- POST a QUESTION or READ FAQs about labels & certification for manufactured homes, mobile homes, mobile home, caravan, static caravan or trailer or doublewide homes
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Data Tags & Labels on Double-Wides, Mobile Homes, Trailers or Manufactured Housing:
You may do so by searching our database on the web, or by calling us. Be prepared to provide the complete serial number and HUD label or Texas Seal number for the manufactured home. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Fees (PDF). The Certification Label (also know as a HUD tag) is a metal plate that is affixed to the outside of the manufactured home. Section 3280.11 (b) states, “The label shall be approximately 2 in. In size and shall be permanently attached to the manufactured home by means of 4 blind rivets, drive screws. Try a partial search by using just the street name without direction or type. (For example, if the address is '123 Main St.' , try inputting '123 Main'.) You can also try using part of your last name instead of your full first and last name. The serial number is not. Manufactured Home HUD Tags 101. A manufactured home HUD tag is a metal plate that is riveted onto the exterior of the home. It has a certification label number stamped into it. Manufactured home HUD tags are also called construction code labels, certification labels, and HUD labels.
Mar 10, 2017 - To simplify it all, remember that there are only 2 main labels attached to a factory-built home: a manufactured home HUD tag and a Data Plate. In addition to the two labels, there are 2 main numbers used in the manufactured home industry: a serial number and a certification number. Identification of Mobile Home and Manufactured Housing. The serial number for each floor section is required for request. You may need the label for. Specifically it reads 'Numbers must not be stamped into hitch assembly or drawbar.' Your Serial Number and Comments. Please enter your Fleetwood Home manufacturer's serial number. The serial number can be found in a couple of places.
This article explains the requirement-for and data contents in labels or data tags found on mobile homes, trailers, doublewides, and other manufactured housing or cottages. We explain where to find the label or data tag on your home and how to de-code its contents.
This article series provides mobile home inspection, troubleshooting & repair procedures, defect lists, & references to standards. We explain where to look for costly or dangerous problems on mobile homes, trailers, or double-wides.
We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.
Manufactured Home Labels & Mobile Home Labels & Manufactured Housing Labels & Certifications
The data tag shown here identifies a 1989 Supreme, a Park Model Trailer in the RV family produced by Northlander Industries, A Canadian company who has produced manufactured homes, cottages, RVs, and trailers since 1964. This tag is on a Canadian RV.
Contacting Northlander with the label's model number and serial number allowed the company to give us details about the construction of this trailer as we discussed with a reader at WINTERIZING the TRAILER below in this article.
At page top is an RPTIA industry sticker used for RV Park Trailers in the U.S. and observed on a trailer in an RV park in southern New Jersey.
[Click to enlarge any image]
For U.S. Manufactured homes, doublewides, trailers, and similar constructins, Sections 3280.5 Data Plate through 3280.11 of HUD Regulations for manufactured homes include language that describes the labeling requirements for this housing. The following information must be provided for manufactured homes:
- Mobile Home INSTALLATION MANUAL - For new/recent mobile home, every manufacturer is required to provide instructions on site preparation, installation and anchoring.
- Mobile Home Manufacturer's CERTIFYING LABEL - on rear section outside or near the main entry door, HUD Insignia
- Mobile Home DATA PLATE - near the main electrical panel or other visible & accessible location (under sink for many manufactured homes): name of mfg., serial and HUD ID, zone information (see Structurediscussion). A Certification Label must be permanently affixed to each transportable section of each manufactured home manufactured for sale in the United States. Other countries have similar regulations.
- Mobile Home DAMAGE DURING TRANSPORT: if the unit was damaged during transport it no longer conforms to the standards and should not beaccepted by the code official
HUD Regulations for Manufactured Home Labeling
§ 3280.5 [Manufactured home / mobile home] Data plate.
Each manufactured home shall bear a data plate affixed in a permanent man- ner near the main electrical panel or other readily accessible and visible location.
