Section

MH-4.I Promulgation and Purpose.

MH-4.II Administration.

MH-4.III Inspection Procedures.

MH-4.IV Minimum Standards for Blocking, Anchors, and Tie-Downs.

MH-4.V Official Notices and Bulletins.

The Rules and Regulations for the Uniform Standards Code for Factory-Built Homes Law, promulgated pursuant to Section 75-49-1 through 75-49-2 1, Mississippi Code, 1972, Annotated, as revised and amended.

I. PROMULGATION AND PURPOSE

Section 100 - General

(A) These Rules and Regulations for Factory-Built Homes are promulgated by the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Mississippi in accordance with the Uniform Standards Code for Factory-Built Homes Law and the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Act, Section 25 43 - 1, et seq ., Mississippi Code, as amended, and shall become effective after adopted and promulgated in accordance with the provisions of the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Act as provided in Mississippi Code Ann. Section 25-43-1, et seq .

(B) The purpose of these Rules and Regulations is to prevent the loss of life and property from fire and related hazards, and to restrict health hazards in Factory-Built Homes by providing standards for construction, heating systems, and by requiring compliance with such standards during construction, marketing, transport, installation, anchoring and tie down for Factory Built Homes in the State of Mississippi.

(C) "Manufactured home" means a structure defined by, and constructed in accordance with, the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401, et seq .) and manufactured after June 14, 1976.

(D) "Mobile home" means a structure manufactured before June 15, 1976, that is not constructed in accordance with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq. ). It is a structure that is transportable in one or more sections, that, in the traveling mode, is eight (8) body feet or more in width and thirty-two (32) body feet or more in length, or, when erected on site, is two hundred fifty-six (256) or more square feet and that is built on a chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities, and includes any plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems contained therein. "Mobile home" also includes any structure which meets all the requirements and complies with the standards established under this chapter.

(E) "Relocatable home" means a movable or portable dwelling over thirty-two (32) feet in length and over eight (8) feet wide, designed and constructed without carriage or hitch as stationary house construction for placement upon permanent foundations to be connected to utilities for year-round occupancy. It is of closed-end or open-end construction capable of being separated from its foundation and utilities and relocated. It can consist of one or more components that can be retracted when transported and subsequently expanded for additional capacity, or of two (2) or more units separately transportable but designed to be joined into one (1) integral unit. Please refer to the appropriate regulation for the Uniform Standards Code for the Factory-Built Homes Law as Related to Relocatable (Modular) Homes.

(F) " Factory-built home" means a mobile home and/or a manufactured home as those terms are defined herein.

(G) "Modular home" means a relocatable home as those terms are defined herein. Please refer to the appropriate regulation for the Uniform Standards Code for the Factory-Built Homes Law as Related to Relocatable (Modular) Homes.

(H) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Mississippi.

(I) "Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal" means the individual appointed by the Commissioner of Insurance, who, along with his employees, is designated by the Commissioner to implement and enforce this chapter and to maintain, among other duties, the Manufactured Housing Division of the Insurance Department.

(J) "Division" means the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

(K) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other type of business entity.

(L) "Dealer" means any person engaged in the retail sale of new or used manufactured, mobile, or relocatable homes to the general public.

(M) "Independent contractor installer or transporter" means any person who is engaged for hire in the movement or transportation, or both, or the installation, blocking, anchoring and tie-down of a factory-built home or relocatable home. Am "independent contractor installer or transporter" shall not include persons who do not hold themselves out for hire to the general public for the purposes described in this definition.

(N) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in the production (construction) of manufactured homes or relocatable movable homes.

(O) "Non-code area" means any local jurisdiction (county or municipality) that has not adopted the latest edition and Appendices of the Southern Building Code published by the Southern Building Code Congress International pertaining to blocking, anchoring, and tie-downs for manufactured or mobile homes.

Section 200 - Rules and Regulations
 

(A) After July 1, 1988, every manufacturer engaged in the production (construction) of manufactured homes or relocatable, movable homes offered for sale within the State of Mississippi shall apply for and obtain a license from the Commissioner.

(B) After July 1, 1988, every dealer who sells, transports or installs new or used factory-built homes within the State of Mississippi shall apply for and obtain a license from the Commissioner.

(C) After July 1, 1992, every independent contractor installer or transporter who transports or installs new or used factory-built homes within the State of Mississippi shall apply for and obtain a license from the Commissioner.

