[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 24, Volume 5]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 24CFR3280.401]

[Page 134]
 
                 TITLE 24--HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
 
 CHAPTER XX--OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING--FEDERAL HOUSING 
        COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
 
PART 3280--MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart E--Testing
 
Sec. 3280.401  Structural load tests.


    Every structural assembly tested shall be capable of meeting the 
Proof Load Test or the Ultimate Load Test as follows:
    (a) Proof load tests. Every structural assembly tested shall be 
capable of sustaining its dead load plus superimposed live loads equal 
to 1.75 times the required live loads for a period of 12 hours without 
failure. Tests shall be conducted with loads applied and deflections 
recorded in \1/4\ design live load increments at 10-minute intervals 
until 1.25 times design live load plus dead load has been reached. 
Additional load shall then be applied continuously until 1.75 times 
design live load plus dead load has been reached. Assembly failure shall 
be considered as design live load deflection (or residual deflection 
measured 12 hours after live load removal) which is greater than the 
limits set in Sec. 3280.305(d), rupture, fracture, or excessive 
yielding. An assembly to be tested shall be of the minimum quality of 
materials and workmanship of the production. Each test assembly, 
component or subassembly shall be identified as to type and quality or 
grade of material. All assemblies, components or subassemblies 
qualifying under this section shall be subject to a continuing 
qualification testing program acceptable to the Department.
    (b) Ultimate load tests. Ultimate load tests shall be performed on a 
minimum of three assemblies or components to generally evaluate the 
structural design. Every structural assembly or component tested shall 
be capable of sustaining its total dead load plus the design live load 
increased by a factor of safety of at least 2.5. A factor of safety 
greater than 2.5 shall be used when required by an applicable reference 
standard in Sec. 3280.304(b)(1). Tests shall be conducted with loads 
applied and deflections recorded in \1/4\ design live load increments at 
10-minute intervals until 1.25 times design live load plus dead load has 
been reached. Additional loading shall then be applied continuously 
until failure occurs or the total of the factor of safety times the 
design live load plus the dead load is reached. Assembly failure shall 
be considered as design live load deflection greater than the limits set 
in Sec. 3208.305(d), rupture, fracture, or excessive yielding. 
Assemblies to be tested shall be representative of average quality or 
materials and workmanship of the production. Each test assembly, 
component, or sub-assembly shall be identified as to type and quality or 
grade of material. All assemblies, components, or sub-assemblies 
qualifying under this section shall be subject to a periodic 
qualification testing program acceptable to the Department.

[40 FR 58752, Dec. 18, 1975. Redesignated at 44 FR 20679, Apr. 6, 1979, 
as amended at 58 FR 55007, Oct. 25, 1993]