Each data plate shall be made of material what will receive typed information as well as preprinted information, and which can be cleaned of ordinary smudges or household dirt without removing information contained on the data plate; or the data plate shall be covered in a permanent manner with materials that will make it possible to clean the data plate of ordinary dirt and smudges without obscuring the in- formation. Each data plate shall contain not less than the following information:
(a) The name and address of the manufacturing plant in which the manufac- tured home was manufactured.
(b) The serial number and model designation of the unit, and the date the unit was manufactured.
(c) The statement:
This manufactured home is designed to comply with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards in force at the time of manufacture.
(d) A list of the certification label(s) number(s) that are affixed to each transportable manufactured section under § 3280.8.
(e) A list of major factory-installed equipment, including the manufactur- er’s name and the model designation of each appliance.
(f) Reference to the roof load zone and wind load zone for which the home is designed and duplicates of the maps as set forth in §3280.305(c). This information may be combined with the heating/cooling certificate and insulation zone map required by §§3280.510 and 3280.511. The Wind Zone Map on the Data Plate shall also contain the statement:
This home has not been designed for the higher wind pressures and anchoring provi- sions required for ocean/coastal areas and should not be located within 1500′ of the coastline in Wind Zones II and III, unless the home and its anchoring and foundation system have been designed for the increased re- quirements specified for Exposure D in ANSI/ ASCE 7–88.
(g) The statement:
This home has—has not—(appropriate blank to be checked by manufacturer) been equipped with storm shutters or other pro- tective coverings for windows and exterior door openings.
For homes designed to be located in Wind Zones II and III, which have not been provided with shutters or equivalent covering devices, it is strongly rec- ommended that the home be made ready to be equipped with these devices in accordance with the method recommended in the manu- facturers printed instructions.
(h) The statement: ‘‘Design Approval by’’, followed by the name of the agency that approved the design.
[59 FR 2469, Jan. 14, 1994]
§ 3280.6 [Manufactured home / mobile home] Serial number.
(a) A manufactured home serial num- ber which will identify the manufac- turer and the state in which the manu- factured home is manufactured, must be stamped into the foremost cross member. Letters and numbers must be 3⁄8 inch minimum in height. Numbers must not be stamped into hitch assem- bly or drawbar.
§ 3280.7 Excluded structures.
Certain structures may be excluded from these Standards as modular homes under 24 CFR 3282.12.
[52 FR 4581, Feb. 12, 1987]
§ 3280.11 [Manufactured home / mobile home] Certification label.
(a) A permanent label shall be affixed to each transportable section of each manufactured home for sale or lease in the United States. This label shall be separate and distinct from the data plate which the manufacturer is required to provide under §3280.5 of the standards.
(b) The label shall be approximately 2 in. by 4 in. in size and shall be perma- nently attached to the manufactured home by means of 4 blind rivets, drive screws, or other means that render it difficult to remove without defacing it. It shall be etched on 0.32 in. thick aluminum plate.
The label number shall be etched or stamped with a 3 letter designation which identifies the production inspection primary inspection agency and which the Secretary shall assign. Each label shall be marked with a 6 digit number which the label supplier shall furnish. The labels shall be stamped with numbers sequentially.
(c) The [Manufactured home / mobile home] label shall read as follows:
As evidenced by this label No. ABC 000001, the manufacturer certifies to the best of the manufacturer’s knowledge and belief that this manufactured home has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and is constructed in conformance with the Federal manufactured home construc- tion and safety standards in effect on the date of manufacture. See date plate.
(d) The label shall be located at the tail-light end of each transportable section of the manufactured home ap- proximately one foot up from the floor and one foot in from the road side, or as near that location on a permanent part of the exterior of the manufactured home unit as practicable.
The road side is the right side of the manufactured home when one views the manufactured home from the tow bar end of the manufactured home.