(D) If a factory-built home is new, the applicant shall certify in the application to the Commissioner that the applicant will comply with the Construction Standards set forth under governing federal law, 42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq ., federal regulations codified at 24 CFR Part 3280,3282, state law codified at Miss . Code Ann. Section 75-49-1 et seq ., and all rules and regulations issued by the Mississippi Department of Insurance pertaining to factory built homes, and certify that the applicant has obtained a current and valid tax identification number.

(E) Applications shall be obtained from and submitted to the Commissioner on forms prescribed by the Commissioner.

(F) Every manufacturer, transporter, installer or dealer who first sells, manufactures, transports or installs a new or used factory-built home in this state, before such first construction, sale, transportation or installation, shall apply for and obtain a license from the Commissioner. The original license fee and all annual renewals thereof shall be due as set forth herein. The fee shall be paid to the Commissioner in such a manner as the Commissioner may require. All funds received by the Commissioner shall be deposited in a special fund account in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Insurance.

(G) The original license fee and all annual renewals thereof shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($25 0.00) for manufacturing plants located within or outside of the State of Mississippi for manufacturing or delivering homes for sale within the State of Mississippi and One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) per dealer location within the State of Mississippi. The licensing fee for an independent contractor transporter or installer is One Hundred Dollars ($100-00) for each company. The fee for relocatable (modular) home plan review shall be Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) per floor plan; however, this fee shall not apply to any relocatable (modular) home plan reviews completed before July 1, 1998.

(H) Every manufacturer of manufactured homes in the State shall pay a monitoring inspection fee to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, or the Secretary's Agent, for each manufactured home produced in the State by the manufacturer. The fee shall be in an amount established by the Secretary pursuant to the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U. S.C. Section 540 1, et seq . The portion of the fee which is returned to the State shall be deposited by the Commissioner in a special fund account in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Insurance.

(I) The Commissioner shall investigate and examine all applicants for all licenses by holding such hearings as he shall deem necessary or conducting investigations or examinations, or any combination thereof, as to the fitness or expertise of the applicant for the type of license for which the applicant applied. A license shall be granted only to a person who bears a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity and competency to transact the business in such a manner as to safeguard the interest of the public and only after satisfactory proof of such qualifications has been presented to the Commissioner.

(J) The Commissioner shall take all applicants under consideration after having examined them through oral or written examinations, or both, before granting any license. If the applicant is an individual, examination may be taken by his personal appearance for examination or by the appearance for examination of one or more of his responsible, full-time managing employees; and if a partnership or corporation or any other type of business or organization, by the examination of one or more of the responsible, full-time managing officers or members of the executive staff of the applicants firm. Every application by an individual for a license to manufacture, sell, transport or install factory-built homes, which include mobile homes and new or used manufactured homes and relocatable homes, shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of the applicant, and every such application by a partnership or corporation shall be verified by the oath or affirmation of a partner or an officer thereof. The applications for licenses shall be in such form and detail as the Commissioner shall prescribe.

(K) The holder of any valid license issued by the Commissioner at the time this section becomes effective shall be automatically issued an equivalent license in the same category for which his previous license was issued.

(L) Beginning July 1, 1992, every license issued under this chapter shall be issued annually and shall expire on June 30 following the date upon which it was issued. License fees shall not be prorated for the remainder of the year in which the application was made but shall be paid for the entire year regardless of the date of the application. The Commissioner shall on or before April 30, 1992, and on or before April 30 of each succeeding year thereafter, forward a "Notice of Renewal", by regular United States mail, to each licensee at his or its last known mailing address. After depositing the "Notice of Renewal" in the United States mail, the Commissioner shall have no other duty or obligation to notify the licensee of the expiration of his or its annual license. The failure of the licensee to obtain a renewal license on or before June 30 or the ensuing license period shall act as an automatic suspension of the license unless the Commissioner, for good cause shown in writing and the payment of an amount equal to double the renewal fee for said delinquency, lifts the suspension and issues the renewal license. During the period of suspension any practice by the licensee under the color of such license shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.

Annual renewals of a dealer's license shall require, as a condition precedent, that the dealer verify by oath or affirmation that he maintains a retail sales lot in accordance with all rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner and that the lot has three (3) or more new or used factory-built homes located thereon for retail sale as a residential dwelling or for any other use at the time of application.

Section 201 - Manufacturers
 

(M) All manufacturer applicants shall certify in the application that they will fully comply with the National Manufactured Home Construction Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq .), and all Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant to Sections 75-49-5 and 75-49-11 of the Mississippi Code, as amended, as well as all applicable federal regulations pertaining to manufactured housing construction and safety.

(N) All manufacturers of relocatable (modular) homes shall certify in the application that they will fully comply with the Department of Insurance Regulation(s) governing Uniform Standards Code for Factory-Built Homes Law as Related to Relocatable (Modular) Homes.

