The National Modular Housing Council (NMHC) met in Washington, DC at the MHI Summer Meeting. NMHC members participated in discussions ranging from state and federal issues, building code changes, and promotional activities the NMHC is doing to enhance the industry.

The National Modular Housing Council (NMHC) staff updated the council on the current IRC codes cycle, and summarized a few critical issued being tracked, including mandatory sprinkler requirements for all residential construction, changing the definition of stairway from three risers to one riser, and kitchen venting. Also, the NMHC is closely following the three different sets of standards being developed for hurricane resistant construction due to last years hurricanes. Links to the documents will be provided on the NMHC Web site at www.modularcouncil.org.

The Manufactured Housing Research Alliance (MHRA) is getting closer to gaining approval to be the quality assurance provided for the Energy Star program for modular homes. Current testing and inspection protocol makes is extremely burdensome for the modular industry to take advantage of the Energy Star program. Working together, the NMHC and MHRA feel they are close to making headway.

During the state association reports, the Council learned that New York is working on tax reform for modular homes, as well as rewriting some laws and regulations for the transport of modular homes. We were alerted that carbon monoxide detectors are now required in new construction in Minnesota, and may be a trend we see in other states. For Mississippi we were updated on the efforts in promoting modular homes for the gulf coast rebuilding, the formation of the Building Codes Council, and that modular installers will have to be certified. They are also working on reforming tax treatment for modular homes. In Ohio, the industry is working on streamlining the plan approval process by utilizing on-line technology, and is also looking at sales tax issues. In Pennsylvania, the Governor vetoed a bill that would have allowed 24-hour movements of stacked modular carriers on return trips. For more information on modular issues around the country read our state news section of Modular Housing News.

On transportation, the Northeast MHA is continuing to work hard on pushing uniform state laws for the transport of homes across the region. The council will also be working with the transportation committee on looking at various cargo securement method of modular boxes on carriers.

Fred Hallahan made a presentation on the state of the modular industry, and are probably looking at a small drop-off in overall numbers for 2006.

The NMHC Housing Tour will be held this year in Portland Maine, October 15-17. Registration and tour information can be found on-line here

For more details about the NMHC and its meetings, please contact
tlong@modularcouncil.org.

The next meeting of the National Modular Housing Council will convene in Tucson, Arizona at the MHI Annual Meeting, on Monday, October 30th. For information on the meeting, please click here.