Inspection, Certification And Testing Agencies
How Is A Travel Trailer Or A Park Model A Tiny Home?
At this time, there is not one unified industry standard that is recognized for tiny homes on wheels and each jurisdiction, bank, insurance agency, etc… could have a different definition and requirements, including size and if they are allowed as a dwelling.
Most tiny home builders are building RVs built to the NFPA 1192 Standard or the Park Model Standard, ANSI 119.5 for the ability to have them certified and registered, to get a Vin number and title.
These standards address all safe health, life, and fire precautions.
The builders most always exceed the minimum requirements of these standards and build to 2 X 4 and 2 X 6 construction, increase insulation values, have 25-year roof warranties, increase truss loads when applicable, and use superior quality materials.
The beauty of tiny homes is they are custom built to order and can be built for all seasons with a focus on durability and longevity. They can also be built to any added requirements of the jurisdiction.
San Luis Obispo: Tiny Homes
The Community Development Department recently updated its Zoning Regulations which included provisions for Tiny Homes on Wheels in the backyard of on a site with an owner-occupied single-family residence. A single-family residence (Single-Unit Dwelling) is defined as a dwelling unit designed for occupancy by one household which is not attached to or located on a lot with commercial uses or other dwelling units.
Tiny Homes on Wheels are also referred to as Recreational Vehicles (RV) according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), and is required to receive certification from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and registration by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Modular Tiny Home
Smaller Homes are also often referred to as as Modular home that are built off-site in a climate controlled factory to local building codes, the same codes as site-built homes.
Photo Courtesy DigzPreFab and NYUDesigns
RADCO A Twinning Company
In addition to the above services, RADCO has extensive experience in approval for gas systems and special flame effects used in the entertainment industry, as well as Plan Review and Inspection services for Special Purpose Commercial Modular’s (SPCM), Park Models, MRI units, and much, much more. Founded in 1967 as a service-oriented engineering company, RADCO has since grown in its services as well as geographically. Headquartered in Long Beach, CA, RADCO has branch offices across the US and several geographically located Inspectors to better serve our clients.
What sets RADCO apart from our competition is their employees and their knowledge and experience. RADCO also offers one of the best pricing options for Testing, Listing, and Inspection service line. With state-of-the-art technology, their experienced team, and extensive knowledge of the American Standards and code compliance.
Recognition
RADCO is recognized as a Testing Laboratory (TL-209) and as a Quality Assurance Inspection Agency (AA-650) by the IAS (International Accreditation Service, Inc.). These approvals supersede RADCO’s previous approvals from the NES and the ICBO-ES. Both of RADCO’s IAS approvals are recognized internationally, giving RADCO’s test reports and QA inspections full acceptance in many countries around the world, including Canada, Mexico, the Pacific Rim countries such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, as well as Europe. RADCO provides a product listing service with follow-up inspections.
RADCO’s testing and listing capabilities are recognized by many cities, counties, and states, including California, Arizona, Washington, and the city of Denver. RADCO is an administrator for the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) ‘Accu-R’ program for Expanded Polystyrene Insulation, and HUD Use of Materials Programs, UM 71A and UM 101.
RADCO is fully approved by HUD, as a DAPIA (Design Approval Primary Inspection Agency), and IPIA (Inspection Primary Inspection Agency), in the federal Manufactured Housing program. RADCO also serves on the HUD Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC).
RADCO is fully recognized as a Third Party plan review and inspection agency for factory built (modular) residential and commercial structures by the IBC (Industrialized Building Commission), and all states with such programs.
RADCO is accredited and recognized by many state and national accreditation bodies. RADCO is also a member of several industry organizations, including ICC, IAS, The Modular Building Institute, NMEDA and the Manufacturing Housing Institute.
California Office (Headquarters)
3220 East 59th Street Long Beach, CA 90805 Office: 562-272-7231 Fax: 562-529-7513
Arizona Office
2318 W. Tanner Ranch Road Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Office: 336-879-4788 Fax: 336-879-2760
Florida Office
5801 Benjamin Center Drive, Suite 102 Tampa, FL 33634 Office: 813-243-0370 Fax: 813-243-1314
North Carolina
340 Meadow Springs Road Seagrove, NC 27341 Office: 336-879-4788 Fax: 336-879-2760
Indiana Office
RADCO, founded in 1967 is recognized as an independent third-party testing laboratory (TL-209), listing agency, and a Quality Assurance Inspection Agency (AA-650) by IAS (International Accreditation Service, Inc.). RADCO is also nationally recognized as a Design Approval Inspection Agency (DAPIA) and Inspection Primary Inspection Agency (IPIA) for the Manufactured Housing program (HUD) and can provide DAPIA and IPIA certification for any state modular program that allows a third-party to do so.