Section 202 - Dealers

In order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public of this state, each applicant for a dealer's license shall:
 

(O) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has a good general working mechanical knowledge of factory manufactured home construction and repair;

(P) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has a good practical working knowledge of the manner in which factory-built homes are anchored and blocked in accordance with rules, regulations and procedures promulgated by the Commissioner;

(Q) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he shall have or has adequate facilities for the repair and service of factory-built homes and storage of parts and accessories and has at least one operable service truck. If, however, the dealer is contracting out all installation, repair and service, then he shall provide a duplicate of the executed contract to the Commissioner and said contract shall contain a clause stating that the Commissioner shall be notified 30 days in advance of its cancellation;

(R) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has a good general knowledge of and will comply with the requirements of the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq .), and the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Department of Insurance for the State of Mississippi and by the Department of Housing and Urban Development as they pertain to the responsibilities of a dealer to properly safeguard the public interest. No distributor or dealer shall make use of transportation affecting interstate or foreign commerce or the mails to sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease in the State of Mississippi any manufactured home that does not conform to applicable standards unless the distributor or dealer, acting as a reasonable distributor or dealer, does not know that the manufactured home does not conform to applicable standards. This prohibition of sale applies to any affected manufactured home until the completion of the entire sales transaction. A sales transaction with a purchaser is considered completed when all the goods and services that the dealer has agreed to provide at the time the contract was entered into have been provided. Completion of a retail sale will be at the time the dealer completes setup of the manufactured home if the dealer has agreed to provide setup;

(S) ensure that their sales staff will attend eight (8) hours training per year to be approved and/or provided by the Manufactured Housing Division;

(T) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has adequate space to display his factory-built homes at each sales lot and that he has or shall maintain a permanent sales office located at each of those sales lots with running water and sewer facilities for public comfort and convenience and to comply with the county health department regulations and other applicable health and safety standards for a permanent sales site in the county or municipality in which they are located. Nothing in this regulation shall prohibit a licensed Mississippi permanent dealer from conducting a temporary promotional activity to retail consumers at a location other than its licensed permanent dealer location so long as:

(1) the activity does not exceed seventeen (17) consecutive days in duration and is not repeated at that location within the next four (4) months;

(2) the activity is within the county in which the dealer has a permanent license or within fifty (50) miles radius of the location of the permanent licensed Mississippi dealer location, whichever is greater;

(3) the temporary promotional site has running water and sewer facilities for public comfort and convenience and it complies with the health and safety standards as well as other local ordinance requirements for a temporary sales site in the county or municipality in which the site is located;

(4) the temporary promotional site has a sign at least four (4) feet by eight (8) feet in size with lettering at least twelve (12) inches high advising the public that this is a temporary location and designating the address of the permanent licensed dealer location, with the sign to be prominently located on the temporary promotional site for viewing by the public;

(5) there is adequate space to display the factory-built homes at the temporary promotional site, and;

(6) a license must be granted by the Commissioner for each temporary promotional site where employees or agents of the dealer meet the public regardless of whether or not sales will be made on-site;

(7) the licensed Mississippi dealer must submit its application for a license to the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed effective date of the temporary promotional event. The failure to submit the license application at least thirty (3 0) days in advance can serve as a basis for denial of a license. Any license issued will only be valid for the seventeen (17) day time frame or any shorter period of time requested. Any license issued will only be effective for the actual days in which sales are actively solicited or the period of time in which the homes are promoted by the dealer.

Section 203 - Indepedent Contractor Installer or Transporter

In order to protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of the public of this State, each applicant for an independent contractor installer or transporter license shall:
 

(U) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has a good general working mechanical knowledge of factory-built home construction and repair;

(V) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has a good practical working knowledge of the manner in which factory-built homes are anchored and blocked, in accordance with rules, regulations and procedures promulgated by the Commissioner and the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq.), as well as all applicable state and federal regulations regarding anchoring, blocking and tie downs.

(W) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he has a good general knowledge of and will comply with the requirements of the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq ) and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development as they pertain to the responsibilities of installers or transporters to properly safeguard the public interest;

(X) demonstrate to the Commissioner that he is in compliance with the Mississippi Public Service Commission under the provisions of the Mississippi Motor Carrier Regulatory Law of 1938 as amended, Miss . Code Ann. Sections 77-7-1 et seq ., as amended, Section 601 of the Federal Aviation Authority Authorization Act effective January 1, 1995, and provide proof of registration with the Mississippi Public Service Commission.

