As we noted in previous posts from June 16 and 17, the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has soundly criticized the Manufactured Housing Institute’s (MHI) platform to set a “voluntary” standard for a sprinkler system when requested or required by local regulation.  MHARR says any reference or prescriptive criteria for sprinkler systems installed in HUD Code homes would then be part of federal standards. This standard could then be exploited by well-financed sprinkler advocates who would lobby to extend the sprinklers to all HUD Code homes in the name of safety.  MHARR says HUD has never had a “voluntary” safety standard.  MHARR wants an ironclad guarantee that “voluntary” would never become “mandated” if this proposal is accepted.  Sprinklers in a double-section home could cost $6,000, which would put another cramp in an industry that is already struggling, says MHARR.  Read the full statement at More Factual And Important Information Regarding Mhi’s Revised Sprinkler Proposal – Major Hud Program Personnel Changes.