Photo Courtesy DigzPrefab And NYUDesigns, Certified By RADCO
Photo Courtesy SG Blocks, Certified By PFS TECO
PFS TECO
Designated by HUD as both an IPIA (Inspection Primary Inspection Agency) and a DAPIA (Design Approval Primary Inspection Agency), PFS TECO is your one-stop shop for both plan review and inspection of HUD-code manufactured housing. We have five regional offices throughout the United States, allowing us to have professional inspection staff within a small distance of almost any manufacturing facility in the country.
Photo Courtesy: The Valley Forge, Utopian Villas: It Can Be Built As A Park Model
Or Modular Home, Certified By PFS TECO As A Modular
Contact PFS TECO
Corporate Headquarters
Manufactured Structures Regional Offices
PFS TECO: Cottage Grove
1507 Matt Pass
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 USA
608.839.1013
Wisconsin • 608.839.1013
Pennsylvania • 570.784.8396
Texas • 214.505.3224
California • 310.559.7287
Oregon Laboratories
PFS TECO • Springfield
5250 High Banks Road
Suite 200
Springfield, OR 97478 USA
541.636.4687
PFS TECO • Portland
11785 SE Hwy. 212
Suite 305
Clackamas, OR 97015 USA
503.650.0088
Contact Bob Gorleski Vice President Of Manufactured Structures
bo**********@pf*****.com
PFS TECO
NOAH Remote Digitized Inspection
Photos Courtesy: MitchCraft Tiny Homes: Inspected By NOAH
Learn More About NOAH
Website
Intertek : Global Reach
Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Intertek is one of the world’s largest Testing, Inspecting and Certification companies. Their services are available in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific.
For more than 130 years, companies around the world have depended on Intertek to help ensure the quality and safety of their products, processes and systems.
Intertek is an industry leader with more than 46,000 employees in 1,000 locations in over 100 countries. They deliver Total Quality Assurance expertise 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with our industry-winning processes and customer-centric culture. Whether your business is local or global, they can help to ensure that your products meet quality, health, environmental, safety, and social accountability standards for virtually any market around the world. They hold extensive global accreditations, recognitions, and agreements.
Global Network of Laboratories
Intertek is one of the world’s largest Testing, Inspection and Certification companies. We have a network of laboratories across North and South America, Europe and Asia to deliver safety testing and certification for your products. Our teams around the world provide Global Expertise with Local Service. No one partners with manufacturers better than Intertek to deliver the services you need, when you need them, and where you need them.
Below is a List of Standards for the North American Market
- ASME
- ASTM
- ANSI
- CSA
- NFPA
- NOM
- NSF
- UL / ULC
Accreditations
Intertek is an OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) recognized NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) and is accredited as a Testing Organization and Certification Body by the Standards Council of Canada.
American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
- Scope: Accreditation for automotive, EMC, ICT, medical devices, telecommunications and thermal testing, FCC Telecom Certification Body (A2LA testing scopes are site specific; for further details contact A2LA or the Intertek facility.)
- Criteria: ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17065
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- Scope: Accreditation of the ETL Listed Certification Program
- Criteria: ISO/IEC 17065
International Accreditation Service (IAS)
- Scope: Accreditation for testing, inspection and certification of building materials and gas fueled appliances
- Criteria: Acceptance Criteria 89 supporting ISO/IEC 17025 and Acceptance Criteria 98 supporting ISO/IEC 17020
ISO/IEC 17065
Photo Courtesy: Coastal Escape Sunshine Tiny Homes: Certified by Intertek
T.R. Arnold & Associates
TRA Blazed The Trail To Standards Achievement With The Industry, Both In The U.S. And Around The World
When TRA began there were no industry-wide standards, no cohesive body of government regulations, and no one for manufacturers to turn to for help. With an original staff of three employees, TRA offered limited services to clients throughout the United States.
In 1997 T.R. Arnold & Associates, Inc. became an Employee Owned Company. Today we serve all of North America, Europe, and Pacific Rim. Our corporate headquarters is located in Elkhart, Indiana with members of our inspection staff located in many states throughout our service area. With this approach, we can offer, prompt and efficient service to our established clients as well as meet the demand for our new clients.