(Y) demonstrate that he will attend sixteen (16) hours of training per licensing year (July 1-June 30) as provided by, approved by, or recommended by the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office.

(A) The Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office shall periodically inspect each manufacturing location to assist and insure that factory-built homes are being constructed in compliance with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 5401 et seq ., as well as the governing federal regulations pertaining to manufactured housing construction.

(B) The Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office shall periodically inspect each dealer location to insure that factory-built homes offered for sale comply with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended, (42 U.S.C. Section 5401, et seq .), pertinent federal regulations, as well as these Rules and Regulations.

(C) Results of the inspection may be made available to the manufacturers or dealers upon request. When serious violations are found on HUD certified units, the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office shall immediately attach a non compliance identification tag to the unit in question.

(D) It shall be a violation of these Rules and Regulations for any factory-built home to be sold or offered for sale which has a non-compliance identification tag attached. The wording on such tag shall be as follows:

"This unit, having been found to be in NON-COMPLIANCE with the Uniform Standards Code for Factory-Built Homes Law and having been so identified, shall not be sold or offered for sale in the State of Mississippi. Anyone tampering with or removing this Identification Tag from this unit will be prosecuted as set forth in this Act, and shall be subject to revocation of his license."

(E) A non-compliance identification tag attached to a unit may be removed only by the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office. Such tag shall be completed as required thereon.

(F) When the State Fire Marshal has reasonable ground to believe that a unit has been constructed in non-compliance with these standards, he may require at the manufacturers expense, that the walls, floors, decking or other panels be removed for the purpose of inspection.

(G) Units having been identified as being in non-compliance with these Rules and Regulations and having a non-compliance tag attached may be transported and relocated only after notice has been given to the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office. Such notice will set forth the purpose for moving such unit, to whom the unit is to be delivered along with complete mailing address and telephone number, serial number, HUD label number and any other information as may be requested.

(H) When such violation(s) have been corrected, the unit in question shall be re-inspected by the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office and if found in compliance with the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act and these Rules and Regulations, the inspector shall remove the non-compliance identification tag. The unit can then be sold or offered for sale.

(I) All factory-built homes, which include new or used manufactured homes and relocatable homes or mobile homes, delivered by dealers, independent contractor installers or transporters to any site where such home is to be used for human habitation shall be anchored and blocked in accordance with Rules, Regulations and Procedures as required by the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office, provided for in Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 75-49-7, as amended.

(J) The Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office shall periodically inspect site locations where factory-built homes, which include new and used manufactured homes and relocatable homes or mobile homes, have been delivered by dealers, independent contractor installers, or transporters when such home is to be used for human habitation to insure that the home is tied down, anchored and blocked as required by these Rules and Regulations promulgated pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 75-49-7, as amended.

(K) Manufactured Home Plants located in the State of Mississippi, Manufactured Home Retail Dealer Sales Lots, and Independent Contractor Installers or Transporters business locations and equipment shall be subject to inspections by State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal, State Deputy Fire Marshals or Duly Authorized Representative as may be required to insure compliance with Section 75-49-11, Mississippi Code Annotated, as amended, all applicable federal statutes and regulations as well as these Rules and Regulations.

(L) When any provision of Section 75-49-1 through 75-49-2 1, Mississippi Code Annotated, as amended, is violated, the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal, State Deputy Fire Marshals or Duly Authorized Representative shall file appropriate action as set forth in Section 75-49-19, Mississippi Code Annotated, as amended.

(M) An administrative review of all licensees [manufacturers, dealers, and installer/transporters] privilege licenses may be conducted upon receipt of any verifiable complaint(s) of any nature that exceed sixty (60) days in length without resolution, which may lead to a licensure hearing pursuant to Section 75-49-13 of the Mississippi Code Annotated, as amended. The sixty (60) day period shall not serve as a mandatory waiting period, and in the appropriate case the Commissioner may, at his discretion, schedule a licensure hearing prior to the expiration of sixty (60) days.

Any local government (county or municipality) that has adopted the latest edition and Appendices of the Southern Building Code published by the Southern Building Code Congress International will be regarded by the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office as being in full compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the "Uniform Standards Code for Factory-built Homes Law" and as such will assume responsibility for local code enforcement for the installation, blocking, anchoring and tie downs, and inspection procedures to ensure compliance with the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act, of factory-built homes, which are defined as manufactured homes or mobile homes within their respected jurisdictions.

Minimum standards for blocking, anchors and tie-downs for manufactured or mobile homes in noncode areas of the state, when delivered to a home site location in the State of Mississippi, where they are intended to be used for human habitation shall be installed in accordance with all applicable Rules and Regulations so as to prevent loss of life and property from wind storms and related hazards. A period of thirty (30) days from the date of delivery is allowed for blocking and anchoring of the home.

