course objectives at the end of this program the participant should:at the end of this program the...

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives

• At the end of this program the At the end of this program the participant should:participant should:– Have a basic knowledge of manufactured Have a basic knowledge of manufactured

housing construction and standards.housing construction and standards.– Know the most common causes of Know the most common causes of

manufactured housing fires. manufactured housing fires. – Understand the unique hazards Understand the unique hazards

associated with manufactured housing associated with manufactured housing fires.fires.

Manufactured Home TypesManufactured Home Types

• Single-Wide • Double-Wide

• The focus of this program is on single-wide models.

Manufactured Housing Manufactured Housing Standards and CodesStandards and Codes

• Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards are administered by the U.S. Department of Standards are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

• NFPA 225, Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard

• NFPA 501, Standard on Manufactured Housing.NFPA 501, Standard on Manufactured Housing.

• NFPA 501A, Fire Safety Criteria for Manufactured Home NFPA 501A, Fire Safety Criteria for Manufactured Home Installations, Sites, and Communities.Installations, Sites, and Communities.

HUD CodesHUD Codes

• The National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1974.

• This act required HUD to establish standards to improve construction and safety in manufactured housing.

• Manufactured housing constructed before June 15, 1976 is considered a “mobile home” and commonly referred to as “Pre-Standard.”

• Manufactured housing constructed after June 15, 1976 are commonly referred to as “Post-Standard.”

Pre-Standard Mobile Home ExteriorPre-Standard Mobile Home Exterior

Post-Standard Mobile Home ExteriorPost-Standard Mobile Home Exterior

Pre-Standard Mobile Home InteriorPre-Standard Mobile Home Interior

Post-Standard Mobile Home InteriorPost-Standard Mobile Home Interior

NFPA 225 - Model Manufactured NFPA 225 - Model Manufactured Home Installation StandardHome Installation Standard

• Contains information about:• Site preparation• Foundations• Appliances and utilities• Installation in seismic and flood zones• Life safety features• And much more!

NFPA 501 – Standard on NFPA 501 – Standard on Manufactured HousingManufactured Housing

• Based on HUD standards and establishes the minimum criteria for manufactured housing:– Fire Safety– Body and Frame requirements.– Testing– Thermal Protection (Insulation)– Plumbing, Electrical, Heating, and Cooling.– Transportation

NFPA 501A – Fire Safety Criteria for NFPA 501A – Fire Safety Criteria for Manufactured Home Installations, Manufactured Home Installations,

Sites, and CommunitiesSites, and Communities

• Currently, NFPA 501A addresses items such as:– Manufactured Home Site Fuel Supply– Community Electrical Equipment and

Installation– Fire and Life Safety Requirements– Responsibilities of the Manufactured Home

Resident

An Example of a NFPA StandardAn Example of a NFPA Standard

• NFPA 501A, 4.3.6.2 (1) states that:– The following emergency information shall be

printed and posted in conspicuous places in the manufactured home community:

• Fire Department• Police Department or Sheriff’s Office• Community Office• Person responsible for operation and maintenance

Manufactured Home Manufactured Home ConstructionConstruction

• Lightweight materials are used for easier transportation.

• Pre-Standard exterior is usually metal.• Post-Standard exterior may be wood, metal, or

vinyl.• Walls normally use 2”x4” construction.• Older units may have paneling or other laminate,

newer units use mainly drywall.


• Floor joists are usually 2”x 6” construction mounted to steel beams.

• The deck is usually made of particleboard or waferboard (OSB).

• For transportation reasons, the slope of the roof is often limited.


• Trusses are commonly made of 2”x 2” construction.

• Pre-Standard roofs are normally metal.• Post-Standard roofs may be made of

metal or pitched with shingles.• Like other dwellings, older homes may

have aluminum wiring.

Causes of Manufactured Causes of Manufactured Home FiresHome Fires

• From 1989-1998 the most common From 1989-1998 the most common cause of fires in manufactured cause of fires in manufactured homes was electrical distribution.homes was electrical distribution.

• During the same time period, heating During the same time period, heating was the second leading cause in pre-was the second leading cause in pre-standard homes and cooking was the standard homes and cooking was the second leading cause in post-second leading cause in post-standard homes.standard homes.

• Intentionally set fires were the third Intentionally set fires were the third leading cause.leading cause.

These statistics are from Manufactured Home Fires, Feb. 2005, Dr. John R. Hall, Jr, NFPA


• From 1999-2002 the most common From 1999-2002 the most common cause of fires in manufactured cause of fires in manufactured homes was cooking.homes was cooking.

• During the same time period, heating During the same time period, heating was the second leading cause.was the second leading cause.

• Intentionally set fires were the third Intentionally set fires were the third leading cause.leading cause.

• Electrical distribution was the fourth Electrical distribution was the fourth leading cause.leading cause.


Causes of Residential Causes of Residential Structure Fires in Rural Structure Fires in Rural

AreasAreas• Heating is the number one cause of Heating is the number one cause of

fires in rural areas. (26% of reported fires in rural areas. (26% of reported fires).fires).

• Careless smoking is the second Careless smoking is the second leading cause. (23% of reported fires).leading cause. (23% of reported fires).

• The third leading cause is electrical The third leading cause is electrical distribution (17% of all reported fires). distribution (17% of all reported fires).

These statistics are from A Profile of the Rural Fire Problem in the U.S., Aug. 1998, FEMA/USFA

Causes of Residential Causes of Residential Structure Fires in Structure Fires in

Urban/Suburban AreasUrban/Suburban Areas

• Careless smoking is the number one Careless smoking is the number one cause. (28% of reported fires).cause. (28% of reported fires).

