be within Wind Zone II of the Basic Wind Zone Map:

Local governments: The following local governments listed by State (counties, unless specified otherwise):

Alabama: Baldwin and Mobile.

Florida: All counties except those identified in paragraph (c)(1)(i)(C) of this section as within Wind Zone III.

Georgia: Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh.

Louisiana: Parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, LaFayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermillion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.

Maine: Hancock and Washington.

Massachusetts: Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, and Plymouth.

Mississippi: George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone. North Carolina: Beaufort, Brunswick, Camden, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. South Carolina: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, and Williamsburg.

Texas: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, and Willacy.

Virginia: Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Princess Anne, and Virginia Beach.

(iii) Wind Zone III.....110 mph - list of Wind Zone III cities, counties, parishes by U.S. State

The following areas are considered to be within Wind Zone III of the Basic Wind Zone Map:

(A) States and Territories:

The entire State of Hawaii, the

coastal regions of Alaska (as determined by the 90 mph isotach on the ANSI/ASCE 7–88 map), and

all of the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.

(B) Local governments: The following local governments listed by State (counties, unless specified otherwise):

Florida: Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Franklin, Gulf, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Manatee, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Sarasota.

Louisiana: Parishes of Jefferson, La Fourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Mary, and Terrabonne.

North Carolina: Carteret, Dare, and Hyde counties..

(iv) Consideration of local requirements.

For areas where local building code requirements exceed the design wind speed requirements of these standards,

§ 3280.305 the Department will consider the adoption through rulemaking of the more stringent requirements of the State or local building authority.

Manufactured & Mobile Home Wind Protection Standards & Codes

Full details are at PART 3280—MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS [PDF] newer copy retrieved 2017/07/13 - faster-loading

Excerpts are below.

§3280.306 Windstorm protection.

(a) Provisions for support and anchoring systems.

Each manufactured home shall have provisions for support/anchoring or foundation systems that, when properly designed and installed, will resist overturning and lateral movement (sliding) of the manufactured home as imposed by the respective design loads.

For Wind Zone I, the design wind loads to be used for calculating resistance to overturning and lateral movement shall be the simultaneous application of the wind loads indicated in §3280.305(c)(1)(i), increased by a factor of 1.5.

The 1.5 factor of safety for Wind Zone I is also to be applied simultaneously to both the vertical building projection, as horizontal wind load, and across the surface of the full roof structure, as uplift loading.

For Wind Zones II and III, the resistance shall be determined by the simultaneous application of the horizontal drag and uplift wind loads, in accordance with §3280.305(c)(1)(ii).

The basic allowable stresses of materials required to resist overturning and lateral movement shall not be increased in the design and proportioning of these members. No additional shape or location factors need to be applied in the design of the tiedown system. The dead load of the structure may be used to resist these wind loading effects in all Wind Zones.

(1) The provisions of this section shall be followed and the support and anchoring systems shall be designed by a Registered Professional Engineer or Architect.

(2) The manufacturer of each manufactured home is required to make provision for the support and anchoring systems but is not required to provide the anchoring equipment or stabilizing devices.

When the manufacturer's installation instructions provide for the main frame structure to be used as the points for connection of diagonal ties, no specific connecting devices need be provided on the main frame structure.

(b) Contents of instructions [for mobile home stabilizing devices]

(1) The manufacturer must provide printed instructions

with each manufactured home that specify the location and required capacity of stabilizing devices on which the home's design is based.

The manufacturer must identify by paint, label, decal stencil, or other means: the location of each column support pier location required along the marriage line(s) of multi­section manufactured homes; each pier location required along the perimeter of the home;

each required shear wall pier support; and any other special pier support locations specified in the manufacturer's printed instructions. Such identifications must be visible after the home is installed.

The manufacturer must provide drawings and specifications, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect, that indicate at least one acceptable system of anchoring, including the details or required straps or cables, their end connections, and all other devices needed to transfer the wind loads from the manufactured home to an anchoring or foundation system.