[42 FR 960, Jan. 4, 1977. Redesignated at 44 FR 20679, Apr. 6, 1979, as amended at 52 FR 47553, Dec. 15, 1987. Redesignated and amend- ed at 58 FR 55003, Oct. 25, 1993]
The above HUD regulation on manufactured home labeling is excerpted from Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, Part 3280 as cited at MOBILE HOME CODES & STANDARDS
Winterizing an RV, Trailer - Label Gives Clues
Reader Question: is my 1989 Northlander a Seasonal or 'All Season' Trailer?
I have a 1989 Northlander 43x12 home. I need to know if it is a Seasonal or All Season trailer for insurance.
It was sold to me as an All Season to live in year round but too many say it is not. I can not have any insurance problems because of this. I have included a photo of the manufacturers plate.
I have seen other Northlander trailers were the model number ends with an S like mine means seasonal and AS means All Season. I saw on your page that disabled and fixed/low income there is no charge [for limited consulting for people of limited means or ability - Ed]
I am on WSIB (WCB) and CPPDIS for PTS and PCS since 1992. This is really causing me stress because I can not get an answer. I just need something that I can have to show what my home is so I can put this to rest.
Any help in identifying the type of trailer would be greatly appreciated. Even an email PDF showing the spects or something that I can print out or get in the mail. A hard copy. I just don't understand why there is no information on this?! Thank you in advance.
- Anon by private email 2017/03/21
[Click to enlarge any image]
Reply: The model on your trailer data tag indicates seasonal use
We contacted Northlander Industries (that information is given below) with the model number and serial number of your trailer to ask about the model and its specifications. In an example of superb customer service, we got a very useful response from Northlander: here's the information about your home:
The “S” at the end of the plan no. only refers to the model which was “Supreme” so it has nothing to do with the seasonality of the unit.
This Northlander unit was built with the following specifications:
- Insulation (All fiberglass batt)
- Floor: R-20 Walls and Ceiling: R-12
- 4 mil Poly vapour barrier on walls and ceiling
- 2”x4” walls, 2”x8” floor joists, Bow string roof truss
- Double slider aluminum windows (not a true thermopane)
- 4 panel aluminum patio door (not a true thermopane)
- Furnace: 36,000 BTUH forced air propane
- Water Heater: 10 gallon propane
This unit was built with reasonable insulation, windows, doors and the furnace is capable of heating during the winter months and providing the necessary level of comfort to the occupants.
The Supreme is a Park Model Trailer which clearly falls in the RV Family, it is not a residential home.
Now Anon, based on these specifications and on information provided by Northlander, in my OPINION a seller such as the person who sold the trailer to you should not have marketed it as a year round home - nor did Northlander Industries ever do so for the model we identify above.
However my undersdtanding is that there are Northlander Supreme’s with the same construction specifications that are occupied year round.
Winterizing Advice for Your Northlander Supreme Park Model Trailer
I follow with some advice about winterizing your particular trailer.
Northlander has been in business for a long time, since 1964 but the only 'owners manual' the company currently provides online
- NORTHLANDER PARK MODEL OWNER'S MANUAL [PDF], (April 2013) Northlander Industries, 165 Thames Road East, Hwy. 83, Exeter, Ontario, Canada N0M 1S3, retrieved 2017/03/21, original source: http://northlanderindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Product-Manual-April-22-2013.pdf and is for a recent model.
The manual above is for a newer model (2013) than your Park Model trailer - those instructions include a warning about attempting to use the home in winter (search the PDF for 'season') as they expect the water heater to be drained to protect from freezing.
Keep in mind that it's highly likley that Northlander has made product changes between your 1989 model and the 2013 Northlander Park models described in the manual they provide above.
Watch out: The text which I will excerpt below is to me a red flag warning and suggests that the company may also have experience with the use of their seasonal-use park model trailers in freezing conditions:
The unit you have purchased from your dealer may not be intended for 12 month, continuous or sub-zero winter occupancy. The purchaser has sole responsibility and discretion to ensure safe winter use. The plumbing drainage, water supply system and park connections (if available during off season use) must be kept from freezing.
