[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34064-34074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14277]



[[Page 34064]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 3280

[Docket No. FR-5222-P-01]
RIN 2502-A172


Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, Test 
Procedures for Roof Trusses

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would amend the Federal Manufactured Home 
Construction and Safety Standards by adopting proposals made by the 
Manufactured Home Consensus Committee (MHCC), as modified by HUD. The 
National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 
1974 requires HUD to publish in the Federal Register any proposed 
revised Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard submitted by 
MHCC. Changes to the existing roof truss testing procedures were part 
of the first group of MHCC proposals submitted to HUD in 2003 to revise 
various aspects of the standards. However, in response to public 
comments on the proposed rule, including those submitted by MHCC, HUD 
returned the proposal on roof truss testing to MHCC for further 
consideration.
    After further consideration, MHCC has submitted an amended version 
of its 2003 proposal on roof truss testing to HUD. HUD is in agreement 
with the majority of MHCC's current recommendations on roof truss 
testing. This proposed rule contains the recommendations on which HUD 
and MHCC agree. This proposed rule also includes HUD's modifications to 
the MHCC proposal, together with HUD's reasons for not accepting those 
particular revisions proposed by the MHCC.

DATES: Comment Due Date: August 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this rule to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, 451 
7th Street, SW., Room 10276, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, Washington, DC 20410-0500. Communications must refer to 
the above docket number and title. There are two methods for submitting 
public comments. All submissions must refer to the above docket number 
and title.
    1. Submission of Comments by Mail. Comments may be submitted by 
mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 10276, 
Washington, DC 20410-0500.
    2. Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may submit 
comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages commenters to 
submit comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments 
allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, 
ensures timely receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them immediately 
available to the public. Comments submitted electronically through the 
http://www.regulations.gov Web site can be viewed by other commenters 
and interested members of the public. Commenters should follow the 
instructions provided on that site to submit comments electronically.

    Note: To receive consideration as public comments, comments must 
be submitted through one of the two methods specified above. Again, 
all submissions must refer to the docket number and title of the 
rule.

    No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable.
    Public Inspection of Public Comments. All properly submitted 
comments and communications submitted to HUD will be available for 
public inspection and copying between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the 
above address. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters 
building, an advance appointment to review the public comments must be 
scheduled by calling the Regulations Division at 202-708-3055 (this is 
not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments 
may access this number through TTY by calling the Federal Information 
Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Copies of all comments submitted are 
available for inspection and downloading at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Regulatory Affairs and 
Manufactured Housing, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 9162, Washington, DC 
20410-8000; telephone number 202-708-2121 (this is not a toll-free 
telephone number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal 
Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards 
Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401-5426) (the Act) authorizes HUD to establish 
and amend the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety 
Standards (Construction and Safety Standards) codified in 24 CFR part 
3280. The Act was amended in 2000 by the Manufactured Housing 
Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-569), which expanded the original 
Act's purposes and created the MHCC.
    The amended Act generally requires that HUD establish Construction 
and Safety Standards that are reasonable and practical, meet high 
standards of protection, are performance-based, and are objectively 
stated. Congress specifically established the MHCC to develop proposed 
revisions to the construction and safety standards and included 
specific procedures in the Act (42 U.S.C. 5403) for the MHCC process.
    MHCC began considering possible revisions to the construction and 
safety standards in 2002 and established its own priorities for 
selecting revisions for HUD to consider. Included among the first set 
of proposals recommended to HUD by MHCC in 2003 were revisions to the 
current requirements for roof truss testing.\1\ Those recommendations 
were included in HUD's proposed rule to amend the Construction and 
Safety Standards, which was published in the Federal Register on 
December 1, 2004 (69 FR 70016). After considering comments received on 
the proposed rule from both the public and MHCC, HUD agreed with 
commenters who wanted HUD to return the proposal on truss testing 
procedures to MHCC for further consideration. However, as indicated in 
the preamble of HUD's final rule published in the Federal Register on 
November 30, 2005 (70 FR 72024), which followed the December 1, 2004, 
proposed rule, HUD views truss testing procedures as too important a 
safety consideration to leave unresolved.
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    \1\ A truss is a triangular structure used to support a roof. 
Multiple trusses are used to assemble the framework for a roof.
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    HUD requested the MHCC to work expeditiously to reevaluate and 
resubmit new proposals for truss testing procedures. As a result, the 
Truss Test Task Force of MHCC's Standards Subcommittee was established. 
Five teleconferences of this task force were held, and the full MHCC 
held two teleconferences to review and vote on new truss testing 
procedures. HUD worked closely with MHCC throughout the review and 
reevaluation process, and HUD agrees with the majority of the

[[Page 34065]]

new proposals made by MHCC. However, after careful review, HUD has made 
editorial revisions to the MHCC proposals and modified the MHCC's 
proposal regarding uplift testing. The following is a discussion of the 
specific revisions to the current roof truss testing requirements in 
Sec.  3280.402 of the Construction and Safety Standards that are 
included in this proposed rule.

II. Proposed Changes

    The proposed rule would amend various paragraphs of Sec.  3280.402, 
Test Procedures for Roof Trusses, of the Construction and Safety 
Standards.

