| (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 §§80.22,
80.23, 80.24, and 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 §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 §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 §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.
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