(2) For anchoring systems, the instructions shall indicate:

(i) The minimum anchor capacity required;

(ii) That anchors should be certified by a professional engineer,

architect, or a nationally recognized testing laboratory as to their resistance, based on the maximum angle of diagonal tie and/or vertical tie loading (see paragraph (c)(3) of this section) and angle of anchor installation, and type of soil in which the anchor is to be installed;

(iii) That ground anchors are to be embedded

below the frost line, unless the foundation system is frost­protected in accordance with §§3285.312(b) and 3285.404 of the Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards in this chapter.

(iv) That ground anchors must be installed to their full depth,

and stabilizer plates must be installed in accordance with the ground anchor listing or certification to provide required resistance to overturning and sliding.

(v) That anchoring equipment should be certified

by a registered professional engineer or architect to resist these specified forces in accordance with testing procedures in ASTM D3953­97, Standard Specification for Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals (incorporated by reference, see §3280.4).

(c) Design criteria for mobile home tie downs or stabilizers

The provisions made for anchoring systems shall be based on the following design criteria for manufactured homes.

(1) The minimum number of ties

provided per side of each home shall resist design wind loads required in §3280.305(c)(1).

(2) Ties shall be as evenly spaced

as practicable along the length of the manufactured home, with not more than two (2) feet open­end spacing on each end.

(3) Vertical ties or straps shall be positioned at studs.

Where a vertical tie and a diagonal tie are located at the same place, both ties may be connected to a single anchor, provided that the anchor used is capable of carrying both loadings, simultaneously.

(4) Add­on sections of expandable manufactured homes

shall have provisions for vertical ties at the exposed ends.

(d) Requirements for tie downs & anchors varies by wind zone

HUD Table of Number of Tie Downs Required for Mobile Homes

Types of mobile home anchors or tie down systms, exerpted from HUD Mobile Home Anchoring System Guidance cited & discussed at InspecApedia.com

Above: this table, excerpted from the HUD TIE DOWN REQUIREMENTS for MOBILE HOMES document cited in this article explains that the number of vertical or diagonal tie downs reqired per side of a mobile home depend on the wind zone in which the home is located and the length of the home in feet.

Manufactured homes in Wind Zone I require only diagonal ties.

These ties shall be placed along the main frame and below the outer side walls.

All manufactured homes designed to be located in Wind Zones II and III shall have a vertical tie installed at each diagonal tie location.

(e) Protection requirements for anchoring systems

Protection shall be provided at sharp corners where the anchoring system requires the use of external straps or cables. Protection shall also be provided to minimize damage to siding by the cable or strap.

(f) Anchoring equipment—load resistance.

Anchoring equipment shall be capable of resisting an allowable working load equal to or exceeding 3,150 pounds and shall be capable of withstanding a 50 percent overload (4,725 pounds total) without failure of either the anchoring equipment or the attachment point on the manufactured home.

(g) Anchoring equipment—weatherization.

Anchoring equipment exposed to weathering shall have a resistance to weather deterioration at least equivalent to that provided by a coating of zinc on steel of not less than 0.30 ounces per square foot of surface coated, and in accordance with the following:

(1) Slit or cut edges of zinc­coated steel strapping do not need to be zinc coated.

(2) Type 1, Finish B, Grade 1 steel strapping, 1 1 ∕4 inches wide and 0.035 inches in thickness, certified by a registered professional engineer or architect as conforming with ASTM D3953­97, Standard Specification for Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals (incorporated by reference, see §3280.4).

§3280.307 Resistance to elements and use.

(a) Exterior coverings

shall be of moisture and weather resistive materials attached with corrosion resistant fasteners to resist wind, snow and rain. Metal coverings and exposed metal structural members shall be of corrosion resistant materials or shall be protected to resist corrosion.

All joints between portions of the exterior covering shall be designed, and assembled to protect against the infiltration of air and water, except for any designed ventilation of wall or roof cavity.

