MHD Announcement: Federal Installations Requirements for New Homes, Effective January 1, 2009

Federal installation standards on new manufactured homes are effective January 1, 2009.

For new homes installed on sites with “freezing climates”, the “frost line” must now be considered and the home installed in conformance to one of three options:

1. Footings must be placed below the established frost line depth; OR
2. A monolithic slab, designed by a registered professional engineer or registered architect, is permitted above the frost line, providing 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; OR
3. An insulated foundation (or "skirting") 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 registered professional engineer or registered architect.

To determine what area of the state would have to comply with a frost line depth, the MHD consulted with the Installation Advisory Committee and subsequently contacted HUD for existing or established frost line maps. HUD advised that a frost line map would be better created and implemented by the local area having jurisdiction (LAHJ), the department. Based on this response, a frost line map requiring a 12 inch frost line depth was created and will be implemented in future Chapter 80 Administrative Rule changes.

The following Texas counties are designated as a frost line zone and have a 12 inch frost line: Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Grey, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Donley, Collings Worth, Parmer, Castro, Swisher, Briscoe, Hall, Childress, Hardeman, Wilbarger, Foard, Cottle, Motley, Floyd, Hale, Lamb, Bailey, Cochran, Hockley, Lubbock, Crosby, Dickens, King and Knox.

The Department will be proposing to adopt emergency rules effective on January 26, 2009, in order to comply with the federal mandates currently in effect. This would basically mean that all installations performed on January 26, 2009 would be subject to enforcement by the Department, particularly where the site preparation is concerned and if the home is installed in a frost line zone county.