Whenever storms occur, it is common to see debris from manufactured homes spread all over the affected area. This has created a myth that manufactured homes are not built to be strong enough. The reality, however, is that manufactured homes are highly durable and can withstand a lot of duress brought about by the elements. One thing that homeowners should be aware of is that manufactured homes are constructed as per standards set by the state and federal governments.
To protect owners of manufactured homes from the elements, various states establish wind zones that regulate where manufactured homes can be set up. Understanding these wind zones for manufactured homes is the first crucial step in ensuring that you are in a safe location.
When it comes to manufactured homes, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) sets standards that guide the construction and placement of manufactured homes. DHUD created wind zones that essentially divide the country into three zones that are based on the severity of storms in particular areas. We are going to explain to you how these three zones work.
This zone covers the largest area of the United States and is typically an area that does not have severe storms. For manufactured homes built in this zone, they need to withstand winds of up to 70 MPH. Most areas that are affected by this lie inland, with some exceptions. For manufactured homes going into this zone, they have the most lenient standards relative to the other zones.
As the wind zones go up, so does the need for manufactured homes that can withstand increasing wind levels. For the second zone, manufactured homes here must be able to withstand wind speeds of up to 100 MPH. Most second zone areas lie in coastal areas, although it is a good idea to verify what zone a specific location you are interested in lies.
This is reserved for areas that see the most severe wind speeds in the country. As a result, the ability of a manufactured home to withstand high wind speeds here must be very high. For zone three, manufactured homes must be able to safely withstand wind speeds of up to 110 MPH.
With advances in manufactured home development as well as weather prediction, experts have gotten pretty good at determining the average wind speeds that an area faces. Companies that make manufactured homes have also improved the materials that are used to make these houses. As a result, manufactured homes tend to fare just as well as traditional homes when it comes to withstanding storms.
When working with a professional home manufacturer, you will probably get advice on which kind of manufactured home to go for based on the proposed location. Home manufacturers will also place an information sign in the manufactured home with wind zone details and other information. This is typically located in one of the closets or the electrical circuit box.
If you can’t find one for your manufactured home, you could consider requesting your home manufacturer for one. Although most owners of manufactured homes rarely relocate, this kind of information is critical when determining where to relocate your manufactured home.