(A) All new and used manufactured homes shall be installed in compliance with the set-up/installation instructions manual, in accordance with Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, 24 CFR Section 3280.306, Windstorm protection-support and anchoring systems as follows:
 
(1) Provisions for support and anchoring systems. Each manufactured home shall have provisions for support/anchoring or foundation systems that, when properly designed and installed, will resist overturning and lateral movement (sliding) of the manufactured home as imposed by the respective design loads. For Wind Zone I, the design wind loads to be used for calculating resistance to overturning and lateral movement shall be the simultaneous application of the wind loads indicated in Section 3280.305 (c)(1)(i), increased by a factor of 1.5 [D-7-76]. The 1.5 factor of safety for Wind Zone I is also applied simultaneously to both the vertical building projection, as horizontal wind load, and across the surface of the full roof structure, as uplift loading. For Wind Zones 11 and III, the resistance shall be determined by the simultaneous application of the horizontal drag and uplift wind loads, in accordance with Section 3280.305 (c)(1)(ii). The basic allowable stresses of materials required to resist overturning and lateral movement shall not be increased in the design and proportioning of these members. No additional shape or location factors need to be applied in the design of the tie-down system. The dead load of the structure may be used to resist these wind loading effects in all Wind Zones.

(B) Used manufactured homes, or mobile homes not provided with such set-up/installation instructions manual, or manufactured homes, or mobile homes not provided with instructions shall comply with the specifications listed under Section 400 - State Minimum Installation Standards below.

(C) Manufactured Home Tiedown Standards
 
(1) Site Preparation
 
(a) Site Preparation
 
Dealers and/or installer/transporters are responsible for site preparation.

(b) Access for Transporter

Before attempting to move a home, ensure that the transportation equipment and home can be routed to the installation site. Special transportation permits may be required from federal, state, county, or city officials.

(c) Fire Separation

Separation from adjacent structures and lot lines is based on the fire resistance rating of the home pursuant to NFPA 501A Standard for Fire Safety Criteria for Manufactured Home Installations, Sites and Communities , Section 4-2. 1, entitled "Fire Safety Separation Requirements." Sub-section 4.2.1.1 provides as follows:

 
Any portion of a manufactured home, excluding the tongue, shall not be located closer than 10 ft (3 m) side to side, 8 ft (2.4 m) end to side, or 6 ft (1.8 m) end to end horizontally from any other manufactured home or community building unless the exposed composite walls and roof of either structure are without openings and constructed of materials that will provide a one-hour fire rating or the structures are separated by a one-hour fire-rated barrier. [ .... ] Information regarding the fire rating of the unit may be obtained from the manufacturer or third party inspection agency identified on the data plate.

(d) Clearance Under Homes

The site should be graded such that a minimum clearance of 12 inches is maintained beneath the lowest member of the main frame (I-beam or channel beam) in the area of utility connections.

(e) Drainage of Site

Site Drainage is the responsibility of the dealer and installer/transporter, as contemplated by Mississippi Code Ann. Section 75-49-5, and applicable HUD Regulations. Each site should have a finished grade that will provide for drainage away from the home. Collection of water beneath the home may lead to reduced durability of siding and bottom board, condensation in walls and ceilings, etc. Soil saturation may also cause buckling of walls and floors, problems with the operation of the doors and windows, etc.

(f) Removal of Organic Material

Remove all decayable material, such as grass, roots, twigs, and wood scraps, -from beneath the home to minimize settling of footings and insect damage.

 
(2) Soil Type/Capacity
 
(a) Under the Federal Standards, manufacturers are only required to provide one acceptable method for installing the home. However, manufacturers usually provide installation instructions that can be applied to a number of sites. These "generic" instructions commonly specify a minimum acceptable bearing capacity of the soil. Additionally, the manufacturer may offer options for acceptable footing sizes based on the bearing capacity of the soil. Installers and inspection personnel should first determine the bearing capacity of the soil in order to determine the proper size footing or foundation. Different soil types will have different bearing and holding capacities. The bearing capacity of the soil is the load per unit area that can be supported safely by the ground. The performance of the ground anchor is related to the soil's holding capacity. In the absence of borings, test pits, and other soil investigations that provide information on the proposed site, the following description of soil types may be used for homes installed in Mississippi:

psf kg/m2 Soil Type

2000 9765 Loose sand clay soils or medium soft clay

3000 14647 Firm or stiff clay

4000 19530 Loose fine sand or compact inorganic silt soils

6000 29295 Compact sand-clay soils

8000 39059 Loose coarse to medium compact fine sand

*Note: The above table may be used if the soil characteristics are known. If the soil type is unknown, the following resources may be consulted to determine the soil type/bearing capacity:

(i) Local authorities having jurisdiction;

(ii) Soil conservation district;

(iii) United Sates Geological Survey;

(iv) The Resource Conservation Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture;

(v) Highway Department;

(vi) Qualified Professional Engineer; and/or

(vii) Other methods approved by the Commissioner.

