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Mobile home water heater (C) Daniel FriedmanMobile / Manufactured Home Safety Hazards

Unsafe Double wides, Caravans, Manufactured Homes, & Trailers

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the most-common safety hazards found in manufactured homes, mobile homes, mobile home, caravan, static caravan or trailer or doublewide

How to identify & correct the most-common unsafe conditions in Double-Wides, Mobile Homes, Trailers or Manufactured Housing.

I We explain where to look for costly or dangerous problems on manufactured homes or mobile homes, trailers, or double-wides.

We include lists of safety defects found on manufactured or mobile homes, trailers, double-wides, caravans, static caravans. You also will find a guide to safety codes for manufactured / mobile homes: the federal and other building codes regulate manufactured homes, mobile homes & doublewide homes. Wind & tie-down regulations for mobile homes & double-wides are included.

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Inspection & Repair of Unsasfe Manufactured Homes, Doublewides, Caravans & Mobile Homes

Modern mobile home or doublewide in good condition (C) Daniel Friedman

 

Mobile / Manufactured Home Safety Inspection Checkpoints


Mobile Home, Trailer Manufactured Home Safety & Structural Defects

Mobile and manufactured home common safety topics most-commonly reported by InspectApedia.com readers involve:

Mobile / Manufactured Home Fire Safety Inspection

See details and a detailed mobile home fire-safety inspection checklist

at MOBILE HOME FIRE SAFETY

Mobile home piers and shims (C) Daniel Friedman

Mobile home or manufactured home structural defects are now detailed

at MOBILE HOME STRUCTURAL DEFECTS

Mobile home or manufactured home safety hazards are now detailed

at

Examples of mobile home stuctural defects

Trailer or mobile home foundations and tie-downs are discussed in detail

at MOBILE HOME STABILIZING SYSTEMS

On 2018-08-17 by (mod) - What are the main mobile / manufactured home safety checkpoints?

Jacob

Safety is a rather broad topic. While I agree that "on stilts" sounds scary - the home may not be properly supported, it also may lack required tie-downs. But in addition there are other common and serious safety hazards frequently found at mobile homes.

If the "stilts" are not properly sized, connected, cross-braced, based on footings, and deep enough to be stable on a hillside the home is unsafe. Most jurisdictions also specify a maximum allowable height that a mobile home can be placed above the ground - check the mobile home codes we cite in this article.

Emergency exit windows don't open

Second exit door blocked or doesn't open

Unsafe electrical wiring

Unsafe entry steps, stairs, rails, platforms

Unsanitary sewer connections, spills under the home

So be sure that your inspector covers more than just the structural safety of the home.

On 2018-08-17 by Jacob

I’m looking at renting a 600sqft mobile home and it’s on a hill on wooden stilts. What do I need to look for to be sure it’s safe?

This Q&A were published originally

at MOBILE HOME CODES, STANDARDS & MANUALS

 

...


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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

On 2021-09 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - beating a tiny bit of mobile-home asbestos-suspect material to death in soil

@mike smith,

Aah, sorry,

Probably not

On 2021-09-08 by mike smith

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, @inspectapedia.com.moderator, what i mean is if im digging would i notice anything in the soil?

On 2021-09-08 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@mike smith,

What you could see by naked eye wouldn't change the form of what's there
.
Asbestos is a specific mineral family. Burying it and digging it up won't change its form.

On 2021-09-08 1 by mike smith

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, ok now take the the material has been buried and it if were to be dug up in the future,would you see anything other than dirt?

On 2021-09-07 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@mike smith,

You asked:

would the asbestos containing material that small be burned up to where the ash would not be dangerous

We answerd:

No.

On 2021-09-07 by mike smith

no as in it would not burn and be laying in the ash?

On 2021-09-07 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - asbestos fragments ok if burned?

@mike smith,

No

On 2021-09-06 by mike smith

what i mean is with a small piece like size of deck of cards that was burned with a 10x12 outbuilding,would the asbestos containing material that small be burned up to where the ash would not be dangerous

On 2021-09-06 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - is the hazard of asbestos eliminated if the material is burned?

@mike smith,

I'm not sure what form of "denatured" you're considering, but most "non-combustible" materials will neverhteless be affected by exposure to fire or flame;

we may see fibres break into smaller pieces or for some materials we may see fusing, and most will also become black or at least discoloured.

On the other hand, if you try to ignite a sample material and it supports flame or combustion then it's certainly not fireproof or even fire-resistant.

And as asbestos basically does not burn, putting it into a fire not only will not eliminate the material's hazardous properties, the material may be made more-dangerous, becoming more friable, when exposed to fire.

On 2021-09-06 by mike smith

i had a sample size piece of ceiling material i was told may be asbestos that was in a outbuilding that got burned up on my property. with being a small piece of material and a large fire,would the material if asbestos containing be denatured after being burned?

