HUD Proposes Another Round of Significant Changes for Manufactured Homes

TThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on July 19 posted to the Federal Register another slate of changes for manufactured housing, the most robust update to the HUD Code in decades.

The changes include 88 new and updated standards, bringing the HUD Code in line with more recent manufactured housing industry standards, and further improving the quality and safety of manufactured home construction.

“Manufactured homes are an important element of the nation’s affordable housing supply,” HUD

Assistant Secretary for Housing Julia Gordon said.

“These proposed updates, when final, will help to expand the availability of safe and affordable homes that align with current design trends and construction methods.”

Proposed changes in the rule will facilitate innovation and greater production of manufactured homes with features that are sought-after by consumers and that are common consumer needs for modern living, HUD stated in a press release on the updates.

When final, the updates contained in the proposed rule will enact a significant number of recommendations made by the federally-mandated Manufactured

Housing Consensus Committee.

Further, the updates will eliminate the need for manufacturers to obtain alternative construction approvals for frequently requested features and materials that already meet or exceed HUD standards. The proposed updates are available for public comment for 60 days. Overview of Proposed Rule Changes for Manufactured Housing

Materials that facilitate modern design approaches and improve quality: Updates to reference standards for materials (wood, steel, piping) and products will align with other building standards, will allow the use of more modern design approaches and installation of alternative materials.

Ridge roof designs: Revising definitions and regulatory language will allow certain specified roof ridge designs without a requirement for specific on-site inspections by a HUD-approved agency.

Open floor plans, truss designs, and specifications for attics: The updated requirements for exterior door separation and structural design requirements will improve allowances for open floorplans while maintaining fire safety, clarify unclear provisions, and allow the potential for optimization of truss design.

Accessibility improvements: Modifications to standards for accessible showers will comply with nationally-recognized disability standards for rollin showers. This will eliminate the need for HUD alternative construction approval.

Modern and energy-saving appliances: Updating and adding new standards will allow for the use of more modern and energy-efficient appliances, including gas-fired tankless water heaters, eliminating the need for HUD alternative construction approvals for use of such appliances.

In January, HUD published proposed rule changes for manufactured homes, that were given an added grace period before going into effect. Those changes, which went into effect July 12, address data plates, interior passages, stairways, safety alarms, garages, and carports, among other considerations. MHV

CClayton Homes unveiled its first net-zero electricity home to the public at the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders meeting in Omaha, Neb., in May. The home showcases energy-efficient features available to Clayton customers today, as well as new technologies Clayton is exploring for future innovation, including solar power. With all of these upgrades combined, the home produces enough electricity to power itself. “Clayton is committed to building sustainable and attainable homes," CEO Kevin Clayton said. "Whether it's building this net-zero home or through our volunteer program, Clayton Impact, our team members aim to leave a lasting, positive impact on our communities and the planet."

The net-zero electricity home showcased at the Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting is The Pulse floor plan, paired with several energy efficiency upgrades and a solar roofing system.

Features on the home currently available to customers include Energy Star® appliances, LED lights, Lux windows with argon, a 22-21-50 insulation package and an ecobee® smart thermostat.

Additional upgrades being explored include CertainTeed® Solar shingles and Benjamin Moore® low-VOC paint. The Pulse home costs just under $230,000 before the cost of land and solar panels.

Design for Purpose

Megan Foster, the interior design manager for Clayton, said the team’s dedication to creating homes with features their customers desire is the guiding vision for their work.

“Across all aspects of the building process, from materials to innovative design, Clayton Built® homes are built efficiently and thoughtfully to serve as an attainable home solution for a growing number of people,” Foster said.

In addition to the home display, Clayton set up a rather unusual offering for a home show: A 64-gallon bin of waste, which represents all that was collected during the off-site building process of the net-zero electricity home.

William Jenkins, director of environment and sustainability for the company, said the inclusion of the waste bin while showing the home helped attendees conceptualize the extraordinarily minimal amount of waste from the building process.

“While we are continuing to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, our sustainability efforts also include improving the energy and fuel efficiency of our operations, increasing our reliance on renewable energy, and setting ongoing reduction targets for waste and water consumption,” Jenkins said.

He said Clayton’s building innovations are part of a larger commitment to social responsibility that spans across the entire enterprise.

A newly launched Clayton Social Responsibility website features stories across the company demonstrating Clayton’s growing commitment to be a “force for good” in Clayton’s communities, and with its customers, team members, and partners.

The site highlights a new partnership between Clayton and The Arbor Day Foundation to plant 2.33 million trees in forests around the country in 2022, helping restore vital ecosystems in an effort to foster a long-term, sustainable impact. MHV