(b) Joints between dissimilar materials

and joints between exterior coverings and frames of openings shall be protected with a compatible sealant suitable to resist infiltration of air or water.

(c) Where adjoining materials or assemblies of materials are of such nature that separation can occur

due to expansion, contraction, wind loads or other loads induced by erection or transportation, sealants shall be of a type that maintains protection against infiltration or penetration by air, moisture or vermin.

(d) Exterior surfaces shall be sealed

to resist the entrance of rodents

Hurricane Tie Down or Strapping Fastener Requirements

Simpson hurricane tie fastener specifications - from Simpson Strong Tie, cited in detail at InspectApedia.comQuestion: Can I use screws to install the straps instead of nails

2019/02/01 dave said:

I have to install new hurricane straps to tie the rafters to the top plate and the wall in zone 3 (port orange FL 32129).

Can I use screws to install the straps instead of nails

Reply: generally no

Dave

Your local building inspector might approve construction screws rather than nails to attach hurricane strapping to tie down rafters to a top plate PROVIDED that the screws are properly-selected construction screws of the right size and length. But probably not - as I will explain below.

As a more-general point, never conventional generic hardware screws and do not use drywalls screws where structural connectors specify nails or other special fasteners. .

Why not use screws? After all, in my OPINION, because screws have a greater withdrawal resistance than nails they can be superior in some applications.

However, the risk if construction screws are used in steel connectors such as hurricane tie-downs is that such screws might break under load across the screw diameter even though their screw design resists pulling out of the wood.

Most construction screws are smaller in cross-sectional diameter than the galvanized joist hanger nails designed for use with joist handers and similar structural steel strapping and tie-downs.

My photo (below) illustrates the use of joist hanger nails as specified by Simpson at a job requiring that we strap roof I-joists to the building's structural frame.

Nails used in strappoing holding roof I-Joists to the building frame (C) Daniel Friedman at InspectApedia.comSimpson’s instructions for which nail is used for nailing the strapping or tie-down to the framing lumber vary a bit by connector and its application but the most-common is the 8d (0.131" x 2 1/2") Nail.

Here is a table of the fasteners speciried for the most-commonly-used Simpson Strong Tie Tie Down Connectors, cource as cited below.

H2.5A Hurrricane Tie: 8d (0.131" x 2 1/2") Nail

H2.5T Hurricane Tie: 8d (0.131" x 2 1/2") Nail

H10A Hurricane Tie: Blocking Condition connecting truss/rafter and wall: 8d (0.131" x 2 1/2") Nail

H10A Hurricane Tie: Rafter Condition, connecting rafter to wall top plate: 10d (0.148" x 1 1/2") Nail

LS Utility Clip/Skewable Angle: 10d x 1 1/2" (0.148" x 1 1/2") Nail

LSTA Strap Tie used over a ridge-board to strap I-Joists as ridge ties: 10d (0.148" x 3") Nail OR 10d x 1 1/2" (0.148" x 1 1/2") Nail
For I-joist installation only.

LTP4/LTP5 Framing Angle Connector - connecting top plate to rim board or blocking, 8d (0.131" x 2 1/2") Nail and 8d x 1 1/2" (0.131" x 1 1/2") Nail

MST Strap TIe (can be installed with either nails or bolts): 16d (0.162" x 3 1/2") Nail [bolt not specified]

RBC Roof Boundary Clip: 10d x 1 1/2" (0.148" x 1 1/2") Nail

RSP Stud Plate Tie: 8d x 1 1/2" (0.131" x 1 1/2") Nail

SP Stud Plate Tie: (provides uplift resistance): 10d (0.148" x 3") Nail

SSP Stud Plate Tie: 10d (0.148" x 3") Nail

TSP Stud Plate Tie (truss to plate): 10d (0.148" x 3") Nail

Watch out: if you cannot show that the screws you use are specifically designed for and rated for steel structural connectors like hurricane tie-downs by the same manufacturer, then the inspector is likely to "fail" your job.

