On October 19, the U.S. Department of Hosuing and Urban Development (HUD) published the long-awaited Model Installation Standards after several delays. NCC members may recall that it was HUD’s intent to make the effective date the same as the forthcoming Installation Program Rule by simply referencing that rule in the publication of the final rule on the model installation standards. However, HUD was later told they must publish with an established effective date so they chose one year from publication: October 20, 2008. However HUD Deputy Program Administrator Bill Matchneer informed MHI that the date will be changed to conform to the effective date of the Installation Program rule, which is now expected to be published in the first quarter of 2008. MHI expects the effective date of that rule to be six-months from publication.

In the final model installation standards, the NCC was successful in achieving two important and critical changes to the model standards of specific concern to community owners:

1. Footers Below the Frost Line--NCC members may recall that HUD initially proposed that all footers be below the frost line or require the use of monolithic slabs. These options would have increased installation costs in many land-lease communities in colder climates by several thousand dollars per home. HUD was responsive to NCC concerns and did add an option of using insulated skirting.

2. Fire Separation--HUD initially proposed that fire separation distances between homes must conform to the NFPA 501A standard (2003 edition)--which is a minimum 10 feet separation between homes. This requirement would have been very problematic for older land-lease communities with high density as they replaced older homes with newer ones. The requirement also failed to recognize that these setback requirements are generally controlled by local government. HUD did amend the final rule and now allows fire separation distances in compliance with local ordinances.

To obtain a copy of the final rule, visit the MHI website at www.manufacturedhousing.org