If you live near the southern or eastern coasts of the USA, you likely live in a HUD-designated Wind Zone. HUD stands for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Wind Zone is the name it gave to the higher wind-pressure rating introduced in 1994 for homes built in higher-wind areas. HUD designates three Wind Zones for manufactured homes.
For manufactured homes, South Carolina is divided into two wind zones. Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, and Williamsburg are among the nine coastal counties in Zone II. Wind Zone I includes the remaining 37 counties. Zone I, Zone II, and Zone III are assigned to each manufactured home.
South Carolina Wind Zones
Manufactured homes are broken up into two categories in South Carolina.
Category II includes nine coastal counties: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, and Williamsburg. Category I comprises the rest of the state, i.e. the other 37 counties.
Every manufactured home is represented by three zones: Wind, Flood, and Seismic. Each zone is represented by a letter, and the zones for a given state may be different. In South Carolina, manufactured homes are labeled Zone I and Zone II. These homes can be placed almost anywhere in the state, with zone I homes being allowed in zone II counties.
Wind Zones and Your Mobile Home
When purchasing a manufactured home, knowing the wind zone designation for a particular area is important. If the home is labeled Zone 1, the home will be built to withstand the higher Category II pressure rating. If the home is labeled as a Zone 2, the home will be built to withstand the higher Category I pressure rating.
Here is a more in-depth distinction between the different wind zones:
Wind Zone III: This follows 110 mph basic wind speed. This includes the Gulf Coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, and the entire Atlantic Coast of the East Coast. This area of the eastern seaboard has the potential to see a hurricane landfall and needs to be ready for high winds.
Wind Zone II: This area is just inland of areas under Wind Zone III, falling in the wind zone of 100 mph basic wind speed. That’s stronger than most places in the United States witness regularly.
Wind Zone I: The basic wind speed is 70 mph. Anything not in Wind Zone II or Wind Zone III falls into Wind Zone I.
The HUD Code
The HUD Code Section 409.3.3 is the subsection that addresses the wind-pressure factor. It states that the minimum wind pressure for a home is a three-second gust of 34-knots and the maximum pressure is a three-second gust of 55-knots.
Download the document: Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards – HUD
It calls for manufactured homes to be built to withstand winds with a speed of 90 miles per hour indicated by an unmodified anemometer. A home built according to the HUD Code will easily withstand winds with speeds up to 110 miles per hour.
Manufactured homes are built to withstand Category I zones in Category II counties. Category I is defined as a zone where the mean wind speed is between 90 and 110 miles per hour. Category II is defined as a zone where the mean wind speed falls between 100 and 120 miles per hour.
Because the higher wind-pressure rating was introduced in 1994, all manufactured homes built after 1994 are rated to withstand the higher Category II pressure rating.
Conclusion
It’s important to be aware of the wind zone of your location before you purchase a manufactured home. Older homes may not have the newer wind-pressure rating, so it’s best to review the HUD Code before purchasing to ensure that it matches the applicable pressure rating. Manufactured homes are built according to HUD Code in all 50 states, so they differ from their stick-built counterparts.
At SC Mobile Home Buyer, we buy and sell mobile homes in South Carolina all the time! We’re not listing your mobile home… we’re actually the ones buying it. We pay in cash and will work with you when we close, ensuring a smooth process every step of the way. Don’t worry about repairing or cleaning up your property. We buy mobile homes of all shapes and sizes, no matter how ugly or pretty it is, no matter the location. Get in touch with us for any inquiries!