I have not yet found construction screws such as deck screws that were rated for use with steel connectors.

Bottom line: you must use fasteners that are approved for that use by the manufacturer of the connector you are using.

Ask your local building department - the final legal authority - and let me know their reply.

The illustration below, excerpted from Simpson StrongTie’s installation instructions for tie-downs, shows only nails, not screws.

Source: Simpson StrongTie, H2.5A Hurricane Tie Installation Instructions, retrieved 2019/02/01, original source: www.strongtie.com/resources/product-installers-guide/h25a-installation

Also see the research below

Research on Mobile Home Tie Downs & Storm Damage

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Mobile home roof truss damabe (C) InspectApedia.com ClaraOn 2019-11-24 by (mod) - mobile home roof trusses broken by over-roof tie-downs?

Clara

I would need to see more to be entirely confident of an answer, but in general, as long as the tie-downs are connected only between the mobile home chassis or floor frame and the ground, I'd blame something else for the dramatic roof truss failure in your photos.

There are, however, some "tie down" add-on systems that I've seen that run a cable right over the roof of a mobile home and then down to anchors on either side.

Properly that's referred to as "Over-the-Top strapping" in HUD guidance on mobile home tie-downs. Here is what HUD says

Typically, homes manufactured prior to July 13, 1994, where factory installed roof ties are not evident and it cannot be determined that the mobile/manufactured home is “Hurricane Resistant” without such ties, then vertical roof ties are required.

A single-wide up to 60 ft. long would get 3 over-the-roof tie-downs; A single-wide 61 ft. or longer would get 4 over-roof tie-downs.

A double-wide home gets over-roof tie-downs only if they were installed by the manufacturer.


HUD Warns that over-roof tie-downs must be aligned with a rafter to avoid damage to the roof.

If over-roof tie-downs were installed at your home, and if they were not properly-installed, and/or if there has been a storm, an uplift movement of the home, or some aggressive tightening of the tie-downs during installation I could imagine breaking roof trusses such as your photos show.

Tell me

and include some exterior and crawl space photos of the home and I may be able to say more.


On 2019-11-22 by Clara

Is it possible for tie downs to effect the gables in a mobile home? Please see image, I don't know how the gables broke, a new roof was installed in 2012.

Is it possible if mobile home tie downs are incorrectly installed, or too many are installed, to effect the roof structure. In this case a few of the roof gables are broken, and other than the tie downs I can't figure out how the gables broke?

Mobile home roof truss damabe (C) InspectApedia.com Clara

On 2019-09-21 by (mod) mobile home skirting requirements including skirting tiedowns

Sorry. Those details area at MOBILE HOME SKIRTING

On 2019-09-21 by Anonymous

Thank you for that, but I am referring specifically to some new code that relates to the skirting only and how it must be installed with something other than those spikes they normally use in the bottom runner.

On 2019-09-21 - by (mod) - FEMA-sponsored analysis in 2005 reports on mobile home tie downs and is worth reading

For Pennsylvania readers and others, in PA the Washington County Housing Authority expands on HUD's limited specifications on mobile home tie downs,

Also a FEMA-sponsored analysis in 2005 reports on mobile home tie downs and is worth reading

Available free online at InspectApedia.com

On 2019-09-21 - by (mod) - code for tying down mobile homes

Bill,

Skirting requirements including securing skirting are

at MOBILE HOME SKIRTING

I researched for updates to the Florida 2004 Code on Mobile / Manufactured Homes, Wind Resistance, and Tie Downs. (Homes meeting the previous code dated 1999 had an update program available to meet the 2004 Wind Resistance and Tie Down standards of 2004 that followed hurricanes Charlie and Katrina.

The 2005 Standard added tie-downs and toughened their installation specs.