A. HUD Questions on Roof Trussing Presented in the November 30, 2005, 
Final Rule

    In returning the proposal on truss testing procedures to MHCC for 
further consideration, HUD asked MHCC, in the preamble to the November 
30, 2005, final rule, to consider the following questions during its 
deliberations in formulating any revised proposals. The questions asked 
and MHCC actions taken are as follows:
    (1) Whether the nondestructive testing procedure for roof trusses 
that permits a lower overall factor of safety to be used in conducting 
the tests based on a presumed low failure rate for roof trusses should 
be eliminated.
    MHCC Recommendation: In its previous proposal, MHCC recommended 
that this procedure be eliminated as a method for initially qualifying 
roof trusses. Further, MHCC had determined that the current 
requirements for providing minimum quality of materials and workmanship 
associated with conducting the nondestructive qualification tests was 
impractical and probably not being adhered to in current testing of 
roof trusses. However, based on further review of economic factors and 
other considerations, MHCC decided to retain the nondestructive test 
procedure in its new proposal. MHCC also decided to change the name of 
the procedure to the ``proof load truss test procedure'' and added the 
requirement that trusses for the initial qualification and testing be 
of average quality of materials and workmanship. MHCC also provided for 
an increased factor of safety from 1.75 to 2.0 to be used to evaluate 
the trusses. MHCC also recommended a reduced load duration period for 
the overload test period of 6 hours, rather than the 12-hour period in 
the current requirements. This recommendation is based on the 
experience of truss fabricators who, in the task force proceedings, 
said that failures rarely occur after 6 hours of loading. Under MHCC's 
proposal, at least three consecutively tested trusses must pass all 
requirements of the test in order to qualify the truss design. More 
frequent follow-up testing was also recommended by MHCC due to the 
lower factor of safety permitted under this revised proof load truss 
testing approach.
    (2) Whether upright tensions tests are needed to evaluate the 
uplift resistance of the trusses.
    MHCC Recommendation: Because of the variation in test results 
between trusses tested in the inverted and upright positions for uplift 
wind loads identified in earlier tests conducted by the National 
Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHB-RC), MHCC 
recommended a factor of safety of 2.5 be used for trusses tested in the 
inverted position, but also recommended that the current factor of 
safety of 1.75 be retained for trusses tested in the upright position. 
Trusses tested in the inverted position consistently failed at higher 
average loads (30 to 40 percent), had lower mid-span deflections than 
trusses tested in the upright position, and in some truss designs 
experienced different failure modes than trusses tested in the upright 
position. MHCC also recommended that at least one uplift test be 
conducted for certain trusses designed to be used in Wind Zone I and 
that three consecutive uplift tests be performed for initial 
qualification of all trusses designed to be located in Wind Zones II or 
III.
    Note that to ensure that manufactured homes survive the threats of 
hurricanes and other storms, HUD developed Wind Zone construction 
standards. Manufactured homes may be installed only in counties where 
they meet the Wind Zone construction standards that apply to that 
county. Wind Zone I homes have the least stringent construction 
standards and Wind Zone III homes have the most stringent construction 
standards. Homes designed and constructed to a higher Wind Zone can be 
installed in a lower Wind Zone (a Wind Zone III home can be installed 
in a Wind Zone I or II location). However, a Wind Zone I home cannot be 
installed in either a Wind Zone II or III area. As Figure 1 below 
displays, the overwhelming majority of the United States is designated 
as Wind Zone I.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP16JN10.006

    (3) Should the factor of safety for uplift testing be reduced from 
2.5 to the current requirement of 1.75, times the design wind 
pressures, in consideration of comments received regarding safety 
during testing?
    MHCC Recommendation: MHCC recommended the use of the higher factor 
of safety of 2.5 for only those trusses tested in the inverted 
position. The safety concerns expressed in the comments on the December 
1, 2004, proposed rule were for the higher loading that would be 
required for trusses tested in the upright position and not for trusses 
tested in the inverted position and for certain methods of applying the 
loads.
    (4) What are the costs associated with recommended revisions to the 
truss testing requirements?
    MHCC Recommendation: The costs associated with its revised proposal 
were discussed with representatives of three truss fabricators during 
the discussions and deliberations of MHCC in developing its new 
recommendations for truss testing procedures. Two factors that would 
significantly reduce the cost impacts of the new MHCC proposal, from 
the original 2003 one, are recommendations to reinstate the 
nondestructive truss test procedure as the proof load truss test 
procedure and to generally limit the requirements for uplift tests to 
trusses designed for use in Wind Zones II and III (approximately 80 
percent of all homes produced are designed for use in Wind Zone I).

B. Comparison Between the Two MHCC Proposals for Truss Testing

    The following is a summary of the major differences between the 
recommendations in the original MHCC proposal, as published in the 
December 1, 2004, proposed rule, and their current recommendations as 
incorporated in this proposed rule. (Note: HUD did not modify the MHCC 
proposal for truss testing in the December 1, 2004, proposed rule.)
    (1) The new proposal would maintain the nondestructive testing 
procedure permitted by the current rule, but would rename it as the 
``proof load truss test procedure'' and also require three consecutive 
passing tests, a safety factor of 2.0 rather than the current 1.75 to 
be used in conducting the tests, and more frequent follow-up testing to 
be performed. However, the new proposal would reduce the overload test 
period from 12 hours to 6 hours, and allow the test specimens to be of 
average rather than minimum quality as required by the current rule. 
The December 1, 2004, proposed rule would have deleted the current 
provision for nondestructive tests in the Construction and Safety 
Standards.
    (2) In general, the number of required deflection measurements in 
this proposed rule would be fewer than originally recommended by MHCC, 
which HUD incorporated in the December 1, 2004, proposed rule. Under 
the original MHCC recommendation, deflection measurements would have 
been required at each truss panel point location and at the mid-span 
location between each panel point. This proposed rule incorporates 
MHCC's current recommendation that measurements be made at least at the 
mid-span and quarter points of the truss. However, scissors or other 
unique truss configurations would require measurement at as many 
additional bottom truss chord panel points as necessary to obtain an 
accurate representation of the deflected shape of the truss, in order 
to locate the point(s) of maximum deflection.
    (3) The recovery deflections limits after live loads are removed 
would be reduced, to L/360, for both the nondestructive and ultimate 
test procedures to be consistent with other test standards for truss 
testing. The December 1, 2004, proposed rule would have established 
recovery limits at a more restrictive level of L/480.