Services
- Engineering And Calculations
- Plan Review And Approval
- Inspections Services
- Drafting And Code Drawings
- Modular Recertification
- Certify Your Manufacturing Facility To Produce Energy Star Homes
- Utility Trailers With Living Quarters
- Product Listing Service
- Canadian Certification For Manufactured Structures
Washington State
Washington Inspection And Certification: Labor & Industries Regulates This
Labor & Industries shall have the authority to delegate all or part of its duties of inspection to a local enforcement agency or a qualified inspection agency. Qualified inspection agencies shall have adequate equipment to perform the required inspections and shall employ experienced personnel with appropriate certifications and knowledge for the inspections being performed. Certification by the international code council be recognized as meeting this last requirement.
Photo Courtesy: Carriage Houses NW.
Contact Labor & Industries If You Are A Builder Shipping Into Washington State
Please contact L & I, if you are builder in another state that is shipping into Washington state for the approval process.
Washington State Department Of Labor And Industries: Attention Washington Residents
The Following Sourced From The Washington State Department Of Labor And Industries’ Website
A tiny house is a dwelling that may be built on wheels and is no larger than 400 square feet, including a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping/living area, and must be built to the Washington State Building Code. The approval process for a tiny house depends on where it’s built.
On this page, you can determine whether you need the approval of construction plans and inspections from L&I or the local building department where the house is being built.
- If you are building a tiny house on the site where it will be occupied and used, then you do not need to read any further: Contact your local building department. You may also need an L&I electrical inspection.
- If you’re building a structure with wheels, that’s not a tiny house as described above, then you may be building a recreational vehicle or park model. We inspect and regulate these units. You will need to contact your local building department to find out where it can be located or placed. See our bulletin for additional clarification on units L&I regulates.
- If you’re purchasing a manufactured home of any size, including a tiny manufactured home, then you will need to contact your local building department to find out where it can be located.
- If you’re building a tiny house somewhere OTHER than where it will be occupied and used, then see the Building a Tiny House tab.
Photo Courtesy
Seattle Tiny Homes
An Approved Labor & Industries Builder
California Department Of Housing And Community Development
A good rule of thumb to use as a guide when choosing a builder or 3rd party agency is to choose a builder that uses a 3rd party agency that is recognized and is listed with the California Department of Housing And Community Development, Codes And Standards Division. Most of the agencies listed have 30 to 80 years of expertise in the industry in all aspects of testing, inspection, and certification. Los Angeles only recognizes the list above for ADUs and Movable Tiny Homes. See More Below.
A Quality Assurance Inspector ‘Original’ applicant must satisfy all the provisions of ASTM Standard E 541, Part B, 14 and T25, CCR, Chapter 3, Section 4856
3rd Party Agencies: California
LA Only Recognizes The List Above
Los Angeles ADUs And Movable Tiny Homes
The City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance (Ord. 186,481) was adopted on December 11, 2019 and became effective on December 19, 2019. Among additional matters, it added Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 12.22A.33. This new section of the LAMC includes local development standards and requirements for ADUs, Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs), and Movable Tiny Houses (MTHs) in Government Code (GC) Sections 65852.2 and 65852.22.
Accessorary Dwelling Unit ( ADU )
An ADU is an attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation on the same lot as the single family or multifamily dwelling is or will be situated.
Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit ( JADU)
A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit is a unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size and contained entirely within a single-family residence. A JADU may include separate sanitation facilities, or may share sanitation facilities with the existing structure. The JADU or single-family residence shall be owner occupied.
Movable Tiny House ( MTH )
A Moveable Tiny House is an enclosed space intended for separate, independent living quarters of one family and meets all of the following:
- Is licensed and registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles;
- Meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 119.5 requirements or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1192 standards, and is certified for ANSI or NFPA compliance. A 3rd party inspection agency (Design Approval Agency/Quality Assurance Agency) shall certify the MTH meets this requirement (List of approved 3rd party Design Approval Agencies (DAA) and Quality Assurance Agencies (QAA));
- Cannot move under its own power;
- Is no larger than allowed by California State Law for movement on public highways; and
- Is no smaller than 150 and larger than 430 square feet as measured within the exterior faces of the exterior walls.
Development Standards and Requirements
ADUs, JADUs, and MTHs are allowed in any zone that allows for residential use by right. Parking for a newly constructed ADU is not required when it is located within one-half mile walking distance of a public transit. Replacement parking is not required when covered parking is removed in conjunction with the construction of the ADU.
ADUs are required to comply with all applicable Zoning, Building, and Residential Codes. Fire sprinklers are not required if they are not required for the primary residence. Solar panels will be required for newly constructed, detached ADUs.
Tiny House Alliance USA Editor
The Future Of Tiny Is Now!
Janet Thome Founder And President
ja***@ti******************.org
509 345 2013
Founder Of Tiny Portable Cedar Cabins
