How to Inspect Manufactured and Mobile Homes Course

This course has been approved by:

• the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors;
• the Master Inspector Certification Board; 
• the International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants;
• the Certified Commercial Property Inspectors Association; and 
• many government agencies and licensing boards.

Introduction 

  Mobile vs. Manufactured   

  8 x 40 or 320   

  1976   

  HUD’s Role   

  Sizes   

  Transporting   

  Foundation   

  Level   

  Securing the Home to the Foundation   

  Inspection   

  Utilities   

Section 1: General    

  1.1 Scope   

  1.2 Definitions   

  1.3 Data Plate   

  1.4 Serial Number   

  1.5 Certification Label   

Section 2: General Interior Requirements    

  2.1 Scope   

  2.2 Definitions   

  2.3 Light and Ventilation   

  2.4 Ceiling Heights   

  2.5 Exit Facilities and Exterior doors   

  2.6 Exit Facilities and Egress Windows and Devices   

  2.7 Interior Privacy   

  2.8 Interior Passages   

  2.9 Room Requirements   

  2.10 Minimum Room Dimensions   

  2.11 Toilet Compartments   

  2.12 Hallways   

  2.13 Glass and Glazed Openings   

Section 3: Fire Safety    

  3.1 Scope   

  3.2 Definitions   

  3.3 Flame Spread Limitations and Fire Protection Requirements   

  3.4 Kitchen Cabinet Protection   

  3.5 Carpeting   

  3.6 Fireblocking   

  3.7 Requirements for Foam Plastic Thermal Insulating Materials   

  3.8 Smoke Alarm Requirements   

Section 4: Body and Frame    

  4.1. Scope   

  4.2. Definitions   

  4.3 General   

  4.4 Materials   

  4.5 Structural Design Requirements   

  4.6 Windstorm Protection   

  4.7 Resistance to Elements and Use   

Section 5: Thermal Protection    

  5.1 Scope   

  5.2 Definitions   

  5.3 Condensation Control and Installation of Vapor Retarders   

  5.4 Air Infiltration   

  5.5 Heat Loss Certificate   

  5.6 Comfort Cooling Certificate and Information   

Section 6: Plumbing Systems    

  6.1 Scope   

  6.2 Definitions   

  6.3 General Requirements   

  6.4 Materials   

  6.5 Joints and Connections   

  6.6 Traps and Cleanouts   

  6.7 Plumbing Fixtures   

  6.8 Hangers and Supports   

  6.9 Water Distribution Systems   

  6.10 Drainage Systems   

  6.11 Vents and Venting   

Section 7: Heating, Cooling and Fuel-Burning Systems    

  7.1 Scope   

  7.2 Definitions   

  7.3 Minimum Standards   

  7.4 Fuel Supply Systems   

  7.5 Gas Piping Systems   

  7.6 Oil Piping Systems   

  7.7 Heat Producing Appliances   

  7.8 Exhaust Duct System and Provisions for the Clothes Dryer  

  7.9 Appliances   

  7.10 Venting, Ventilation and Combustion Air   

  7.11 Instructions   

  7.12 Marking   

  7.13 Accessibility   

  7.14 Appliances: Cooling   

  7.15 Circulating Air Systems   

Section 8: Electrical Systems    

  8.1 Scope   

  8.2 Definitions  

  8.3 Power Supply   

  8.4 Disconnecting Means and Branch-Circuit Protective Equipment   

  8.5 Branch Circuits Required   

  8.6 Receptacle Outlets   

  8.7 Fixtures and Appliances   

  8.8 Wiring Methods and Materials   

  8.9 Grounding   

  8.10 Outdoor Outlets, Fixtures, Air-Conditioning Equipment, Etc.   

  8.11 Painting of Wiring   

  8.12 Polarization   

Section 9: Foundation    

  9.1 Basic Requirement   

  9.2 Chassis Removal   

  9.3 Underfloor Ventilation   

  9.4 Separation From Ground   

  9.5 Site Preparation   

  9.6 Erosion   

  9.7 Site   

  9.8 Vapor Retarder   

  9.9 Connections   

  9.10 Flood Resistance   

  9.11 Egress Requirements   

Section 10: Standard Set Foundation    

  10.1 General   

  10.2 Frost Line   

  10.3 Footings   

  10.4 Block Piers   

  10.5 Block Pier Caps   

  10.6 Block Pier Shims   

  10.7 Block Pier Wedges  

  10.8 Prefabricated Piers   

  10.9 Support Requirements   

  10.10 Marriage Line Supports   

  10.11 Anchoring   

  10.12 Ties   

  10.13 Spacing   

Section 11: Permanent Foundation    

  11.1 Content   

  11.2 Frost Line   

  11.3 Footings   

  11.4 Block Piers   

  11.5 Block Pier Caps   

  11.6 Block Pier Shims   

  11.7 Block Pier Wedges   

  11.8 Prefabricated Piers   

  11.9 Support Requirements   

  11.10 Perimeter Supports   

  11.11 Marriage Line Supports   

  11.12 Piers   

  11.13 Location of Supports   

  11.14 Height of Installation   

  11.15 Permanent Foundation   

  11.16 Foundations for Existing Home   

  11.17 Basement Perimeter Support   

  11.18 Grading   

  11.19 Drainage   

  11.20 Anchoring   

Section 12: Accessory Buildings and Structures    

  12.1 Underfloor Space   

  12.2 Skirting   

  12.3 Underfloor Ventilation   

  12.4 Underfloor Access   

  12.5 Foundations and Ground Level Access   

  12.6 Carports and Awnings   

  12.7 Porches   

  12.8 Attached Garages   

  12.9 Decks, Porches, Landings, Stairs, Ramps, and Guardrails   

Section 13: Resources    

Upon completion of this course and passing of the 75-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool), the student can download and print their own Certificate of Completion which is auto-generated in their own name. 

• The course is free for all InterNACHI members.
• The course is written in pure XHTML code for quick loading.  The course loads fine on old computers and loads fast, even with dial-up.
• The course is designed using a hierarchal menu coupled with a sequential page navigation.  This provides the student with the option to easily repeat areas of weakness.
• The course permits the student to start, stop and restart any part of the course as often as desired.
• There are a variety of images within the course, including diagrams, illustrations and photos. 
• The illustrations can be enlarged for clearer viewing by clicking on them.
• The text is integrated into InterNACHI's Inspector Glossary.  Rolling over blue-colored terms provides their definition.
• The final exam uses multiple-choice questions that reference the images. 
• The course's quizzes and final exam have numerous advantages over traditional exam systems:
  1. The course, quizzes and final exam incorporate built-in intelligence which identifies and strengthens each student's unique subject weaknesses.
  2. Not only is each question weighted with regard to score, but each answer is weighted, as well as the correctness of each answer being weighted.
     1. Answers to easy questions are weighted such that the student is penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly, but rewarded modestly for answering correctly.
     2. Answers to difficult questions are weighted such that the student is rewarded, in terms of score, for answering correctly, but not penalized for answering incorrectly.
     3. Answers to questions regarding basic safety, or questions every inspector should know the answer to, are weighted such that the student is severely penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly.
• Upon passing the final exam, the student can print out a Certificate of Completion which is auto-generated in their own name.