[[Page 34067]]

    (4) The new proposed rule would permit trusses to be tested for 
uplift loads in either the upright or inverted position. However, the 
factor of safety would be reduced to 1.75 for upright tests, while 
maintaining the current 2.5 factor of safety for inverted tests. The 
new proposal would generally require only three consecutive successful 
uplift tests for trusses designed to be used in Wind Zones II and III. 
Only one test would be required for trusses designed for use in Wind 
Zone I, or, the design may be certified by a Registered Engineer or 
Registered Architect or independent third-party agency. The December 1, 
2004, proposed rule would have required three uplift tests to be 
conducted in all Wind Zones in the upright position using a factor of 
safety of 2.5.
    (5) The new proposed rule would require at least one follow-up test 
to be conducted for each truss design for every 2,500 trusses produced 
that are qualified using the revised proof load test procedure. One 
follow-up test would be required for every 4,000 trusses produced that 
are qualified under the ultimate load test procedure, and the same 
frequency of follow-up testing would be required for uplift load tests 
(1/2,500 for the proof load test and 1/4,000 for the ultimate load 
test) for trusses designed to be used in Wind Zones II and III. The 
December 1, 2004, proposal included provisions only for the ultimate 
load test procedure; in addition it would have required one test for 
every 4,000 trusses produced, and did not include specific requirements 
for follow-up testing for uplift load.
    As a result of the above differences, the new MHCC recommendations 
in this proposed rule would have less of a cost impact than the 
recommendations that were included in the December 1, 2004, proposed 
rule. Cost analysis prepared by HUD suggests that the change in cost 
would primarily be due to a reduction in the estimated number of homes 
produced annually, from 170,000 homes to 145,000 homes, and by limiting 
the new truss testing provisions for uplift wind forces to Wind Zones 
II and III, which affects only about 20 percent of overall truss 
production. HUD estimates that this proposed rule would result in an 
overall reduction in the estimated cost impact from $13 million 
annually, as stated in the December 1, 2004, proposed rule, to about $6 
million annually, and would reduce the average cost impact per home 
from $77 to $41.

III. Modifications to MHCC Recommendations

    After reviewing the proposed recommendations for the revised truss 
testing procedures recommended by MHCC, HUD had concerns regarding one 
of MHCC's recommendations for uplift load testing. MHCC and HUD had the 
opportunity to discuss HUD's concerns during several teleconference 
meetings of MHCC, its Standards Subcommittee, and the Truss Test Task 
Force. The regulatory text of the MHCC recommendation, as submitted to 
HUD, and HUD's changes to that recommendation are published in full in 
this proposed rule. HUD is specifically soliciting comments from the 
public on both MHCC's recommendation as submitted to HUD, and HUD's 
modification of its recommendation.
    Other editorial modifications to the document HUD received from 
MHCC have been made throughout this proposed rule to be consistent with 
the formatting of Federal Register documents or for consistency with 
other requirements of the Home Construction and Safety Standards. For 
the convenience of the public, rather than publishing both the entire 
MHCC document and HUD's edited version of the document, HUD is 
publishing a single proposed rule with the original text of the MHCC 
document following HUD's discussion.

HUD's Modifications to MHCC's Proposed Revision to Sec.  3280.402(d)(3)

