FACTORY BUILT HOUSING
Tom Bartsch
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Applicable Codes and Standards
 Building Code of NY
 Residential Code of NY
 Code of Federal Regulations, Title 24 (CFR 24),
Part 3280 (HUD)
 NFPA 501-99 “Standard on Manufactured
Housing”
 ANSI – 119.1 (American National Standards Institute)
 NCSBCS/ANSI – A225-1-1994 (National Conference of
States on Building Codes and Standards, Inc.)
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Factory Built Housing
 There are several types of factory-built housing
structures;
• Modular
• Panelized
• Pre-cut
• and Manufactured
 All are transported to the site and assembled.
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MODULAR, PANELIZED
AND PRE-CUT HOMES
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Factory Built Housing
 Definition of Modular Building;
• A factory-manufactured dwelling unit, conforming
to applicable provisions of the NYS code and bearing
insignia of approval issued by the State Fire
Prevention and Code Council, which is constructed
by a method or system of construction whereby the
structure or its components are wholly or in
substantial part manufactured in a manufacturing
facility, intended or designed for permanent
installation, or assembly and permanent installation.
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Factory Built Housing
 Modular Buildings;
• built in different modules or sections.
• meets state building and local codes.
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Modular
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Hard to believe, this is a
Modular
The roof is being installed
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This a Modular
Home!!!!
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Factory Built Housing
 Panelized Building;
• whole wall with windows, doors, wiring, etc.,
• meets state building and local codes.
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Factory Built Housing
 Pre-cut Buildings;
• kit, log, and concrete,
• meets state building and local codes.
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Factory Built Housing
 Modular Recognition;
• very difficult to tell if factory or site built,
• uses same framing, heating and cooling materials,
• value the same as site built structures,
• can be multi-storied.
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Factory Built Housing
 Modular buildings have unique features;
• there may be larger than expected,
• concealed void spaces between each of the
modules,
• in multi-story modular buildings, there is
typically a void space between each story and
cavities in the walls, these voids are larger than
site built structures.
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Factory Built Housing
 Modular building are constructed using adhesives
instead of nails or screws to attach drywall to the
ceiling and wall studs.
• possibility of adhesive failure due to fire behind
the wall,
• heat conducted through the drywall could cause
adhesive to fail.
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MANUFACTURED HOMES
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Factory Built Housing
 Manufactured Building;
• may be single or multi-section,
• code requires that sections be built on a
permanent chassis,
• does not require a permanent foundation,
• immune to local building codes,
• may be governed by local Zoning laws,
• must comply with “Code of Federal Regulations,
Title 24 (CFR 24), Part 3280 – Manufactured
Home Construction and Safety Standards” which
supersedes local codes. (HUD)
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Factory Built Housing
Chassis and wheels
Manufactured Homes
used to be called “Mobile
Homes”
Skirt covering chassis and
sometimes the wheels, if
they haven’t been removed
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Factory Built Housing
 Manufactured Homes aka “Prefabricated Homes”
 The term “Mobil Homes” was used prior to 1976
HUD Code Enactment;
• strong trailer frames, axles, wheels & tow hitch.
• Post 1976 units bear a label certifying compliance
with HUD standards.
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Factory Built Housing
 The Certification Label is permanently affixed to
the exterior of each transportable section. The label is
located one foot (1') up and away from the left rear
corner (facing forward; the tow bar end indicates the
front of the section).
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Factory Built Housing
 Manufactured units
come in two major home
sizes;
• Single-wide’s
• Double-wide’s
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Factory Built Housing
 Single-wides;
• are 18 feet (5.5 m) or less in width and 90 feet (27
m) or less in length and can be towed to their site
as a single unit.
 Double-wides;
• are twenty feet or more wide and are 90 feet in
length or less and are towed to their site in two
separate units, which are then joined together.
 There are Triple-wides and even homes with four,
five, or more units are also built, although not as
common.
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Factory Built Housing
 Zoning regulations usually restrict their placement.
 If you think your community is free of manufactured
units, check around for construction trailers.
 Smaller units have a single egress and small
windows.
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Factory Built Housing
 May also be used for;
• Temporary Office Space,
• Education & Childcare,
• Disaster Relief or Material storage.
 Not held to same code review and update as modular
homes.
 New housing units now require;
• Hard wired or 10 yr battery source, interconnected
smoke alarms.
• Provisions for special devices for hearing/visual
impaired.
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Factory Built Housing
Frame
Interior
Walls
Roof
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Factory Built Housing
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Factory Built Housing
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Factory Built Housing
 Tornadoes and hurricanes often inflict their worst
damage on trailer parks, usually because the
structures were not secured to the ground and their
construction is significantly less able to withstand
high wind forces than regular houses.
 However, most modern manufactured homes are
built to withstand high winds as well as a mainstream
home, using hurricane straps and proper foundations.
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Hazards Related to the “Manufactured” Home





Can be extremely hazardous occupancies.
Lightweight wood truss construction.
Lightweight steel framing.
Combustible finishes and furnishings.
Electrical distribution equipment is the #1 cause of
fires.
 Construction is typically less sturdy than other
buildings of lightweight construction.
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Hazards Related to the “Manufactured” Home
 Debris and combustible items under the unit.
 Older units have plywood wall paneling and wood
based ceiling panels.
“Mobile Homes” are extremely vulnerable during
hurricanes and tornados.
 Most are found in rural areas and in areas with
scarce water supply, insufficient FD manpower on
the initial alarm and longer FD response times.
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Firefighting
 Walls can be breached easy for victim access.
 Owner may have attached wood to the exterior.
 Some may have a brick veneer.
 Advancing hose lines can be difficult.
 Flammable liquids may be stored under the skirting.
 An additional roof may have been built above.
 Smaller space can hinder search and rescue ops.
 Propane usage.
 Exposures, especially in a mobile home park.
 Hard to save if heavy fire on arrival.
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Summation
 Modular’s;
 difficult to tell if site or factory built.
 have concealed spaces.
 use of adhesives to install drywalls.
 Manufactured;
 extremely dangerous during hurricane or tornado events.
 lightweight construction.
 storage under skirting of flammable or combustible’s.
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Prepared by Thomas Bartsch
Chief Fire Inspector (ret)
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