Structural Engineering: Re: Manufactured housing foundations

This is exactly the discussion I was hoping to spark. I would say that most mfr homes in this area are built on dry-stacked block, and was curious how those offering HUD-financing reviews were handling it. Since there is no mention of even the bonding agent in the old guide, that puts quite a crimp in the resale market if everyone is actually enforcing the guidelines.

It's a shame that there is no official publication from HUD on the surface bonding cement.

Jordan

Gary Loomis wrote:

This is not consistent with Section 503-4, Masonry Piers and Walls of the "Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing" prepared by US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, dated September 1996.  It states "All masonry piers and walls shall have mortared beds and head joints".  www.huduser.org/Publications/pdf/foundation_guide_complete.pdf  Our experience when HUD financing was involved, they would not accept dry stacked block even on homes installed before September 1996.   We went to HUD with a request to use a surface bonding agent and they accepted this in lieu of the mortared joints.  A letter stamped by a PE with backup calculations for dry stacked piers rejected.  Suggest you check with the finance company to determine the requirements.  Gary W. Loomis, P.E., Senior Structural Engineering Master Engineers and Designers, Inc. -----Original Message----- From: Harold Sprague [mailto:spraguehope@hotmail.com]  Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 4:16 PM To: seaint@seaint.org Subject: Re: Manufactured housing foundations  Jordan,  According to HUD, dry stack CMU is allowed. Reference: http://www.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=1003 for the Manufactured Homes Installation Training Manual.  It is a pretty good document representing practices and engineered  solutions.  HUD sponsored this and participated in the development.  The  Manufactured Homes Insititute also participated.  Regards, Harold Sprague

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jordan Truesdell, PE"  <seaint1@truesdellengineering.com> To: <seaint@seaint.org> Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 10:42 AM Subject: Manufactured housing foundations

Is anyone out there familiar enough with the PFGMH to know if there

are

any interpretations or modifications which allow the use of unmortared

(dry stacked) CMU piers? Also, is there an interpretation which allows

the

exterior of the piers to be covered in a cementitious compound in lieu

of

mortared bed joints?  -- Jordan

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