    HUD is modifying the proposed recommendation from MHCC on uplift 
testing, because the MHCC's provisions for uplift load tests would have 
permitted testing in either the inverted or upright position in Wind 
Zones II and III. HUD's modification is based in part on the findings 
of a study conducted by NAHB-RC, ``Comparison of Methods for Wind 
Uplift Load Testing of Roof Trusses for Manufactured Housing,'' and the 
requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 
consensus process related to uplift testing. In particular, the NAHB-RC 
study found that trusses tested in the inverted position failed at 
higher loads, had smaller mid-span deflections, and experienced 
different fail modes than trusses tested in the upright position. This 
is because the difference in truss orientation results in the uplift 
load being applied by pulling up on the top chord of the truss in the 
upright position (in the manner in which the wind would apply load to 
the trusses), while, in the inverted position, the uplift load is 
applied by pushing down on the bottom chord of the truss.
    HUD modified the MHCC proposal by permitting use of the upright 
uplift load test only to evaluate trusses for use in Wind Zones II and 
III. HUD made this modification because resistance to high uplift wind 
forces is often critical in preventing major damage to the roof or 
structure in high-wind areas, and the inverted test may not provide 
appropriate assessment of the ability of certain truss designs to 
resist those wind loads. However, HUD did accept that part of the MHCC 
proposal that allowed either the upright or inverted test method to be 
used in Wind Zone I, using the same overload factors recommended by 
MHCC. This is because the wind uplift load is relatively small in Wind 
Zone I and rarely affects the overall design requirements for the 
truss.
    The regulatory language submitted by MHCC on this section, 
including introductory language that has not been modified but which 
provides context for MHCC's language, is as follows:
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) Uplift Load Tests. Each truss design must also pass all 
requirements of the uplift load test, as applicable, in paragraph 
(i) or (ii) and paragraphs (iii) and (iv) of this section.
* * * * *
    (iii) Trusses designed for use in Wind Zone I, when tested [see 
(i) above], must be tested in either the inverted position to 2.5 
times the net wind uplift load or in the upright position to 1.75 
times the net wind uplift load. Trusses designed for use in Wind 
Zones II and III must be tested in the inverted position to 2.5 
times the uplift load, minus the dead load, or to 1.75 times the 
uplift load, minus the dead load in the upright position. [See 
Figure 3280.402(b)(3)].
    (iv) The following describes how to conduct the uplift test with 
the truss in the upright position. Similar procedures must be used 
if conducting the test in the inverted position.
* * * * *
    (D) Continue to load the truss to 1.75 times the net uplift load 
and maintain the full load for one minute. (When tested in the 
inverted position, continue to load the truss to 2.5 times the net 
uplift load and maintain the load for 3 hours.) See paragraph (i) 
for the net uplift load in Wind Zone I and paragraph (ii) for the 
uplift load for Wind Zones II and III. Regardless of the test 
position of the truss, upright or inverted, trusses maintain the 
overload for the specified time period without rupture, fracture, or 
excessive yielding.
* * * * *

IV. Specific Issues for Comment

    The public is invited to comment on any of the specific provisions 
included in this proposed rule and is also invited

[[Page 34068]]

to comment on the following questions and on any other related matters 
or suggestions regarding this proposed rule:
    (1) Under the proposed rule, the proof load test or the ultimate 
load test can be used to qualify trusses in high snow load areas. 
Should the more stringent and reliable ultimate load test procedure be 
required only to qualify roof trusses designed for use in high snow 
load areas such as the North and Middle Roof Load Zones, where the risk 
of roof and truss failure is greater?
    (2) Should the spacing between hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders for 
the test fixture be increased from 12 inches to 24 inches in Figures 
3280.402(b)(1) and 3280.402(e)(1)? Should the distance between friction 
pads along the top chord of the truss of the test fixture be increased 
from 6 inches to 12 inches in Figure 3280.402(b)(1)? Should the 
distance between one-inch straps attached around the cylinder shoe and 
the top chord of the truss of the test fixture be increased from 6 
inches to 12 inches in Figure 3280.402(e)(1)?
    (3) Should the overload period for all wind uplift tests be 
increased from one minute to 3 hours, as is currently required for 
uplift tests in the standards for the inverted test procedure?
    (4) Should a wind uplift test always be required for trusses 
qualified for use in Wind Zone I instead of allowing the determination 
to be made by a Registered Engineer or Registered Architect or 
independent third-party agency that is certifying the design?