On 2021-09-03 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - asbestos in some paints that could have been used in a mobile home

@jack johnson,

Some paints contained asbestos, especially

- popcorn ceiling paints

- some other textured surface paints

and some paints intended to provide improved fire resistance

Particularly in countries up to about the time that that country stopped using asbestos in that product series.

Most paints used in or on buildings never contained asbestos.

On 2021-09-03 by jack johnson

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, what i mean is or would actual paint in the past contain asbestos that you would put on a interior wall or ceiling

On 2021-09-03 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - asbestos in 1960s mobile home?

@jack johnson,

Sure. Nobody with any sense is going to promise you that they can be certain that there was or was not asbestos in a building material from the 1960s.

But to keep your perspective and not to create a health hazard from worry itself, you'd need some factual or medical basis, or perhaps advice from your doctor, before worrying on about possible content in a building long in the past and of unknown materials. Else you may find it costly: make your doctor or your building inspector nervous, and they might kill your bank account with tests and inspection fees.

On 2021-09-03 by jack johnson

@inspectapedia.com.moderator, the ceiling we worked on looked to be chip,particle,fiberboard,something like that but painted white over the years,could popcorn paint have been applied to that material or could asbestos been in the old layers of paint if not the actual ceiling material itself?

On 2021-09-02 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod)

@jack johnson,

In any building from the 1960s including mobile homes someone could have installed asbestos-containing drywall, joint compound, ceiling tiles, popcorn spray ceiling paint or something similar.

On 2021-09-02 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - safety inspection of mobile home electrical system

@Ron,

I don't know what's meant by "over generating"

but certainly electrical, heating, and water heating systems can involve life-safety concerns.

You need an on-site electrician and on-site heating service technician.

Sorry but we can provide those services.


We do not sell anything. No products, no services.

InspectAPedia.com provides building and environmental diagnostic and repair information.

In order to absolutely assure our readers that we write and report without bias we do not sell any products nor do we have any business or financial relationships that could create such conflicts of interest.

However at the EXPERTS DIRECTORY -https://inspectapedia.com/Expert-Consultants-Directory.php link found at the top of any our pages you may find a suitable expert or consultant or contractor; often you're best served by a web search for the service combined with your city or town's name.

On 2021-09-02 by Ron

I am having a problem with the electrics in my mobile home.
A warning light is showing ,telling me I am over generating.
The space heating and water heating also appear a problem.
I need an electrical check out, and also a gas check if you do them.
Could you advise please.

On 2020-07-19 - by (mod) - unsafe mobile home wiring

Kings

You will see current on the neutral wire of a receptacle if something is plugged into a receptacle on that circuit and is "on".

When a building electrical circuit is in use or active there will be a return current on the neutral wire.

The other explanation, of course, is a short or wiring error.

On 2020-07-19 by kingsperm88@gmail.com

I recently checked a wall outlet in a mobile home where both the black and white wires had loads. The white wire is neutral so why would it have a charge to it? Also nothing works when plug up to this outlet. I get no reading on volt meter unless I touch one of the wires and ground.

On 2020-05-12 - by (mod) - HUD specifications for stair and decks for a new double-wide trailer?

Barbara

In the ARTICLE INDEX please see MOBILE HOME EXTERIOR DEFECTS where we include exterior stair and entry hazards and requirements as well as giving you the links to codes.

On 2020-05-11 by Barbara Rainville

Where can we find HUD specifications for stair and decks for a new double-wide trailer?

On 2021-05-06 by (mod) - Is it safe & legal for a landlord to rent a double wide home that is not properly assembled?

@Kersonya Padgett,

As I'm not an authority, "Legal? " is a question that a lawyer would have to answer, though in my OPINION, if the home is safe and meets current building code requirements then the landlord is probably meeting her requirements.

Let's distinguish between a cosmetic problem - that can include ugly or sloppy assembly of a doublewide, from a functional problem that could also lead to a safety concern:

If the building is settling, leaning, moving about, then it's likely that there will be ongoing damage and that might be dangerous - for example if a gas line is broken or an electrical wire pulled loose. (Generally that requires a bit of movement more than just showing up an ugly seam).

Separate from the safety and code question, there will be a construction quality standard for your home, written in the form of instructions from the home's manufacturer. If your home is quite old, say from the early 1970s, we will probably not find that such a standard exists.

HUD provides Manufactured Housing Model Installation Standards that may apply, depending on where you live. (If you're in the U.S. and if your state has not adopted their own Manufactured Housing Standard then the HUD standard should apply.)

Above on this page we list nearly all of the manufactured home standards that might apply - I know it can be overwhelming.

