A HUD Code tag and a manufacturer’s data plate are required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for manufactured homes.
The main difference between the two is the information they provide.
What Is a HUD Code Tag?
A HUD Code tag, also known as a certification label, is a red metal plate that is affixed to the exterior of the manufactured home, typically on the lower right rear end of the home. It indicates that the home was built in compliance with the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, also known as the HUD Code.
Manufactured homes are designed and constructed to meet federal safety and quality standards established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The HUD Code sets standards for the design, construction, and installation of manufactured homes to ensure they are safe and durable for the homeowner or resident.
So What’s the Data Plate?
The manufacturer’s data plate is an 8 1/2-inch by 11-inch sheet of paper, printed by the home’s manufacturer, that contains important and helpful information about the home. This sheet of paper is glued to the home’s interior, typically in the main bedroom closet, a kitchen cabinet door, or inside the circuit breaker box cover.
What Data Does the Plate Provide?
The data plate provides detailed information about the home, including:
- Manufacturer
- Model/model number
- Serial number
- Date of construction…
- and information about the home’s heating, cooling, and other systems
The data plate also includes information about the home’s wind, roof, and thermal zone design, which can be helpful for determining the home’s energy efficiency and other characteristics.
More Information on Manufactured Homes
Manufactured housing has been guided and regulated by HUD since the middle 1970s when mobile homes became the more heavily inspected and programmed version of factory-built housing that was coined manufactured housing. Many people still call manufactured homes by their former name mobile homes. Regardless, it is a type of housing that is built off-site in a factory and then transported to a permanent location for installation.
Manufactured homes come in a variety of sizes and styles, ranging from single-wide to multi-section homes. They can be placed on a permanent foundation or on a variety of less permanent types of foundations tat can allow for easier relocation of the home if necessary.
Buyers, developers, and community owners value manufactured homes because they provide an affordable housing option for many people. They are less expensive than standard site-built homes. They also can be built more efficiently and rapidly constructed than other forms of housing, which is important with the high demand for housing.
So, essentially the HUD Code tag certifies that the home was built in compliance with federal safety standards, while the data plate provides detailed information about the home’s specifications and features. The HUD Code tag and manfacturer’s data plate are important for ensuring manufactured homes’ safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Datacomp is the manufactured housing industry leader in home appraisal and manufactured home community data.
