Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 15C-1.0102 - Installation Standards for Mobile/Manufactured Homes and Park Trailers

The standards set forth herein are requirements for all mobile/manufactured home and park trailer installations, unless otherwise specified in this rule. All installations of mobile/manufactured homes shall be performed by either a licensed installer, dealer installer or manufacturer installer.

(1) Installation standards for the set-up of new or used manufactured homes and park trailers shall be in compliance with the manufacturer's installation instructions unless otherwise specified in this rule. In the absence of the manufacturer's installation instructions, used mobile/manufactured homes and park trailers shall comply with the provisions of this rule. The park trailer manufacturer shall make built-in provisions for a minimum of three (3) vertical tie-down straps and three (3) frame tie-down straps on each side of the unit. All used park trailers shall have at least three (3) vertical and three (3) frame tie-down straps installed. Exception: The center vertical tie-down strap on used units may be exempt when it is structurally prohibitive to install.

(2) All anchors, piers and tie-down components used in the installation of a mobile/manufactured home or park trailer shall be tested, listed and approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction. If tests are conducted out of the State of Florida, the anchor or component manufacturer shall pay the expenses (per diem and travel) incurred by this out-of-state travel. Installation of such anchors, piers and tie-down components shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions used during the testing procedure.

(3) Site Preparation: The under-home grade (ground) shall be cleaned of all vegetation and organic material; i.e., stumps, roots, etc., except grass not exceeding three inches (3'') in height. The area beneath and around the home shall be graded, sloped for proper drainage so that water will not accumulate under the home. All grass and organic material shall be removed and the pier foundation placed on stable soil or compacted fill. When the soil compaction or soil bearing capacity is not known, assume one thousand (1, 000) psf or consult with the local building authority. Soil shall be removed from an area of at least 16'' x 16'' to a depth equal to the height of the pier base. Exception: When being installed on fresh, clean, compacted fill the pier base may be placed on top of the soil. The bottom of the footer(s) shall be placed on stable soil. The pier foundation shall be a minimum of 4'' x 16'' x 16'' solid concrete pad, precast or poured eight inch (8'') minimum in place, or other material approved and listed by the department. Where the manufacturer's specifications have additional requirements than the above, the more stringent shall apply.

(4) Auger Anchors: All mobile/manufactured homes and park trailers shall be anchored with approved auger anchors, which shall be coated with hot-dipped zinc galvanizing (ASTM Standard #123-89A, which is hereby incorporated by reference); .60 ounces per square foot. Auger anchors shall be installed to the manufacturers installation instructions with special emphasis on soil classification and placed in undisturbed or compacted soil. Piers are to be installed off center of the anchors so as not to interfere with the proper alignment of the strapping. Anchors may be installed in predrilled holes provided the anchor penetrates a minimum of two feet (2') into undisturbed soil beyond the predrilled hole. When the anchor manufacturer's installation instructions permit, the hole is then backfilled with soil compacted in layers not exceeding six inches (6''). For manufactured homes produced after July 13, 1994, refer to the manufacturer's set-up manual for the working load requirements for anchors at the different tie points on the manufactured home. For used manufactured homes manufactured after July 13, 1994, and the manufacturer's set-up manual is not available, all anchor points at side walls, shear walls, end walls, center line and other points as identified by the manufacturer, shall be certified for a working load of four thousand (4, 000) pounds, with an ultimate load of six thousand (6, 000) pounds. Anchors are required one at each end of shear walls; one on each end of each I-beam; one frame tie at each vertical tie point; one on each end of each marriage wall (center line); and on each ridge beam support post. Note: Coral anchors are not designed to meet Zone II and Zone III wind requirements.

(5) Stabilizing Devices: All ground anchors shall have approved stabilizing devices approved by the department, each of which shall have a minimum surface area of 180 square inches and shall be coated with hot-dipped zinc galvanizing (ASTM Standard 123-89A, which is hereby incorporated by reference); .60 ounces per square foot or zinc coated to ASTM (A929/A 929M-96, which is hereby incorporated by reference). The stabilizing device shall be installed with the top of the stabilizing device installed flush with the soil to prevent the anchor from deflecting. Exception: Stabilizer devices are not required at center line or marriage wall locations unless required by the manufacturer's set-up manual.

(6) Foundations, piers or other load bearing supports or devices shall be installed and constructed to evenly distribute the load. Steel piers with mechanical adjustments shall be securely attached to the frame of all mobile/manufactured homes or park trailers. (See Figure C in Rule 15C-1.0103, F.A.C.) Manufactured load-bearing supports or devices shall be listed and approved for the use in which it was applied or piers shall be constructed as outlined in this rule. Concrete products shall comply with the following specifications: Minimum dimensional and structural requirements for load-bearing solid and cell concrete blocks shall be to the Standard Specification for Load-Bearing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C-90, 1996 edition. Concrete foundations and cap blocks must have a minimum of two thousand two hundred (2, 200) pound flexural strength as measured by Standard Test Method for Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C140-96. Solid 4'' concrete blocks are the minimum thickness of blocks that will meet this test. Poured concrete shall be a minimum of fcl = 2500 PSI. All plastic products shall be conditioned to ASTM D 618-61, reapproved 1990, Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials for Testing. Plastics shall be tested to the following standards: ASTM D 790-92, Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials; ASTM D 732-85, Standard Test Method for Shear Strength of Plastics by Punch Tool and ASTM G 53-88, Standard Practice for Operating Light and Water Exposure Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials. All of the above ASTM Standards in subsection (6) are hereby incorporated by reference.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 15C-1.0102

Rulemaking Authority 320.011, 320.8325(1) FS. Law Implemented 320.77(10), 320.822(12), 320.8285, 320.8325, 320.835(2) FS.

New 1-10-94, Amended 10-2-95, 3-31-99.

New 1-10-94, Amended 10-2-95, 3-31-99.