V. Findings and Certifications

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reviewed this rule under 
Executive Order 12866 Regulatory Planning and Review. This rule was 
determined to be a ``significant regulatory action,'' as defined in 
section 3(f) of the Order (although not an economically significant 
regulatory action under the Order). If adopted in final, this rule 
would affect costs for manufactured home manufacturers in two ways. 
First, the cost of roof trusses would increase in order to meet the new 
testing standards. Second, manufactured home manufacturers would be 
required to assure that their truss designs have been retested and 
recertified by truss fabricators to comply with the revised testing 
requirements. Although this rule would require at least two follow-up 
tests per year for each truss design, at the current low production 
rates, no additional testing would be needed beyond current practice. 
Thus, the retesting provision would not add to the compliance cost of 
the rule. The evaluation of costs also depends on the final location 
placement of the manufactured homes; that is, in which Wind Zone a 
manufactured home is located. HUD has assessed the total costs and 
benefits of this rule to be between $7.476 million and $36.447 million 
annually.
    As noted in the preamble, Wind Zone I homes have the least 
stringent construction standards and Wind Zone III homes have the most 
stringent construction standards. In addition, Figure 1 in the preamble 
evidences, the overwhelming majority of the United States is designated 
as Wind Zone I. The estimated cost impact for the proposed rule takes 
into consideration the impact on truss construction of the retesting 
requirements (which are a one-time cost and not a continuing cost), and 
costs for follow-up testing of roof trusses. Each of these is evaluated 
with respect to wind zone classifications. Eighty percent of the 55,000 
units produced annually are produced to Wind Zone I standards.
    The average cost to meet the new standards is $0.50 per truss in 
Wind Zone I and $1.00 per truss in Wind Zones II and III. Further, 
approximately 30 percent of trusses will require re-design in Wind Zone 
I, while all trusses (100 percent) will require redesign for placement 
in Wind Zones II and III. Based on an average of 34 trusses per 
transportable section in Wind Zone I and 51 in Wind Zone II and III, 
and 1.64 transportable sections per home, the total cost of this 
requirement is $1.285 million (72,000 transportable sections * 34 
trusses per section * $0.50 increase in production cost * 30% of homes 
in Wind Zone I; plus 18,000 transportable sections * 51 trusses per 
section * $1.00 increase in production cost * 100% of homes in Wind 
Zones II & III) annually.
    After truss fabricators make any needed changes to truss designs, 
manufactured home manufacturers must ensure that all truss designs 
being used have been retested and re-certified. The average cost to re-
test and re-certify each truss design is $500. HUD estimates that 1,200 
truss designs for Wind Zone I and 300 for Wind Zones II and III will 
require re-certification. Thus, the total cost for this requirement 
equals $750,000 ($500 cost of re-certification * 1,200 truss designs in 
Wind Zone I; plus $500 cost of re-certification * 300 truss designs in 
Wind Zones II and III). Totaling the increased construction cost and 
the cost of re-certification, this proposed rule, if adopted in final, 
would impose a total one-time cost of $2,035,200 on manufacturers of 
manufactured housing. Both the re-design and re-certification costs are 
one-time costs borne at the time of production. This rule would not 
impose any recurring costs.
    With respect to benefits, the proposed standards will make 
manufactured housing less susceptible to wind damage and downward 
pressure by enhancing roof construction. In addition, there will be 
less collateral damage to housing and other structures adjacent to 
manufactured housing. HUD estimates that the median annual property 
damage from hurricanes and tropical storms is $1,879.5 million. Based 
on 2008 housing data from the U.S. Postal Service and the Census 
Bureau's Survey of Manufactured Housing, newly shipped manufactured 
housing accounts for 0.076 percent of the total housing stock in States 
prone to hurricane strikes. An approximation of the damage occurring to 
manufactured housing totals $1.42 million ($1,879.5 million * 0.076 
percent). If this proposed rule were adopted in final, a portion of 
this $1.42 million would be avoided annually. Assuming an annual 
reduction of the expected property damage by one-fourth ($355,922) to 
one-half ($711,904) because of the stronger trusses, the discounted 
present value of the annual benefits of the rule would range from 
$12.221 to $34.442 million, assuming a 3 percent discount rate, and 
from $5.441 to $20.882 million, assuming a 7 percent discount rate. In 
addition to avoiding property damage, this rule would also prevent 
injuries and deaths that occur during hurricanes, tropical storms, and 
other high wind events; although it is difficult to estimate the number 
of injuries and deaths that would be prevented. However, it is 
reasonable to expect that deaths and injuries would decrease in 
response to these proposed standards.
    In summary, this proposed rule, if implemented in final, would 
impose one-time costs totaling $2.035 million, and create discounted 
benefits of $5.441 million to $34.442 million, depending on the 
discount rate. Thus, the total impact of this rule--the sum of the 
total costs and benefits--would be between $7.476 million and $36.447 
million annually.
    The docket file is available for public inspection in the 
Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 10276, Washington, DC 
20410-0500. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters building, 
please schedule an advance appointment to review the public comments by 
calling the Regulations Division at 202-402-3055

[[Page 34069]]

(this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing 
impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Environmental Impact

    A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment 
has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50, 
which implement section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). That finding is available for 
public inspection between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays in 
the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 10276, 
Washington, DC 20410-0500. Due to security measures at the HUD 
Headquarters building, please schedule an appointment to review the 
finding by calling the Regulations Division at 202-708-3055 (this is 
not a toll-free number).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
generally requires an agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility 
analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking 
requirements, unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This rule would regulate establishments primarily engaged in making 
manufactured homes under North American Industry Classification 
Standard (NAICS) 32991. The Small Business Administration's size 
standards define as small an establishment primarily engaged in making 
manufactured homes if it does not exceed 500 employees. Of the 137 
manufactured home operations included under this NAICS definition, 60 
are small manufacturers that fall below the small business threshold of 
500 employees. The rule would apply to all of the manufacturers and 
would, therefore, affect a substantial number of small entities. For 
the reasons stated below, HUD knows of no instance in which a 
manufactured home manufacturer with fewer than 500 employees would be 
significantly affected by this rule.
    HUD, with the concurrence of the MHCC, conducted an economic cost 
impact analysis for this rule. A copy of the analysis is available for 
public inspection and copying between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the 
Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 10276, Washington, DC 
20410-0500. The analysis determined the average potential cost impact, 
based on a per-home cost, to be approximately $37, multiplied by an 
estimated number of 55,000 homes produced in a year, which equals about 
$2.035 million annually. The per-home cost impact would range from 
approximately $22 in Wind Zone I, based on an annual production 
estimate of 44,000 manufactured homes, to $97 in Wind Zone II and Wind 
Zone III, based on a production estimate of 11,000 manufactured homes. 
This does not represent a significant economic effect on either an 
industry-wide or per-unit basis.
    These two relatively small increases in cost would not impose a 
significant burden for a small business for homes that typically cost 
the purchaser between $40,000 and $100,000. Therefore, although this 
rule would affect a substantial number of small entities, it would not 
have a significant economic impact on them. Accordingly, the 
undersigned certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    Notwithstanding HUD's view that this rule will not have a 
significant effect on a substantial number of small entities, HUD 
specifically invites comments regarding any less burdensome 
alternatives to this rule that will meet HUD's objectives as described 
in this preamble.

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency 
from promulgating a regulation that has federalism implications and 
either imposes substantial direct compliance costs on State and local 
governments and is not required by statute, or the rule preempts State 
law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding requirements 
of section 6 of the Executive Order. This rule does not have federalism 
implications and does not impose substantial direct compliance costs on 
State and local governments or preempt State law within the meaning of 
the Executive Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1531-1538) (UMRA) establishes requirements for Federal agencies to 
assess the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and 
Tribal governments and on the private sector. This rule does not impose 
any Federal mandates on any State, local, or Tribal governments or the 
private sector within the meaning of UMRA.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for Manufactured 
Home Construction and Safety Standards is 14.171.

