A. Definitions: Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall for the purpose of this Section, have the meanings indicated as follows:
ANCHORING EQUIPMENT: Straps, cables, turnbuckles, and chains, including tensioning devices, which are used with ties to secure a mobile home to ground anchors.
ANCHORING SYSTEM: A combination of ties, anchoring equipment and ground anchors that will, when properly designed and installed, resist overturning and lateral movement of the mobile home wind forces.
DIAGONAL TIE: A tie intended to primarily resist horizontal or shear forces and which may secondarily resist vertical, uplift, and overturning forces.
DIVISION: Building and Neighborhood Services Division.
EXISTING MOBILE HOME: Any mobile home situated within the City of Carbondale, Illinois, prior to the passage, approval, recording, and publication of this Chapter and which is designed to be a dwelling unit and connected to the required utilities.
FROST HEAVE: An upthrust of ground or pavement caused by freezing of moist soil.
GROUND ANCHOR: A device designed to transfer mobile home anchoring loads to the ground.
INDEPENDENT TESTING LABORATORY: An organization which:
A. Primarily is interested in testing and evaluating equipment; and
B. Is qualified and equipped to conduct and evaluate experimental testing in accordance with approved standards; and
C. Makes available a published report in which specific information is included stating that the equipment and installations have been tested and found safe for use in a specific manner; and
D. Is not under the jurisdiction or control of any manufacturer or supplier of any industry.
INSTALLER: Any person, corporation, partnership, association or other entity who ties down or anchors a mobile home.
MOBILE HOME: A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is eight (8) body feet or more in width and is thirty two (32) body feet or more in length, and which is built on a permanent chassis, and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without permanent foundation, when connected to the required utilities.
MOBILE HOME PARK: A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land which has been so designed and improved that it contains three (3) or more mobile home lots available to the general public for the placement thereon of mobile homes for occupancy.
MOBILE HOME SITE: The location where the mobile home is connected to the required utilities for habitation.
MOBILE HOME STAND: That area of a mobile home lot which has been reserved for the placement of a mobile home.
PERSON: Any natural person, corporation, partnership, association or other entity.
REQUIRED UTILITIES: An approved electrical, sanitary sewer/plumbing and water system.
ROOF PROTECTOR: A device designed to prevent over-the-top straps from damaging or penetrating the roof material of the mobile home.
TIE: A strap, cable or securing device used to connect the mobile home to ground anchors.
TIE-DOWN EQUIPMENT: Any fixtures or equipment which are used for the purpose of securing the mobile home to the supporting foundation, to the ground, or to any other type of structure.
VERTICAL TIE: A tie intended to primarily resist the uplifting and overturning forces. (Ord. 80-106; 1998 Code)
B. Compliance:
1. The owner of each mobile home installed and/or which may be relocated from one lot to another, after City Council approval of this Chapter shall be responsible to ensure that approved tie-down equipment is obtained and used to secure the mobile home to the surface upon which it is to rest, in accordance with the provisions of subsections B, C, D, and E of this Section within thirty (30) days after the mobile home is set up.
2. In the case where frozen soil or set soil prevents the installation of ground anchors, this thirty (30) day limit shall not apply. The home must, in this case, be anchored at the earliest possible date after the soil thaws or dries.
3. All existing mobile homes situated in Carbondale prior to City Council approval of this Chapter shall be tied down in accordance with the provisions of subsections B, C, D, and E of this Section or the alternative tie-down standards of Section 4-1-11 and Table No. 2 of this Chapter on or before September 1, 1982.
4. Mobile homes situated in areas annexed to the City, after City Council approval of this Chapter, shall be tied down in accordance with the provisions of subsections B, C, D, and E of this Section or the alternative tie-down standards of Section 4-1-11 and Table No. 2 of this Chapter within eighteen (18) months after such annexation receives City Council approval.
5. Any person desiring to engage in the business of installing mobile home tie-down equipment in Carbondale, shall first register with the Building and Neighborhood Services Division and annually, thereafter, if in the business of installing such equipment.
C. Tie-Down Installation Requirements:
1. A diagonal tie is effected by tying to the frame member farthest from the anchor of each transportable unit.
2. All mobile homes shall have diagonal tie-downs and vertical ties installed in accordance with Section 4-1-11, Table No. 1. Only diagonal ties are required for double-wide mobile homes in accordance with Table No. 1. Ties shall be evenly spaced as practicable along the length of the mobile home with not more than eight feet (8') open-end spacing one each end.
3. Vertical ties may pass over the top of the stud and rafter location near each end of the mobile home. Vertical tie downs may be installed over the skin at the mobile home site. Any vertical tie may use the same anchors as the end diagonal ties.
4. If steel strapping is used, it may be secured around the I-beam using an appropriate connecting device. Care should be exercised to ensure that minimum bending radius is adhered to, so that the breaking strength of the strapping is not reduced.
5. Ties shall not connect to steel outriggers, unless specifically stated in the manufacturer's installation instructions.
D. Anchors:
1. Anchors should be placed as evenly as practicable along the length of the home. Where a vertical tie and diagonal tie are located at the same place, both ties may be connected to a single anchor, provided that the anchor used is capable of carrying both loads.
2. Footers and the load carrying portion of the ground anchors shall extend below the frost line.
Note: Frost heave can have an adverse effect on the mobile home through displacement of the mobile home anchoring system. Consequently, periodic maintenance shall be performed by the owner of the mobile home through adjustment of the tie-down tension so as to ensure that tension does not build up.
E. Tie-Down Standards And Specifications:
1. Tie materials shall be capable of resisting a force of three thousand one hundred fifty (3,150) pounds with no more than two percent (2%) elongation and shall withstand at least four thousand seven hundred twenty five (4,725) pounds without failure. Failure shall be considered to have occurred when the material is stretched beyond its elastic limit, resulting in permanent deformation.
2. All cable ends shall be secured with at least two (2) U-bolt type clamps or other fastening device.
3. Anchor equipment and ties shall be weather resistant. Weather resistance shall be at least equal to that provided by a coating of zinc on steel of not less than thirty one-hundredths (0.30) ounce per square foot of surface.
4. Ties must terminate with a D-ring, bolt or other tensioning device that will not lower the material strength below that stated in subsection E1 hereof.
5. Sharp edges of the mobile home that would tend to cut the cable or strap (in over-the-top, on-site installations) when the home is buffeted by the wind, must be protected by a thimble or other device that will prevent such cutting.
6. Each ground anchor, when installed, shall be capable of resisting a working load at least equal to three thousand one hundred fifty (3,150) pounds in the direction of the tie plus a fifty percent (50%) overload (4,725 pounds) without failure. Failure shall be considered to have occurred when the point of connection between the tie and anchor moves more than two inches (2") at four thousand seven hundred twenty five (4,725) pounds in the direction of the vertical tie and more than four inches (4") horizontally at the point where the tie attaches to the anchor. (Ord. 80-106)