Manufactured Home Inspection

[SperlingPE]

I ran into something new. The manufactured home is on a permanent foundation. Anchor rods are installed at the perimeter. In addition there are soil anchors installed diagonally into the soil. The anchors have a strap attached to them that is connected to the supports of the home. The anchors are below the home in the crawl space; (3) per longitudinal side. I have never encountered this. I presume it was installed to prevent overturning.

I cannot find this system in any literature that I have found.

Before I rule it out, has anyone run across this?
Do you have any deisgn values?

This is existing construction. So I do not know embedment or shovel size. So I am ready to rule it out and suggest a retrofit for this home.

 

[Ron]

I would be wary of having anything to do with this. The manufactured building might or might not comply with code. Further, any site built items must comply with code; but items pre-constructed and delivered to the site....not necessarily.

If the MH was moved to this site from another installed site, you have to check an old code path, particularly for wind loads.

Seems like a bit of liability to assume for a small fee.

 

[DaveAtkins]

What you describe is common in manufactured home design. HUD has a guide for checking foundations for manufactured homes, and you can find information on the diagonal strap/soil anchor there.

DaveAtkins

 

[msquared48]

I agree with Dave, but how are you going to verify that the helicle anchors were properly installed?

Is there any record of inspection?

These are rather critical elements in the lateral design of the structure.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[SperlingPE]

I have gone through the design guide.
There is an approved system that uses x-braces attached to the home andthe foundations. There is no reference to diagonal bracing that is attached to the home and to a soil anchor.

Without knowledge of the depth that the anchor was embedded and no information on the size of the shovels, I am going forward with suggesting a retrofit for the owner.

Thanks for the replies

 

[msquared48]

Good decision...

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[dicksewerrat]

Look for the Manufacturers plaque or even a name. Call the 2 closest dealers of that house. You should be able to get the spec on the tie-downs from the dealer and/or installer. It should be in one of the closets in the house.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[hamburg113]

Hi

I found that a member asked same question in this forum some months ago.

Pls use search box to find this questions with comments