You'll want to review the possible freeze points and take care to address them.
Watch out: injudicious use of heat tapes or heaters can in turn be a fire hazard as we explain in our pipe freeze protection article listed below
Generally, keeping heat on and fixing drafts and insulating are what make an otherwise perhaps marginal structure able to survive through freezing weather. But if the home isn't intended for winter occupancy that means there is indeed risk of freezing if its plumbing and water heater aren't drained.
If your concern is principally risk of damage from freezing, you'll want to look at some of the freezeproofing articles at InspectApedia.com including those I list below.
You'll also want your heating system inspected and serviced to be sure it's reliable before cold weather arrives.
- HEAT SOURCES to AVOID FROZEN PIPES - that may be particularly important for your Northlander
- PIPE FREEZE PROTECTION - home
- WINTERIZE A BUILDING - home, giving an overall strategy
- WINTERIZE - HEAT ON PROCEDURE - things that might let you set the thermostat down without catastrophe
- Northlander offers some winterizing advice for their units at WINTERIZING your UNIT - http://northlanderindustries.com/winterizing-your-unit/
Readers will find at that link additional links to Northlander's Plumbing System, a Storage and Winterization checklist, a general maintenance guideline checklist, and an owner's manual
Home Insurance including for water or freezing damage
I'm told that the S/AS distinction you've heard of indicating Seasonal or 'All Seasonal' is be correct. Rather the 'S' is desribed by Northlander as a suffix to the plan number and indicates the model 'Supreme'.
It would make sense to me, as you say you want to avoid any insurance issue, to ask your insurance agent for advice about how to insure the home. You can indicate that you intend to occupy the home all year round - if that's the case, and want it insured appropriately.
Or you can accept insurance for a 'seasonal use' building and then you will be responsible for losses that occur if the home is used during winter.
Contact Northlander Industries
- Northlander Industries, 165 Thames Road East, Hwy. 83, Exeter, Ontario, Canada N0M 1S3, Tel: 519-235-1530, Website: http://northlanderindustries.com
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Or see MOBILE / MANUFACTURED HOME LABEL FAQs - questions & answers originally posted to this article
MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS - home
MODULAR HOME or OFFICE LABELS & CODE COMPLIANCE - using a modular or mobile home label to prove code compliance
Suggested citation for this web page
MOBILE / MANUFACTURED HOME LABELS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to MANUFACTURED & MOBILE HOMES
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Technical Reviewers & References
Fleetwood Manufactured Home Serial Number Lookup
- [1] Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, web search 1/5/2012, original source: portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/ih/homeownership/184 - Quoting:
The Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program is a home mortgage specifically designed for American Indian and Alaska Native families, Alaska Villages, Tribes, or Tribally Designated Housing Entities. Section 184 loans can be used, both on and off native lands, for new construction, rehabilitation, purchase of an existing home, or refinance.
Also see Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae - [2] Native American Housing Loan Guarantee Program HUD Section 184 Loans At A Glance, FannieMae, web search 1/5/12, original source: efanniemae.com/sf/mortgageproducts/pdf/section184aag.pdf
- [5] 'Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods' Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
- [8] 'Modular Home Construction, special defects and inspection methods' Dan Friedman, NY Metro ASHI Seminar, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, White Plains NY, October 4, 1996
- [9] New York State: 'Manufactured Homes: an installation guide for the code enforcement official,' undated. [Div. of Code Enforcement & Admin. - 518-474-4073, George E. Clark, Jr., Director] - this is a guide tool, not an enforcement code or standard.
