The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) reports the “General” Subcommittee of the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) met by telephone conference Sept. 20 to discuss accessibility proposals that have been dormant for nearly ten years and would impact the cost of production. They were revived Oct. 2010 by the new chairman who formerly worked on accessibility issues in the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office. The mandates include increasing minimum hallway widths, increasing minimum ceiling height to seven feet, widening exterior swinging doors, and widening the opening of exterior sliding doors. MHARR says there is no specific data that justifies these across-the-board mandates, and that accessibility features in homes are routinely available as options. Additionally, these proposals are being presented when industry production is at an all time low, and will add an economic burden to producers and consumers. MHARR reiterates its position that the MHCC is stacked with HUD-picked members. The Subcommittee recommended MHCC reject the seven foot ceiling height and exterior swinging door proposals. It did, however, recommend the full Committee adopt the 30 inch minimum hallway width for homes 14 feet or wider, and a proposal requiring one exterior door to have a 32 inch clear opening.
