Registered Civil Engineer
A Registered Civil Engineer in California for 18 years, along with several other western states, has
had extensive experience with the “System” and has been approving foundation systems for manufactured homes for more than 7 years.
He also has a deep background in managing seismic retrofit projects for the State of California (roads, overpasses, and buildings),
and leading development of building procedures for building in earthquake and high-wind zones.
"The Foundation’s ability to move
relative to the ground (Base Isolation) provides protection from earthquakes. This Base Isolation principal is the same as used
with the famous Bank of America high rise (the “A-shaped” building in San Francisco), which is built on foundation piers that rest
– unattached – in bowl-shaped foundation sockets. Also, interstate overpasses are now built the same way, with foundation columns
that can protect the road because they are not attached to the ground."
"To resist damage from the forces of small shocks and
vibration– including those events due to small earthquakes and high wind – the foundation must be designed to allow a small amount
of motion. A rigid foundation transmits all such forces to the supported structure. The “Controlled Motion” designed into
the foundation system allows it to dissipate these forces without damage to the structure.
Manufactured home foundations such
as poured concrete with rigid attachment to the home are the opposite of Base Isolation and Controlled Motion. These foundations
do not protect manufactured homes as well.
I have never seen one of the foundation systems fail.
This ‘System’ is the new
technology for manufactured homes foundations."