- [10] HUD State Administrative Agency (for 36 states) (NY: 518-474-4073) - for complaints
- [11] Manufactured Housing Institute, 2101 Wilson Blvd. Ste. 610, Arlington VA 22201 703-558-0400 www.mfghome.org
- [12] NYMHA, 35 Commerce Ave., Albany NY 12206-2015 518-435-9859 800-721-HOME (they want the Star Program to provide for separate assessment of manufactured homes)
- [13] Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org - special report 2/98
- [14] Mobile Home Inspection Checklist, Florida, Town of Lady Lake Building Department
- [15] Thanks to home inspector Peter Bennett for eagle-eye editing assistance regarding spelling at this web article series. Little Silver, NJ 07739 Office 732-758-9887 Fax 732-758-8993 Cell 732-245-9817 afullhouseinspectionco@gmail.com
- [16] Wikipedia provided background information about some topics discussed at this website provided this citation is also found in the same article along with a ' retrieved on' date. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative. - Entry on Mobile Homes, original source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_home#Regulation, retrieved 8/14/2012
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- Crawl Space Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
- Domestic Building Surveys, Andrew R. Williams, Kindle book, Amazon.com
- Defects and Deterioration in Buildings: A Practical Guide to the Science and Technology of Material Failure, Barry Richardson, Spon Press; 2d Ed (2001), ISBN-10: 041925210X, ISBN-13: 978-0419252108. Quoting:
A professional reference designed to assist surveyors, engineers, architects and contractors in diagnosing existing problems and avoiding them in new buildings. Fully revised and updated, this edition, in new clearer format, covers developments in building defects, and problems such as sick building syndrome. Well liked for its mixture of theory and practice the new edition will complement Hinks and Cook's student textbook on defects at the practitioner level. - Moisture Control in Buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
- Moisture Control in Walls, U.S. Department of Energy
- ...
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. - TECHNICAL REFERENCE GUIDE to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment, useful for determining the age of heating boilers, furnaces, water heaters is provided by Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto - Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
- The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd - Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. - The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones
To learn more interpreting all the information provided on the data plate, here’s a link to our blog about data plates:
---DATA PLATES---
Sometimes we find that a previous owner did not understand the importance of keeping the data plate intact and it has been painted over, or removed during a remodeling, so you will have to move on to method #2. Also, occasionally a homeowner decides to protect the data plate by removing it and putting it away for safe-keeping, and you will be presented with a data plate that is detached from the wall. In this case it would be a good idea to cross-check it by method #2.
2) The vehicle identification number is also stamped in the front steel beam cross-member under the home (the beam that the tow hitch is bolted onto, perpendicular to the long side of the mobile home). You will likely have to remove the skirting across at least part of the front of the home to get to the I-beam. The numbers are stamped into the metal in letters about 2-inches high, running horizontally or vertically. If the home is a double-wide, there will be an “A” and “B” side, with the number for each side ending in “A” or “B.” The VIN number on the title paperwork for the home will end in “AB,” designating that the title is for both halves of a double-wide. Manufacturers create their own format and company abbreviation, and sometimes and sometimes the state abbreviation is placed first and the manufacturer abbreviation may be more than three digits.
The stamping shown above indicates that the home was manufactured by Oasis Homes (OH), of Augusta, Georgia (GA), serial number 11011960, section B.
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If your mobile home was manufactured before June 15, 1976, the date that HUD took over responsibility for mobile home construction standards and enforcement, the search for the number may be a little more difficult. See out blog post “Where do I find the VIN/serial number of a very old (pre-1976) mobile home?” to learn more.
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Here’s links to more of our blog posts with useful information about buying and owning a mobile home:
✤Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it?
✤ Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home?
✤ How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?
✤ What is the life expectancy of a mobile home?
✤ What are the most common problems with older mobile homes?
✤What is the right price for a used mobile home?
✤What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home?
Manufactured Home Serial Number Database
While we hope you find this series of articles about home inspection helpful, they should not be considered an alternative to an actual home inspection by a local inspector. Also, construction standards vary in different parts of the country and it is possible that important issues related to your area may not be covered here.
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