Installation Law Briefing
Mar 26, 2015
Installation Law Briefing
Licensing Trigger is installing a home on a foundation
Anchoring – no Grading – no Excavation – no Pouring basement – no
The person supervising the home going on the foundation - yes
Licensing General supervision – installer does not need
to be on the job site Homeowner is exempt from licensing but if
other people are hired they would then need a license (no way around the law)
Application $100 license fee plus one time $10
application fee for 4 year license Take 12 hour qualifying class
Renewal Renewal requires 12 hours of continuing
education over the 4 year period Also must not have been found responsible
for breaking the rule or defrauding a customer
Wisconsin Installation Standard Act 45 authorized adoption of standards Manufactured Housing Code Council -
recommended rule adopted draft federal rule Council is attached to the Dept of Safety &
Professional Services Published in Administrative Register
SPS 321.40 – Homes built prior to April 1
Formerly Comm 27.18 Now a part of the UDC Applies to homes built before April 1, 2007
SPS 321.40 - Homes built prior to April 1
Ground sets permitted – no frost protection No footing on unprepared fill. All organic matter
must be removed. Soil bearing test using pocket penetrometer Grade site to drain water away for minimum of 5 ft
from home A footing for every pier, nominal 16” by 16” Consult the manufacturer, engineer or architect if
soil is less than 2000 psi
SPS 321.40 Footings one 4 by 16 by 16 solid blocks or two 4 by 8 by
16 solid blocks. 16 by 16 ABS pad rated at not less than 6000 lbs 18 inch diameter hole bored below the frost line
or to unfractured bedrock and filled with poured concrete
Other materials or systems approved by Department of Safety & Professional Service
SPS 321.40 Piers - Homes built prior to April 1
Concrete blocks, manufactured steel stands or manufactured concrete stands
Single stack piers limited to 36 inches Single stack piers loads limited to 8,000 lbs 36 to 80 inch piers – double blocked (layered in
opposing layers) 80 inch or more – double blocked laid in concrete
mortar, cores filled with mortar and ½ inch steel reinforcing rod
SPS 321.40 Concrete Blocks 2 core design, construction grade 8x8x16 Cores placed with cores open vertically Block nearest main frame shall be
perpendicular to the linear direction of frame No block may contact the frame
SPS 321.40 – Pier Spacing No more than 7 feet on center No more than 3 feet from exterior side of
each end wall Can be varied to follow manufacturer tables Piers under clear-span openings of 4 feet or
more in mating walls Piers must be plumb and centered under point
of support
SPS 321.40 - Caps Solid concrete block or solid wood block
having nominal thickness of at least 2 inches Cap must be same width and length as top of
pier No more than 2 pieces – 2 piece caps
positioned with joint perpendicular to frame if used
SPS 321.40 - Shims Where used, driven from opposing sides and
be no less than 4” by 8” Wood caps and shims at least equal to #2
spruce pine fir with min bending stress rating of 1200 psi. All wood caps must be of same species of wood. All shims must be of same species of wood.
SPS 321.40 – Height limits Combination of nominal 2 inch solid concrete
block or wood cap plus shims must not exceed 3 ½ inches
Minimum clearance under home of 12 inches between lowest point of main frame in area of utility connections. Min clearance of 12 inches for 75% of home. Remainder may be less than 12 inches but cannot touch ground
Federal Installation Standard Applies to homes built on or after April 1 Modified by Department of Department of
Safety & Professional Service
The Standards
3280 – HUD Construction Standards for the home
3285 – HUD Model Installation Standards The following must be AT LEAST AS
STRINGENT as the federal model State Standards Manufacturer Manuals
Understanding Part 3285 Code is available from the front page of the
Alliance website It includes “wisconsin-isms”
Application These standards apply to HUD Code
manufactured Homes not modulars.
Major Differences Must be a frost protected foundation system
Monolithic Slab (not runners) Cylindrical Concrete Footings bored to 48" Min.
Depth Insulated foundation system
Drainage 10 away verses 5 feet No Ground Sets! All of home must be no less than 12” above
grade
Major Differences Concrete blocks must meet ASTM C90 Piers may be 10 ft apart verses 7 ft Double blocking required above 36” and all
corner blocks Piers no more than 2 ft from ends verses 3 ft
from ends More specifics on permitted woods
“Wisconsin-isms” Entire state is 48” frost depth Anchors to be driven to full depth but need
not be more than 30” Fire separation must also conform to SPS 326
Things to Watch! Permits required Inspections required Setbacks Fire protection Steps & decks Enforcement may not be uniform for awhile
but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming
AC Inspections Alternative Construction (AC) Inspections
WILL NOT be part of Department of Safety & Professional Service’s UDC Inspector Program! ( a "HUDism" per Leroy Stublaski)
Remember to reserve "separate" inspection fees for HUD Homes requiring AC inspection(s).
Contact "Home Manufacturer" for approved inspector contacts.