Building Codes

From MBSAwiki

This article is about the MBSA Position Paper on Modular Building Codes. For a complete listing of all MBSA Position Papers, please visit that article.

Uniform national model building codes have greatly benefited the modular industry. With the reduction in the number of major model codes from three to one in the recent past, and with several states that used to write their own codes, now adopting the international model codes, the modular industry is now able to design homes which comply with one code instead of the many codes we used in the past.

However, due to the method in which model codes are drafted and approved, the construction industry is often given no more than lip service when it comes to having meaningful involvement in the code amendment process. Moreover, the cost implications of a new code amendment are rarely considered when code changes are deliberated and voted on.

In most states, the modular industry is required to build to the same code used by stick builders. As a result, if a new code change results in a cost increase for the stick builder, the change does not place the modular industry at a competitive disadvantage. If a certain percentage of homebuyers are priced out of the new home market by a cost increase, the effect, while hurting the entire housing industry does not specifically affect the modular industry differently. As a result, the MBSA has worked in consort with NAHB in the past to support the work that they do on behalf of the residential construction industry. NAHB is well suited and has considerable knowledge and expertise in reviewing code changes with an eye towards affordability and cost-benefit analysis. We propose to continue to work with the NAHB and our NAHB modular counterpart, the NAHB Building Systems Council in the review and advocacy of model building codes.

There are states, however, where the modular industry is required to build to the state code, while stick builders build to a different, sometimes less restrictive local code. New Hampshire is an example of this situation. Moreover, there are some code provisions that affect the modular industry differently that conventional construction. This is due in large part to the manner in which modular homes are shipped (in specific size modules). An example is the change in the national model codes in stair geometry. As stairs were required to be more gradual, they took up more room in the house, and while a stick builder could simply redesign for the increased space, the new stair will not fit in most of the smaller modular homes.

The stair issue is one that our industry has essentially lost on the national model code level. However, the MBSA has been instrumental in the past in lobbying on the state level to get changes made in state codes to incorporate the older stair geometry. In some states, we have had law changes which are now permanent. In most, the code change needs to be incorporated in every code update cycle. This has been a difficult challenge for the MBSA merely to keep track of the code change cycle throughout the United States.

There are other code provisions on the horizon that will require the cooperative efforts of our industry. Windowsill height restrictions and residential fire sprinklers are just two of the code changes that will negatively affect our industry

The MBSA would welcome the cooperative involvement with state homebuilders associations, state manufactured housing associations and the BSC in monitoring the code change process in each state. We recognize that often, the state organizations are in a better position to know when the code change cycle is coming up, when hearings are scheduled, and what issues are up for consideration. The MBSA would like to have input in the process at the state level and work with the state homebuilders and manufactured housing organizations on a cooperative, ongoing basis to proactively address this issue.