You might want to take a look at HUD 4905.1 Rev 1 CHAPTER 2 - GENERAL ACCEPTABILITY CRITERIA [PDF]

You might also want to post photos of what you're seeing - you can post one photo per comment but as many comments as you need.

Adding a bit more detail that speaks to your complaint about seams and cracks inside: in the HUD standards (links above on this page as well)

excerpt

§3285.802 Structural interconnection of multi-section homes.

(a) For multi-section homes, structural interconnections along the interior and exterior at the mate-line are necessary to join all sections of the home.

(b) Structural interconnection must be designed in accordance with the requirements located in §3280.305 of this chapter to ensure a completely integrated structure.

(c) Upon completion of the exterior close-up, no gaps are permitted between the structural elements being interconnected along the mate-line of multi-section homes. However, prior to completion of the exterior close-up, gaps that do not exceed one inch are permitted between structural elements provided:

(1) The gaps are closed before completion of close-up;

(2) The home sections are in contact with each other; and

(3) The mating gasket is providing a proper seal. All such gaps must be shimmed with dimensional lumber, and fastener lengths used to make connections between the structural elements must be increased to provide adequate penetration into the receiving member.

On 2021-05-06 by Kersonya Padgett

Is it legal for a landlord to rent a double wide home that is not together completely?

Like I can feel the seam in my living room floor and the ceiling looks like they covered it with a thicker piece of wood to cover the top. I don't know what i can do?? I don't know what to do!!!? I think that my siding covers the cracks outside!!

@Kersonya Padgett, If I could get a reply at kjb.glp1112@gmail.com


On 2020-01-19 by Rhonda R Bouland - setback 'fire code' in Texas and/or Dallas County or Wilmer, Texas

Concrete block pier under mobile home (C) InspectApedia.com BarbaraI am trying to find a setback 'fire code' in Texas and/or Dallas County or Wilmer, Texas. We purchased our home where the retailer placed it in a park and had no input on the lot that it was placed upon., When we made that purchase little did we know, this lot was directly in the path of the manufactured home parks natural path of drainage, UGH!

We have gotten TDHCA involved and I actually fought them and proved that Texas law removed our federal rights and they came out and 'reinspected' our home and now say they have jurisdiction. We have found TDHCA less than helpful in our endeavor and have had to look to other agencies to assist us more with this problem!

We began our fight in April of last year and were required to file a second complaint instead of them just opening the one originally filed I was originally happy that we had a state agency to assist us with these issues but we have found little that they are actually able to help us with!

This has been the most frustrating thing of all, for a department that is here to help those of us without the ability to acquire legal assistance and who are disabled, it appears to us that they only seem to side with the other side, i.e. the installer, the retailer and the manufacturer. In fact, they allow them to file extension after extension believing the lies of these people feed them including that I told them NOT TO COME to MAKE REPAIRS which is absurd, although I have proof they are on the property working.

This was the MOST DISAPPOINTING THING we found. For an agency that is here to protect homebuyers, it lacks the teeth and fining those who should be and just gives everyone a pass and makes the homeowner jump through hoops! This allows the retailer/seller to continue to screw anyone that purchases homes from them and requires they live at the park until it is paid off.

I have never found an agency with this attitude, the inspector we have this time is great far better than our last inspector, but his hands are tired by the BS red tape that keep him from assisting us as he should be able to. The home is under the 20' setback required by fire code according to the fire chief but the code violation officer has to be able to cite the park.

If anyone has any setback information re: fire code, it would be greatly appreciated. This retailer has gotten away with murder and I am not backing down, it is very unfair that they NEVER FACE ANY FINES and we are having to constantly fight for our rights that should have been afforded us to begin with. So our lot not only allows water under our home, it turns into a swamp when we get any substantial amount of rain.

This is NOT including heavy rains. Adding insult to injury, our home is less than 20' from our neighboring double wide which I understand 'breaks fire code'. My issue is trying to find that setback in some sort of code for Texas or locally.

Thanks!

On 2018-09-08 by (mod) - level out the mobile home for safety

DN

Thank you for asking about your mobile home being out of level.

Probably not code, since mobile home codes do require supporting piers to be properly sized, plumb, and level.

But more important, mobile home piers that are not level may be unsafe since if the movement continues the home is not stabile.

Even without a catastrophic collapse, movement can rip apart electrical wiring or gas piping or sewer or water lines - all of which can be dangerous.

Please take a look at MOBILE HOME PIERS at https://inspectapedia.com/Manufactured_Homes/Mobile_Home_Support_Piers.php

and ask further questions as you like.

On 2018-09-08 by dnfred1@gmail.com

I rent a mobile home and it is not level looking at the brick under the house and see that the blocks are standing straight up down the senter been and some are leaning towards one side not level was wondering if it is code or not


...

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