[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 24, Volume 5] [Revised as of April 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 24CFR3280.303] [Page 123-124] 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 D_Body and Frame Construction Requirements Sec. 3280.303 General requirements. (a) Minimum requirements. The design and construction of a manufactured home shall conform with the provisions of this standard. Requirements for any size, weight, or quality of material modified by the terms of minimum, not less than, at least, and similar expressions are minimum standards. The manufacturer or installer may exceed these standards provided such deviation does not result in any inferior installation or defeat the purpose and intent of this standard. (b) Construction. All construction methods shall be in conformance with [[Page 124]] accepted engineering practices to insure durable, livable, and safe housing and shall demonstrate acceptable workmanship reflecting journeyman quality of work of the various trades. (c) Structural analysis. The strength and rigidity of the component parts and/or the integrated structure shall be determined by engineering analysis or by suitable load tests to simulate the actual loads and conditions of application that occur. (See subparts E and J.) (d) [Reserved] (e) New materials and methods. (1) Any new material or method of construction not provided for in this standard and any material or method of questioned suitability proposed for use in the manufacture of the structure shall nevertheless conform in performance to the requirements of this standard. (2) Unless based on accepted engineering design for the use indicated, all new manufactured home materials, equipment, systems or methods of construction not provided for in this standard shall be subjected to the tests specified in paragraph (g) of this section. (f) Allowable design stress. The design stresses of all materials shall conform to accepted engineering practice. The use of materials not certified as to strength or stress grade shall be limited to the minimum allowable stresses under accepted engineering practice. (g) Alternative test procedures. In the absence of recognized testing procedures either in these standards or the applicable provisions of those standards incorporated by reference, the manufacturer electing this option shall develop or cause to be developed testing procedures to demonstrate the structural properties and significant characteristics of the material, assembly, subassembly component or member. Such testing procedures shall become part of the manufacturer's approved design. (Refer to Sec. 3280.3.) (1) Testing procedures so developed shall be submitted to the Department for approval. (2) Upon notification of approval, the alternative test procedure is considered acceptable. (3) Such tests shall be witnessed by an independent licensed professional engineer or architect or by a recognized testing organization. Copies of the test results shall be kept on file by the manufactured home manufacturer. [40 FR 58752, Dec. 18, 1975. Redesignated at 44 FR 20679, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 58 FR 55005, Oct. 25, 1993; 59 FR 2469, Jan. 14, 1994] Effective Date Note: At 70 FR 72043, Nov. 30, 2005, Sec. 3280.303 was amended by revising paragraph (g), effective May 30, 2006. For the convenience of the user, the revised text follows: Sec. 3280.303 General requirements. * * * * * (g) Alternative test procedures. In the absence of recognized testing procedures either in the Standards in this part or in the applicable provisions of those standards incorporated in this part by reference, the manufacturer electing this option must develop or cause to be developed testing procedures to demonstrate the structural properties and significant characteristics of the material, assembly, subassembly component, or member, except for testing methods involving one-piece metal roofing as would be required in Sec. 3280.305(c)(1)(iii). Such testing procedures become part of the manufacturer's approved design. Such tests must be witnessed by an independent licensed professional engineer or architect or by a recognized testing organization. Copies of the test results must be kept on file by the manufactured home manufacturer.