(3) Required Piers and Anchorage

(a) All manufactured homes require diagonal ties to restrict the unit from being pushed from its piers. These diagonal ties also restrict overturning. Additional over-the-top tie-downs to restrict overturning are required by some manufactured home installation instructions.

(b) Piers or load-bearing supports or devices shall be designed and constructed to evenly distribute the loads. Piers shall be securely attached to the frame of the manufactured home or shall extend at least 6 inches (152 mm) from the centerline of the frame member. Manufactured load-bearing supports or devices shall be listed or approved for the use intended, or piers shall be constructed as follows:

(i) Except for comer piers, piers less than 40 inches (1016 mm) high, shall be constructed of masonry units, placed with cores or cells vertically. Piers shall be installed with their long dimensions perpendicular to the main (I-beam) frame member it supports and shall have a minimum cross-sectional area of 119 sq in (0.077 M2). Piers shall be capped with a minimum 2-inch (51 mm) solid masonry unit or concrete cap, or equivalent.

(ii) Piers between 40 and 80 inches (1016 and 2032 mm) high and all comer piers over 24 inches (6 10 mm) shall be at least 16 x 16 inches (406 x 406 mm) consisting of interlocking masonry units and shall be fully capped with a minimum 4-inch (102 mm.) solid masonry unit or equivalent.

(iii) Piers over 80 inches (2032 mm) high shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 above, provided the piers shall be filled solid with grout and reinforced with four continuous No. 5 bars. One bar shall be placed in each comer cell of hollow masonry unit piers, or in each comer of the grouted space of piers constructed of solid masonry units.

(iv) Cast-in-place concrete piers meeting the same size and height limitations of paragraphs (i), (ii), and (iii) above may be substituted for piers constructed of masonry units.

(v) All piers shall be constructed on footings of solid concrete not less than 16 x 16 inches (406 x 406 x 102 mm).

(c) Piers shall be located in accordance with the manufactured home installation instructions. If the manufactured home installation instructions are not available for a used home, piers for single section homes are to be placed under each longitudinal main frame member not to exceed 8 ft (2438 mm) on-center spacing for homes that are 14 ft (4267 mm) wide or less and 6 ft (1829 mm) on center for homes that are over 14 ft (4267 mm.) wide. Piers for multi-section homes are to be placed under each longitudinal main frame member not to exceed 6 ft (1829 mm) on-center spacing. For used multi-section homes, piers are to be placed under the center marriage line within one foot at each end, under ridge beam support columns, and under both sides of openings at the marriage line greater than 12 ft (3657 mm). For all homes, exterior doors shall have piers directly under both sides of the door openings. Where practical for all homes, end piers shall be placed within I ft (305 nun) of the ends of the main frame. When the location and spacing of wheels and axles, or other structural members of home frames, or undercarriages prevent spacing of piers on 8 or 6 ft (2438 or 1829 mm) centers, the spacing shall be as near 8 or 6 ft (2438 or 1829 mm) maximum spacing as practicable in the area of the obstruction. Piers shall be placed under other concentrated loads such as porch posts, bay window overhangs, and masonry-faced fireplaces on floor overhangs. Units that exceed 16 ft (4877 mm) in width shall have perimeter piers under the sidewalls every 6 ft (1829 mm) and at each comer. Perimeter piers shall be under the intersection of a perimeter joist and a transverse joist or shall be under a 4 x 4-inch (102 x 102 mm) brace that supports at least two floor joists.

(4) Installation Instructions for ABS Pads
 

(a) The purpose of this section is to emphasize that the ground under the ABS pads must be leveled, evenly compacted, and cleared of all vegetation and debris before the placement of the pads. For ABS Pads having a design different from those specified in this regulation, installation instructions shall be approved by the Commissioner or the State Chief Deputy Fire Marshal.

(b) Note that if pad deflects more than 5/8 of an inch when installed, pier spacing is incorrect for soil conditions. The maximum deflection in a single pad is 5/8 of an inch measured from the highest point to the lowest point of the top.

(c) Installation Instructions for ABS Pads - 26 x 26-Inch Pad Configuration
 
(i) All pads are to be installed flat side down, ribbed side up.