• Arson is the second leading cause. Arson is the second leading cause. (17 % of reported fires).(17 % of reported fires).

• The third leading cause is heating The third leading cause is heating (17% of all reported fires). (17% of all reported fires).

These statistics are from A Profile of the Rural Fire Problem in the U.S., Aug. 1998, FEMA/USFA



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Manufactured Home Manufactured Home Civilian Death and Injury Civilian Death and Injury

RateRate• The fire incidence rate in The fire incidence rate in

manufactured housing is over 40% manufactured housing is over 40% lower than in other dwellings.lower than in other dwellings.

• However, the civilian death rate per However, the civilian death rate per 100 fires in manufactured housing is 100 fires in manufactured housing is nearly twice as high (1.7 compared nearly twice as high (1.7 compared to 0.8 per hundred.)to 0.8 per hundred.)

• Civilian injury rate per 100 fires is Civilian injury rate per 100 fires is nearly the same as other dwellings. nearly the same as other dwellings.


Smoke DetectorsSmoke Detectors

• HUD standards require smoke HUD standards require smoke detectors to be placed in homes at the detectors to be placed in homes at the time of manufacture.time of manufacture.

• A recent study shows that nearly 50% A recent study shows that nearly 50% of post-standard manufactured homes of post-standard manufactured homes do not have a working smoke detector.do not have a working smoke detector.

• This indicates either poor maintenance This indicates either poor maintenance or that many are removing smoke or that many are removing smoke detectors from their homes.detectors from their homes.


Fire Prevention Fire Prevention

• What we can do to help in the fire service:What we can do to help in the fire service:– Stress the importance of working smoke Stress the importance of working smoke

detectors.detectors.– Educate the public about ways to combat Educate the public about ways to combat

the causes of manufactured housing fires.the causes of manufactured housing fires.– Stress safety with heating, use of Stress safety with heating, use of

candles, cooking, and electrical candles, cooking, and electrical equipment.equipment.

– Encourage Exit Drills In The Home Encourage Exit Drills In The Home (E.D.I.T.H.)(E.D.I.T.H.)

Characteristics of Manufactured Characteristics of Manufactured Housing FiresHousing Fires

• Small Area• Short Time Frame• Intense Fires

Small AreasSmall Areas

• The median size of a manufactured home is about 1,100 square feet.

• Other dwellings have a median size of about 1,700 square feet.

• Manufactured homes have on average, nearly the same amount of rooms as other dwellings.

• These are all factors that may decrease time to flashover.


Tactical ConsiderationsTactical Considerations

• Water supply may be a primary concern.• When pre-planning, include 2-3 sources of

water and detailed plans for shuttling operations (if used).

• Many manufactured homes in rural areas may not be close to a hydrant.

• First arriving pumper should lay supply line if smoke is showing.

Tactical ConsiderationsTactical Considerations

• Exposures may be a primary concern in many cases.

• Crews must be ready to protect nearby homes.

• 10% of all manufactured home fires are caused by exposures.

Residential Land-Lease Residential Land-Lease CommunitiesCommunities

• May present challenges with:– Water supply– Exposures– Crowd control

• Lanes are often narrow, and once committed to a lane, it may be difficult to reposition.

Utility ConsiderationsUtility Considerations

• Electricity

– Shut-off breakers first.

– Unplug from receptacle if possible.

– Notify utility company to pull meter.

• Natural Gas

– Meter can be shut-off similar to other dwellings.

• LP Gas

– Tanks may be placed close to structure.

– Tanks may need to be cooled with water spray, especially if relief valve is venting.

Firefighting OperationsFirefighting Operations

• It is a good idea to check for fire extension under manufactured homes before entering.

• Remove part of the skirt if necessary.

• It is possible to easily fall through the floor.

• If inflated tires become involved in fire, they will blow similar to that of a vehicle fire.


• Post-Standard manufactured housing is required to have two outside entrance/ exit doorways.

• It may best to enter the door which is farther from the fire or the one nearest the bedrooms if possible.


• Watch the steps when entering the structure.

• The steps may be in poor condition.

• They are often narrow and provide little room when forcing entry.


• Have charged hoseline ready, with air bled off before opening door.

• When entering, stay low and watch for signs of flashover and be ready to react.

• Have a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) ready.

• If necessary, complete any rapid search/rescue activities.


• Pre-Standard manufactured housing often has laminates that contain glues and finishes that lead to rapid fire growth and spread.

• This can lead to a quicker flashover time.


• Ventilation– Mechanical horizontal

ventilation is often the preferred method.

– Positive or negative pressure ventilation may be used.

– Due to lightweight materials used in roof construction, firefighters should not attempt to perform vertical ventilation operations on the roof.


• Salvage and Overhaul– Over 50% of manufactured home fires are currently

contained to the room of origin.– Good salvage operations will be important to the owner.– Always wear PPE and SCBA during loss control

operations.– During overhaul, it may be necessary to bring larger items

that have been involved in the fire outside to complete extinguishment.

Firefighter RehabFirefighter Rehab

• Due to the intense fires encountered in manufactured housing, a firefighter rehab area is especially important.

• During hot weather a rehab area is essential to preventing heat exhaustion.

• Follow departmental SOP/SOG about initiating a rehab area.

Cause and OriginCause and Origin

• Keep in mind that arson is the third leading cause of fires in manufactured housing.

• Be careful not to destroy any possible evidence, especially during overhaul operations.

• If you see anything suspicious, let the IC or investigator know immediately.

• Do not pickup or touch anything that you find suspicious.

• If something must be moved during overhaul, remember where it was or take photographs.

course objectives at the end of this program the participant should:at the end of this program the...

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