- 4ft anchors placed every 64-inches

- typically added using a 4 ft metal-helix screw-in type anchor strapped from the anchor to the home's frame

- a metal plate keeps the anchor from wobbling and thus loosening

Meanwhile take a look at section 15C-1.0104 Installation Standards for Anchors and Tie-Downs and 15C-1.0105 Testing Specifications for Straps,Piers, Anchors and All Components - and subsequent sections on strap testing etc. found in the


On 2019-09-2 by Bill Duke

In regard to Florida mobile homes. I have been told there is a new code for tying down the skirting. Does anyone have information on this?

On 2019-08-06 by (mod) - where to find an installer for mobile home tie downs

Jen

FInd a mobile home near yours that has tiedowns or anchors, then knock on the door and ask the owner who installed them.

Watch out: the HUD mobile home tie down guidelines cited in this article state

Who can install Mobile Home tie-downs?

Section 320.8249, Florida Statute, requires that anyone who will install a mobile/manufactured home must be licensed by the Manufactured Housing Section, Division of Motorist Services, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The law further requires that licensed installers must place an installation decal on every home they install certifying that the home was installed in accordance with state regulations.

The label shall be located at the “tail light” end of each transportable section of the manufactured home approximately one foot up from the floor and one foot in from the road side.

Presently, there are 377 licensed installers in Florida. A list of approved installers can be found at www.flhsmv.gov.

On 2019-08-06 by jen

Trying to find someone to install anchors in a doublewide I am trying to buy with VA loan. The zip code is 12423. I am batting out.. but there are mobile homes all over the place.

On 2019-03-28 by (mod) - find an inspector to see if trailer was set properly

Don you might find an inspector using the page top EXPERTS DIRECTORY to look at the home inspectors directory for MD

On 2019-03-20 by Don

I have a double wide mobile home not even a year old I had manufacturers come in and repair ceiling crack and I said the trailer was not set properly I have a crack coming back in the same area and I have more cracks in the ceiling holes in my ceiling

I'm wondering if it is that the trailer is not set properly if you think that's true do you have any information on anybody in the Maryland area that does the inspections I would appreciate it thank you have a nice day

On 2019-02-01 by (mod) - install new hurricane straps to tie the rafters to the top plate and the wall in zone 3

Dave

To have space for an illustrated and authoritative answer to your question of whether or not it's ok to use screws instead of nails for hurricane strapping (generally the answer is no) I have repeated your question and give a detailed reply now found above on this page

Please take a look at that article and let me know what further questions you'd like to ask.

Thanks for the question.

On 2019-02-01 by dave

I have to install new hurricane straps to tie the rafters to the top plate and the wall in zone 3 (port orange FL 32129). can I use screws to install the straps instead of nails

On 2018-08-05 by (mod) - tie downs must meet the Zone II or Zone III requirements

Gregor

Your tie downs must meet the Zone II or Zone III requirements depending on where you live in Florida. See the map and specs above on this page.

Cheryl:

Not if the strapping is properly connected to an intact mobile home frame. But yes, improperly-installed tie downs to the floor or chassis or over-roof tie-downs can damage a home as well as causing it to be damaged or unsafe in the event of a storm.

On 2018-07-30 by Gregor - What are the specs for FHA/VA anchoring of single wide mobile homes ?

What are the specs for FHA/VA anchoring of single wide mobile homes in north central Florida

On 2018-07-01 - by (mod) -

Gregory

Please see MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS - [you are now on this page - Ed.]

for "straps" or tie-down requirements for mobile homes.

On 2018-06-29 by Gregory T Malarkey

How many straps must go completely over the trailer and how far apart.
How many anchor straps must anchor the chassis and how far apart

This Q&A were posted originally at MOBILE HOME PIERS

On 2018-05-29 by (mod)

Yes, but on the other hand, tie-down straps or cables should be snug, not loose and floppy.

On 2018-05-29 by Cheryl

Can tightening the strapping on a mobile home too tightly cause floor damage?



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