(ii) The ground under the pads should be leveled as smooth as possible with all vegetation removed. Pads are to be placed on natural grade unless otherwise permitted by the local building authority.

(iii) Pier and pad spacing will be determined by the manufactured home manufacturer's written set-up instructions. In the absences of manufacturer's written set-up instructions and written set-up instructions from the manufacturer of the pads, pier and pad spacing shall be no greater than 6 ft. apart for Zone I and no greater than 4 ft for Zone II.

(iv) The open cells between the ribbing on the upper side of the pads may be filled with soil or sand after installation to prevent any accumulation of stagnant water in the pads.

(v) A pocket penetrometer may be used to determine the actual soil bearing value. If soil testing equipment is not available, use an assumed soil value of 1000 lbs/square foot.

(vi) All pad sizes shown are nominal dimensions and may vary to 1/8 of an inch.

 
(vii) The maximum deflection in a single pad is 5/8 of an inch measured from the highest point to the lowest point of the top face. (Please review Table II and Figures III and IV).

(5) Definitions

(a) DIAGONAL TIE - any tie down designed to resist horizontal or shear forces and which deviates not less than 30 ^o (0.52 rad) from a vertical direction.

(b) GROUND ANCHOR - any device at the manufactured home stand designed for the purpose of securing a manufactured home to the ground.

(c) WIND (HURRICANE) ZONE II - Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, George, Stone and Pearl River Counties are all Wind Zone 11 areas for the State of Mississippi.

(d) TIEDOWN - any device designed for the purpose of anchoring a manufactured home to the ground anchors.

(6) Tiedowns
 
(a) Manufactured homes with provisions for installation of anchor systems, including instructions, in accordance with Federal Manufactured Home Construction & Safety Standards, 24 CFR Section 3280.306, shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Manufactured homes not provided with such installation instructions, or manufactured homes not provided with instructions for the zone (wind or non-wind) in which they are being installed shall comply with the following:

(i) The number of tiedowns for single wide (10 ft, 12 ft, or 14 ft) manufactured homes shall comply with Tables IV and Table V.

(ii) Manufactured homes shall be tied down in accordance with these tables unless the anchoring system is designed and approved by a registered professional Mississippi engineer (as per manufacturer's installation instructions).

(iii) Single section manufactured homes shall have diagonal and vertical ties and anchors in accordance with the tables below unless manufacturer's installation instructions are utilized.

(iv) Multiple-wide manufactured homes shall have diagonal ties and anchors as required above for single-wide manufactured homes as listed in Tables IV and V above. No over-the-roof ties shall be required.

(v) Alternate systems. These specifications are minimum standards. Other anchor systems shall be approved by the Division or local building official(s) provided that such designs are prepared by a registered professional Mississippi engineer or architect based on the criteria set forth in Federal Manufactured Home Construction & Safety Standards, 24 CFR Section 3280.306.

(vi) Tiedown Spacing and Sizes
 

(1) Over-the-top tiedowns shall be positioned at stud and rafter locations near each end of the manufactured home. Others, if needed, may be positioned between them.

(2) Wherever feasible, over-the-top tiedowns and frame ties directly beneath them may use the same anchors.

(3) Cable or strapping or other approved methods or materials shall be used for ties. All ties shall be fastened to ground anchors and drawn tight with tumbuckles, yoke-type fasteners or other such tensioning devices listed with the ground anchor.

(4) Cable shall be either 7/32 inch (5.6 mm) diameter or greater (70) steel cable or 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) diameter or greater (7 x 19) aircraft cable. All cable ends shall be secured with at least two U-bolt type cable clamps or other fastening device as approved by the building official.

(5) Tie materials shall be capable of resisting an allowable working load of 3,150 lbs (14.0 kg) with no more than 2% elongation and shall withstand a 50% overload [4,725 lbs (21.0 kg) total]. Tiedowns exposed to weathering shall be resistant to weathering deterioration at least equivalent to that provided by a coating of zinc on steel of not less than 0.30 oz per square foot (92 g/m) of surface coated. Type I, Class B, Grade I, steel strapping 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) wide and 0.035 inch (0.89 mm) thick, conforming with Federal Specifications QQ-S-781-F, is judged to conform with this section.

(6) Materials used for ties must terminate with D-rings, bolts, or other fastening devices, which will not cause distortion of the band or reduce its breaking strength of 4,725 lb (21.0 kg). Please note that ties should be double wrapped (double looped) at top of beam, not at the bottom.