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 3280

    Housing standards, Incorporation by reference, Manufactured homes.

    Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, HUD proposes 
to amend 24 CFR part 3280 to read as follows:

PART 3280--MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS

    1. The authority citation for part 3280 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), 5403, and 5424.
    2. Revise Sec.  3280.402 to read as follows:


Sec.  3280.402  Test procedures for roof trusses

    (a) Roof load tests. This section provides the roof truss test 
procedure for vertical loading conditions. Where roof trusses act as 
support for other members, have eave or cornice projections, or support 
concentrated loads, roof trusses must also be tested for those 
conditions.
    (b) General. Trusses must be tested in a truss test fixture that 
replicates the design loads, and actual support points, and does not 
restrain horizontal movement. When tested singly or in groups of two or 
more trusses, trusses shall be mounted on supports and positioned as 
intended to be installed in the manufactured home in order to give the 
required clear span distance (L) and eave or cornice distance (Lo), if 
applicable, as specified in the design.
    (l) When trusses are tested singly, trusses shall be positioned in 
a test fixture, with supports properly located and the roof loads 
evenly applied. See Figure 3280.402(b)(1).

[[Page 34070]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP16JN10.007

    (2) When tested in groups of two or more, the top chords are 
permitted to be sheathed with nominal 1/4-inch x 12-inch plywood 
strips. The plywood strips shall be at least long enough to cover the 
top chords of the trusses at the designated design truss spacing. 
Adjacent plywood strips shall be separated by at least 1/8-inch. The 
plywood strips shall be nailed with 4d nails or equivalent staples no 
closer than 8 inches on center along the top chord. The bottom chords 
of the adjacent trusses shall be permitted to be one of the following:
    (i) Unbraced; or
    (ii) Laterally braced together (not cross-braced) with 1-inch x 2-
inch stripping no closer than 24 inches on center, nailed with only one 
8d nail at each truss. See Figure 3280.402(b)(2).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP16JN10.008


[[Page 34071]]


