What Is Earthquake Tie-downs for Mobile Homes?
Definition of Earthquake Tie-Downs for Mobile Homes
Worrying about living in a manufactured home or mobile home in high-wind or seismic events is common. But securing them for these destructive forces by tying them down properly relieves concerns. Especially, when you educate yourself on how earthquake tie-downs for mobile homes work.
As you may know, the stability of its foundation against harsh winds and destructive seismic activity is imperative. Furthermore, as a mobile homeowner, enjoying its light weightiness and portability is advantageous. Consequently, these homes are defenseless against the natural calamities in the absence of a proper tie-down and anchorage system with the ground.
Comparing them to site-built homes manufactured homes are built entirely in a factory. Likewise they are an attractive economic alternative due to lower construction costs. In fact, the factory-built structure of mobile homes is resilient against shaking or sever forces.
Obviously because they are subjected to these during transportation from factory to site. However, the seismic performance of manufactured homes largely depends on the anchoring. In particular, the connection, tying of the home with the foundation and ultimately to the ground.
Ultimately, you will need a tie-down or seismic bracing system contractor to do the work. Moreover, the contractor will provide you with engineering for the foundation certification.
What is tie-down systems?
Tie-down strapping on a single-wide mobile home to prevent overturning.
Installing a system of anchoring, steel straps and stabilizing plates for the common pier and beam foundation of a manufactured home. Ultimately for stabilizing it against tilting and sliding resulting from an earthquake or a tornado.
Types of tie-downs
The supporting piers hold the gravity load of a manufactured home. Moreover, these piers are commonly steel jacks, masonry concrete blocks or a footing consisting of a complete perimeter wall. Nevertheless, in order to achieve resistance against ground motion forces and wind loading the following foundation supporting systems are adopted:
Engineered tie-down systems are primarily required to resist wind forces but nonetheless, it also resists earthquake shaking. But for zones of high seismic activity Earthquake resistant bracing system is a must. Otherwise, manufactured homes without properly bracing them against seismic forces can fall off their supports. Detrimentally, damaging the home as well as rupturing connecting utilities which can cause fires.
Vulnerability of these kinds of homes is due to their relative light weight. To compensate, uplifting from wind and seismic forces must be properly counteracted. For instance, a full foundation tie-down system that includes a good skirting is a must. So along with the earthquake tie-down, you must also install skirting concrete panels at the periphery.
Depending on location, these are different types of tie-downs:
A solid Earthquake Bracing for Manufactured Homes. Call 360-419-9909
- Location of your home in terms of seismic and wind zones
- Type of soil
- Height of ground anchors and spacing of the beams.
Over the top anchors
Installing these can either be done during or after construction. For instance, if installing them after construction, they are exposed over the roof and may look weird. But during construction, they can be hidden under the roof and sliding.
Steel frame tie-down anchors
Looking under the home you’ll find steel frame tie-down anchors. Installing or attaching them to a layer of concrete or other solid material is vitally important. Although, sometimes tie-downs are driven into the ground but again depending on the type of soils you encounter.
Finally, now that you know how a manufactured home is tied down, you should never ignore securing your home to the ground. Indeed, it’s for protecting the occupants, including you, for safety against wind and earthquake forces. Additionally, using concrete skirting is a good idea.
For more information about our concrete skirting panels please visit www.Duraskirt.com or call 360-419-9909. We are based in Washington State, but can easily ship to most areas.
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