(7) Connection of the cable frame tie to the I-beam (or other shape) main structural frame member should be by a 5/8-inch (15.9 nun) drop-forged closed eye bolted through a hole drilled in the center of the I-beam web. A washer, or equivalent, shall be used so that the beam is sufficiently reinforced around the hole. If steel-strap ties are used, care should be exercised to insure that minimum bending radius is adhered to so that the breaking strength of the strap is not reduced.

(8) Frame ties shall connect the anchor and the steel I-beam (or other shape) main structural frame member which runs lengthwise under the manufactured home. Frame ties shall never be connected to any of the steel outrigger beams which fasten to and intersect the main I-beam at right angles.

(9) Ground anchors should be aligned with center of piers. Also, they should be situated immediately below the outer wall to accommodate over-the-top ties as well as frame ties.

(7) Anchors
 

(a) Devices used to anchor manufactured homes shall meet the following requirements:
 
(i) Ground anchors shall be aligned close to the end of the piers, but not in exact center that will interfere with frame ties.

(ii) Auger-type (or other C-4 rated) anchors shall be at least 4 ft in length, have a minimum diameter of 6 inches (arrowheads 8 inches) and be sunk their full depth when sandy soils are present. When the condition of the soil (including ground density, composition and compaction) will not allow the Auger-type or other C-4 rated anchors to be sunk to their full depth, the Auger-type or other C-4 rated anchor attempted to be sunk shall be left in place and C-2 rated anchors may be used. Steel rods shall be at least 5/8 of an inch in diameter, have a forged or welded eye at top, or have a yoke-type fastening and tensioning device or a threaded connector and tensioning device. C -4 anchors shall be capable of withstanding 4,750 lbs of pull (in a vertical or diagonal direction) without failure.

(iii) Anchors to reinforced concrete slabs must be strength comparable to that presented above.

(iv) Other anchors which are capable of withstanding 4,750 lbs of pull without failure may be approved by the Manufactured Housing Division of the State Fire Marshal's Office as equivalent to above specifications.

(v) All ground anchors having frame tie connections only shall have approved stabilizing plates installed on the inside (direction of pull) with the top of the stabilizing plate driven flush with the soil. Exception: Stabilizer plates are not required with coral anchors or at centerline or marriage wall locations.

(vi) The "Standard Method of Test for Manufactured Home Anchors, Parts A and B" is described in the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, 24 CFR Section 3280.401.

(D) General
 

(1) All new manufactured homes shall be installed in accordance with the home installation instructions. These instructions may include the following details.
 
(a) Skirting must have vents and an opening for access to the crawl space and heat tape outlet.

(b) The dryer exhaust vent must terminate outside the home.

(c) Combustion air vents may be needed for sealed combustion units and fireplaces.

(d) A vapor barrier may be required on the soil.

(e) A clearance must be maintained between the soil and wood floor joists.

(f) Water supply lines may be required to be insulated.

(g) The lot should be graded to avoid standing water under the home.

(h) The air conditioning condensate drain may be specified to have a termination outside the home.

(i) Specifications for utility connections must be followed.

(2) If the installation instructions for used manufactured homes are not available, the anchoring and support requirements of this standard shall be followed and other aspects of the home installation shall conform to the minimum standards established by the Rules and Regulations of the Manufactured Housing Division.

(3) Used manufactured homes built after July 13, 1994 that conform to Wind Zone I ratings cannot be installed within a designated Wind Zone II area.

(4) Designated Wind Zone II Counties are Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, George, Pearl River, and Stone.

(5) The support and anchoring systems of all mobile homes that bear the HUD label shall be designated by a Registered Professional engineer or architect and meet the requirements of 24 CFR Section 3280.306, pursuant to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 5401, et seq .). The manufacturer shall provide complete tiedown instructions with each mobile home.

(6) From and after July 1, 1992, no dealer, transporter or installer shall deliver or cause to be delivered any factory-built home to any person at any site where such home is to be used for human habitation without anchoring and blocking such home in accordance with rules, regulations and procedures promulgated by the Commissioner pursuant to Section provided, however, that a period of thirty (30) days from date of delivery shall be allowed for the anchoring and blocking of such homes.

(A) All manufacturers, dealers and installer/transporters shall maintain any and all official notes and/or bulletins issued by the Manufactured Housing Division for five (5) years from the date of issuance. If so required by this Manufactured Housing Division, all manufacturers, dealers and installer/transporters shall display official notices and bulletins in plain view for the public. Exception: Any official notices and bulletins marked as permanent records or DO NOT DESTROY.

(B) Please refer to Bulletin 97-5 and the Manufactured Housing Division's notice of October 7, 1996, regarding the cessation of monthly dealer lot sales report.