    (c) Measuring and loading methods. Deflections must be measured at 
the free end of an eave or cornice projection and at least at the truss 
mid-span and quarter points. Scissors or other unique truss 
configurations are to be measured at as many additional bottom chord 
panel points as necessary to obtain an accurate representation of the 
deflected shape of the truss so as to be able to locate and record the 
point(s) of maximum deflection. Deflections must be read and recorded 
relative to a fixed reference datum. Deflections must be read and 
recorded to the nearest 1/32-inch. Dead load must be applied to the top 
and bottom chord, and live load must be applied to the top chord 
through a suitable hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical system or 
weights to simulate design loads. Load unit weights for uniformly 
distributed top chord loads must be separated so that arch action does 
not occur and spaced not more than 12 inches on center so as to 
simulate uniform loading. Bottom chord loading must be spaced as 
uniformly as practical. Truss gravity loads must be calculated based on 
the overall truss length (horizontal projection), including eave or 
cornice projections.
    (d) Testing procedures. Either the testing method in paragraph 
(d)(1) or (d)(2) of this section may be used, and the testing method in 
paragraph (d)(3) of this section must be used, to test trusses to 
establish compliance with the provisions of these standards.
    (1) Proof load truss test procedure. At least three average 
quality/consecutively tested trusses must pass all requirements of the 
test, for initial qualification of the truss design. All tests for 
initial qualification of the truss designs evaluated by this procedure 
must be certified by a Registered Engineer or Registered Architect, or 
by an independent third-party agency. An in-house quality control and 
follow-up testing program (see paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section) 
must be approved prior to entering production of any truss design 
evaluated by this procedure.
    (i) Dead load. Measure and record initial elevation of the truss or 
trusses in the test position at no load. Apply dead loads to the top 
and bottom chords of the truss that are representative of the actual 
weights of materials to be supported by the truss. However, the dead 
load may be applied as indicated in paragraph (e)(4) of this section 
for ongoing follow-up testing only. Dead loads to be applied to the 
truss test assembly are permitted to include only the weights of 
materials supported by the truss and not the weight of the truss 
itself. However, readings from load cells (when used) on which the test 
truss rests must reflect the sum of the applied load plus the weight of 
the truss. Apply dead loads and hold for 5 minutes. Measure and record 
the deflections.
    (ii) Live load. Maintaining the dead loads, apply live load to the 
top chord in approximate \1/4\ live load increments until dead load 
plus the live load is reached. Measure and record the deflections no 
sooner than one minute after each \1/4\ live load increment has been 
applied and 5 minutes after the full live load has been reached.
    (iii) Initial recovery phase. Remove the design live load but not 
the dead load. Measure and record the deflections 5 minutes after the 
total live load has been removed.
    (iv) Continue to load the truss to dead load plus 2.0 times the 
design live load. Maintain this loading for 6 hours and inspect the 
truss for failure. Failure is rupture, fracture, or excessive yielding.
    (v) Final recovery phase. Remove 2.0 times the design live load, 
but not the dead load. Measure and record deflections within 4 hours 
after removing 2.0 times the design live load.
    (vi) Acceptance criteria. The truss design shall be considered to 
have passed if all of the following conditions are met:
    (A) The maximum deflection between no load and dead load must be L/
480 or less for simply supported clear spans and Lo/180 or less for 
eave and cornice projections; and
    (B) The maximum deflection between dead load and design live load 
must be L/180 or less for simply supported clear spans and Lo/90 or 
less for eave and cornice projections; and
    (C) After the design live load is removed and with the dead load 
still applied, the maximum recovery deflection must be L/360 or less 
for simply supported spans and Lo/180 or less for eave and cornice 
projections; and
    (D) The truss must maintain the overload condition for 6 hours 
without rupture or fracture, or excessive yielding; and
    (E) After 2.0 times the design live load has been removed, and with 
the dead load still applied, the maximum recovery deflection must be L/
180 or less for simply supported clear spans and Lo/90 or less for eave 
and cornice projections; and
    (F) As applicable, each truss design must also meet all 
requirements for uplift loads required by paragraph (d)(3) of this 
section. For Wind Zone I uplift load requirements, see paragraph 
(d)(3)(i) of this section. For Wind Zones II and III uplift load 
requirements, see paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section.
    (2) Ultimate load truss test procedure. (i) At least three average 
quality/consecutively tested trusses must pass all requirements of the 
test, for initial qualification of the truss design. All tests for 
initial qualification of the truss designs evaluated by this procedure 
must be certified by a Registered Engineer or Registered Architect, or 
by an independent third-party agency. An in-house quality control and 
follow-up testing program (see paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section) 
must be approved prior to entering production of any truss design 
evaluated by this procedure.
    (ii) Dead load. Measure and record initial elevation of the truss 
or trusses in the test position at no load. Apply dead loads to the top 
and bottom chords of the truss that are representative of the actual 
weights of materials to be supported by the truss. However, the dead 
load may be applied as indicated in paragraph (e)(4) of this section 
for ongoing follow-up testing only. Dead loads to be applied to the 
truss test assembly shall be permitted to include only the weights of 
materials supported by the truss, and not the weight of the truss 
itself. However, readings from load cells (when used) on which the test 
truss rests must reflect the sum of the applied load plus the weight of 
the truss. Apply dead loads and hold for 5 minutes. Measure and record 
the deflections.
    (iii) Live load. Maintaining the dead loads, apply live load at a 
uniform rate to the top chord in approximate \1/4\ live load increments 
until the dead load plus the live load is reached. Measure and record 
the deflections no sooner than one minute after each \1/4\ live load 
increment has been applied and 5 minutes after the full live load has 
been reached.
    (iv) Initial recovery phase. Remove the design live load but not 
the dead load. Measure and record the deflections 5 minutes after the 
design live load has been removed.
    (v) Overload phase. After the recovery phase is completed, reapply 
the full live load to the truss assembly. Additional loading shall then 
be applied continuously until the dead load plus 2.5 times the design 
live load is reached. This overload condition must be maintained for at 
least 5 minutes.
    (vi) Final recovery phase. Remove 2.5 times the design live load 
but not the dead load. Measure and record deflections within 4 hours 
after 2.5 times the design live load has been removed.
    (vii) Acceptance criteria. The truss design is considered to be 
acceptable if all of the following conditions are met:

[[Page 34072]]

    (A) The maximum deflection between no load and dead load must be L/
480 or less for simply supported clear spans and Lo/180 or less for 
eave and cornice projections; and
    (B) Dead load-to-design live load deflections shall be L/180 or 
less for simply supported clear spans and Lo/90 or less for eave and 
cornice projections; and
    (C) After the design live load is removed and with the dead load 
still applied, the maximum recovery deflection must be L/360 or less 
for simply supported spans and Lo/180 or less for eave and cornice 
projections; and
    (D) The truss shall maintain the overload condition for 5 minutes 
without rupture, fracture, or excessive yielding; and
    (E) After 2.5 times the design live load is removed and with the 
dead load still applied, the truss must recover to at least L/180 for 
simply supported clear spans, and Lo/90 for eave and cornice within 4 
hours after the total live load has been removed; and
    (F) As applicable, each truss design must also meet all 
requirements for uplift loads in Wind Zone I or Wind Zone II and III, 
as required by paragraph (d)(3) of this section. For Wind Zone I uplift 
load requirements, see paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section. For Wind 
Zones II and III uplift load requirements, see paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of 
this section.
    (3) Uplift load tests. Each truss design must also pass all 
requirements of the uplift load test, as applicable, in paragraph 
(d)(3)(i) or (d)(3)(ii) and paragraphs (d)(3)(iii) and (d)(3)(iv) of 
this section.
    (i) Wind Zone I uplift load test. Where there are engineered 
connectors between the top chord and web members of the truss, such as 
metal connector plates or wood gussets or their equivalents, uplift 
testing in Wind Zone I is at the discretion of the Registered Engineer 
or Registered Architect or independent third-party agency certifying 
the truss design. When testing is deemed necessary by the Registered 
Engineer or Registered Architect or independent third-party agency 
certifying the truss design, a minimum of one average quality uplift 
load test is to be conducted for each such truss design and must pass 
all requirements of the test for initial qualification of the truss 
design. The net uplift load for trusses designed for use in Wind Zone I 
is 9 psf for the clear span of the truss and 22.5 psf for eave or 
cornice projections.
    (ii) Wind Zones II and III uplift loads test. This test is required 
for all trusses designed for use in Wind Zones II and III. A minimum of 
three average quality/consecutive uplift load tests are to be conducted 
for each truss design, and the trusses must pass all requirements of 
the test for initial qualification of the truss design. The uplift load 
for trusses designed to be used in Wind Zones II and III for the clear 
span or eave cornice projections is to be determined by subtracting the 
dead load applied to the truss from the uplift load provided in the 
Table of Design Wind Pressures in Sec.  3280.305(c)(1)(ii)(B).
    (iii) Trusses designed for use in Wind Zone I, when tested (see 
paragraph (d)(3)(i) of this section), must be tested in either the 
inverted position to 2.5 times the net wind uplift load or in the 
upright position to 1.75 times the net wind uplift load. Trusses 
designed for use in Wind Zones II and III (see paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of 
this section) must be tested to 1.75 times the uplift load minus the 
dead load in the upright position. (See Figure 3280.402(b)(3).)
    (iv) The following describes how to conduct the uplift test with 
the truss in the upright position. Similar procedures must be used if 
conducting the test in the inverted position.
    (A) Place the truss in the test fixture and position as it is 
intended to be installed in the manufactured home. See Figure 
3280.402(b)(3).

