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New Guide to Foundation and Support Systems Available

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Foundation design and construction are elements of
quality manufactured home construction. Though many
options exist, up until now, there has not been a
great deal of guidance available to help buyers and
manufacturers select the best choice for their
particular circumstances. The Partnership for
Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently
published the "Guide to Foundation and Support Systems
for Manufactured Homes" to help fill this void. The
Guide is the first to consider and compare major
foundation alternatives in use across the country, and
to provide proven design and installation practices
for all types of foundations.

This comprehensive publication serves as a go-to
source for foundation and support systems information,
and fosters wider dissemination of good ideas and "out
of the box" thinking that has become a hallmark of the
manufactured housing industry. By providing
information on a wide range of systems and design
options, it offers a range of choices, rather than
serving up a "single-best" solution.

The Guide is divided into three sections designed to
help readers understand the advantages and limitations
of each foundation and support system. The first
section explores site conditions, major design
factors, and basic design practices that impact
foundation selection.

The second section examines non-proprietary systems
and divides them into four classifications: pier and
ground anchor support systems, crawlspace systems,
slab-on-grade foundation systems, and basements. These
classifications are considered to be "in the public
domain" and can be constructed by any qualified
contractor using materials available from most
building suppliers. Case studies of each
classification illuminate the various approaches
presented.

The third and final section of the guide looks at
proprietary foundation systems. Each product in this
section is manufactured by a company that owns some
protectable interest in the design, and some of these
are patented. The number of manufacturers in this
industry has engendered a tremendous spirit of
competition and led to numerous innovations. Case
studies for these foundation and support systems are
also available in the Guide.

A complete copy of the "Guide to Foundation and
Support Systems for Manufactured Homes" is available at:
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/destech/foundations.html

It is also available through HUD USER.

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