ARE MANUFACTURED HOMES SAFE? - FINDING PEACE OF MIND

As you embark on the search for your perfect mobile home, concerns about safety may have been lingering in your mind. You yearn to settle in, unwind, and enjoy your new space, but the question persists: are manufactured homes truly safe, or do they harbor potential risks?

STORM SAFETY - WHAT TO EXPECT:

As stormy weather looms, it's natural to wonder how your mobile home will hold up. Luckily, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) provides reassurance. According to MHI, manufactured homes offer comparable storm protection to traditional houses. In fact, in areas prone to hurricane-force winds, the standards for manufactured homes are on par with those for site-built homes, providing a robust defense against severe weather. The upgraded safety measures introduced after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 have proven their effectiveness, ensuring manufactured homes' resilience even in the face of powerful storms.

 

COMPARING TO STICK BUILT HOMES:

Perhaps you find yourself subconsciously comparing your new mobile home to the stick built homes you see around you. However, the President and CEO of The Manufactured Housing Institute, Richard Jennison, emphasizes that the building materials used in today's manufactured homes are identical to those employed in site-built homes. In fact, the standards for manufactured homes often surpass those for traditional homes, undergoing stringent compliance and quality assurance regulations.

 

FIRE RISKS - A REALITY CHECK:

Concerns about fire risks in manufactured homes may have plagued your thoughts, but data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers some relief. Contrary to widespread fears, the NFPA's data from 2007-2011 reveals that the overall fire death rate per housing unit is similar between manufactured homes and other one- or two-family homes. This evidence challenges the notion that fire risks are inherently greater in manufactured homes.

 

SURVIVING HIGH WINDS:

If the prospect of facing high winds worries you, you're not alone. The safety of your home largely depends on whether it adheres to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards and the specific wind zone it is engineered for. Ensuring your home meets these criteria and that any attachments, like carports or porches, align with the home's wind resistance is crucial to withstanding powerful winds.

 

BREATHE EASY:

With these insights into the safety of manufactured homes, you can now take a deep breath and focus on other aspects of preparing your mobile home site and attending to your family's needs. Armed with knowledge about mobile home safety, you can move forward with confidence, embracing the comfort and security of your new dwelling.