[[Page 34073]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP16JN10.009

    (B) Position the load measurement devices to register the wind 
uplift loads that will be applied to the top chord of the truss. The 
uplift loads shall be applied through tension devices not wider than 
one inch and spaced not greater than approximately 12 inches on center 
and shall be applied as uniform as possible, so as to simulate uniform 
loading. Gravity and wind uplift load tests may be performed on the 
same truss in this single set-up mode. For the wind uplift test, it is 
permissible to stabilize the bottom chord of the truss in the test 
fixture to simulate ceiling materials or purlin supports. Measure and 
record the initial elevation of the bottom chord of the truss in the 
test position at the mid-span and quarter points of the truss, and at 
the free end of an eave or cornice projection greater than 12 inches. 
Scissors or other unique truss configurations are to be measured at as 
many additional bottom chord panel points as necessary to obtain an 
accurate representation of the deflected shape of the truss, so as to 
be able to locate and record the point(s) of maximum deflection. Eave 
or cornice projection loads are applied separately for eaves or cornice 
projections greater than 12 inches. For eave or cornice projections 
greater than 12 inches, the additional required load must be applied to 
the eave simultaneously with the main body load. For eave or cornice 
projection 12 inches or less, add the additional required load to the 
main body load and apply it to the entire top chord.
    (C) Measure and record the deflection 5 minutes after the net 
uplift load has been applied. Design load deflection shall be L/180 or 
less for a simply supported clear span and Lo/90 or less for eave or 
cornice projections.
    (D) For trusses tested in the upright position, continue to load 
the truss to 1.75 times the net uplift load in paragraph (d)(3)(i) of 
this section for Wind Zone I and 1.75 times the uplift load in 
paragraph (d)(3)(ii) for Wind Zones II and III, and maintain the load 
for one minute. For trusses tested in the inverted position (Wind Zone 
I only), continue to load the truss to 2.50 times the net uplift load 
in paragraph (i) for Wind Zone I, and maintain the full load for 3 
hours. Regardless of the test position of the truss, upright or 
inverted, trusses must maintain the overload for the specified time 
period without rupture, fracture, or excessive yielding.
    (E) Follow-up Testing. Follow-up testing procedures must include 
the following:
    (1) All trusses qualifying under these test procedures must be 
subject to a quality control and follow-up testing program. 
Manufacturers of listed or labeled trusses must follow an in-house 
quality control program, with follow-up testing approved by an 
independent third party as specified in Sec.  3280.402(f). Those home 
manufacturers producing trusses for their own use, and which are not 
listed or labeled, must have an in-house quality control program that 
includes follow-up testing, as specified in this section, and approved 
by their Design Approval Primary Inspection Agency (DAPIA).
    (2) Truss designs that are qualified but not in production are not 
subject to follow-up testing until produced. When the truss design is 
brought into production, a follow-up test is to be performed if the 
truss design has been out of production for more than 6 months.
    (3) The frequency of truss manufacturer's quality control follow-up 
testing for trusses must be at least:
    (i) One test for every 2,500 trusses for trusses qualified under 
the proof load truss test procedure or once every 6

[[Page 34074]]

months, whichever is more frequent, for every truss design produced; or
    (ii) One test for every 4,000 trusses produced for trusses 
qualified under the ultimate load truss test procedure or once every 6 
months, whichever is more frequent, for every truss design produced.
    (iii) Uplift load tests are also to be conducted at the same 
follow-up testing frequency in paragraph (e)(3)(i) or paragraph 
(e)(3)(ii) of this section for trusses designed for use in Wind Zones 
II and III.
    (4) For follow-up testing only, the full dead load may be applied 
to the top chord of the truss, when the bottom chord dead load is 5 psf 
or less.
    (F) In-house quality control program. The in-house quality control 
program must include, at a minimum, procedures for quality of materials 
including, but not limited to, grade(s) of materials, allowable splits, 
knots, and other applicable lumber qualities; workmanship including, 
but not limited to, plate placement and embedment tolerances; other 
manufacturing tolerances; description and calibration of test 
equipment; truss re-testing criteria; and procedures in the event of 
noncomplying results.

    Dated: May 4, 2010.
David H. Stevens,
Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2010-14277 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P