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Summary
Virtually all manufactured homes
are designed to use forced air distribution systems (ADS) to circulate heated
and cooled air. Recent studies suggest that improving ADS performance is the single
most important strategy for reducing energy use and many moisture problems in
manufactured housing.
Objective
SBRA
collaborated with manufacturers to: evaluate duct leakage and other air distribution
shortcomings originating in the plant, devise solutions that incorporate in-house
resources and capabilities, and provide manufacturers with an affordable on-going
quality control process for ADS integrity.
Strategy
The following steps were outlined to bring a plant up to a high level
of duct performance. Each plant was encouraged to find solutions that fit their
operation, construction materials and staff resources. - Reconnaissance
Duct construction techniques were observed in the plant and performance tests
were conducted to identify the current status of ADS performance. Ducts can be
tested in the plant with little if any affect on production. Field tests were
also conducted where possible. A list of recommendations to improve ADS performance
was developed.
- Evaluate improvement strategies A meeting
was coordinated with plant staff, to review any concerns identified with the current
ADS. ADS performance targets and recommendations to be carried out in the production
environment were selected. Suppliers were often involved in this process.
- Implementation and training Strategies were incorporated
in the plant; production staff was trained to incorporate new measures into the
production process.
- Interim testing Measures selected
were evaluated both for improvements they provide to the ADS performance and for
their acceptance in the production process. Modifications and/or new strategies
were recommended at this point.
- Value engineering Accepted
ADS improvement strategies were evaluated to make their implementation as affordable
as possible.
- Developed ADS quality control process Techniques
to provide immediate feedback for ADS performance were devised and tested in the
production environment. Such measures were meant to provide enduring ADS performance
quality and were to be employed by production staff, quality control staff or
by supplier representatives.
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