Frost Free Foundation^© Design:
An affordable foundation and support system for use with manufactured homes located in frost-prone areas

The Systems Building Research Alliance announces the release of the Frost Free Foundation^© design (FFF), an affordable foundation solution when placing homes in areas subject to frost (Frost Area Map). The design is far less costly than either poured concrete footings that extend the foundation below the frost line or concrete ("floating") slabs, the two alternatives generally recommended by HUD for compliance with the Manufactured Home Installation Standards. (For additional background information, click here for Press Release.)

The design was developed by Hayman Engineering for SBRA and is copyright protected by SBRA. The work is intended for the sole use of home manufacturers building new homes, and communities, retailers and individuals re-installing existing homes. Use of the design without express, written permission of SBRA is strictly prohibited.

Obtaining the rights to use the FFF design

NEW HOMES
For new home installation, the FFF design is licensed only to manufacturers of HUD code homes. Any company or individual wishing to use the FFF design should contact the manufacturer of the home for information on obtaining the rights to use the design (see List of Authorized Manufacturers below). Manufacturers (not on the table below) wishing to obtain rights to distribute the FFF design for use with their homes should review the Additional Information - Manufacturers below.

EXISTING OR PRE-OWNED HOMES
Community owners/operators, retailers, individual home owners and others wishing to use the FFF design with an existing home should review the Additional Information below.

Additional Information for:

MANUFACTURERS
Manufacturers can license the FFF design for a one-time fee. The license to use the design applies to all new homes built by the company and its affiliates. To obtain the rights to use the FFF design, complete the Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Application for Home Manufacturers, New Homes and submit to SBRA. Upon acceptance and approval of the Application by SBRA, the manufacturer will receive: the engineer stamped FFF design, a document describing the technical basis of the design, an executed Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Home Manufacturers, New Homes, and inclusion on the List of Authorized Manufacturers above.

RETAILERS
New homes: To obtain the FFF design for use by your customers, please contact the manufacturer of the home (see List of Authorized Manufacturers above). If the home manufacturer is not listed, please provide them with a link to this web site or have them contact SBRA for information about obtaining rights to use the design.

Existing homes: When using the FFF design for a single, existing home follow the directions for Individuals below.

COMMUNITY OWNERS/OPERATORS
New homes: To obtain the FFF design for homes in your communities, please contact the manufacturer of the home (see List of Authorized Manufacturers above). If the home manufacturer is not listed, please provide them with a link to this web site or have them contact SBRA for information about obtaining rights to use the design.

Existing homes: Community owners/operators can license the FFF design for use with existing homes in three ways: (1) for use in all communities under a single, corporate entity; (2) for use in a single entire community; or (3) for an individual home in a community. For options 1 and 2, the right of use is granted in perpetuity. To obtain the rights to use the FFF design for a single community or all communities under a single corporate entity, complete the Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Application for Community Owners, Existing Homes and submit to SBRA. Upon acceptance and approval of the Application, the community owner/operator will receive: the engineer stamped FFF design, a document describing the technical basis of the design and an executed Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Single Community Owners, Existing Homes or Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Multiple Community Owners, Existing Homes. When using the FFF design for a single, existing home follow the directions for Individuals below.

INDIVIDUALS
New homes: To obtain the FFF design for use in your area, please contact the manufacturer of the home (see List of Authorized Manufacturers above). If the home manufacturer is not listed, please provide them with a link to this web site or have them contact SBRA for information about obtaining rights to use the design.

Existing homes: The FFF design may be licensed for use with individual existing homes. To obtain the rights to use the FFF design for a single home, complete the Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Application for Individual Site, Existing Home and submit to SBRA. Upon acceptance and approval of the Application, the applicant will receive: the engineer stamped FFF design, a document describing the technical basis of the design and an executed Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Individual Site, Existing Home.

For further information, or to obtain a free unstamped copy of the FFF design and technical support document, contact the Systems Building Research Alliance at:

Systems Building Research Alliance
1776 Broadway, Suite 2205
New York, NY 10019
(212) 496-0900 x10
Email: prath@research-alliance.org

DAPIA Review and Approval:

The FFF design is approved for use in areas subject to frost by the following DAPIAs:

Quick Link to Documents

Frost Area Map
Press Release (July 1, 2010)

Home Manufacturers
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Application for Home Manufacturers, New Homes
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Home Manufacturers, New Homes

Community Owners/Operators
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Application for Community Owners, Existing Homes
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Single Community Owners, Existing Homes
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Multiple Community Owners, Existing Homes

Individual Homes
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Application for Individual Site, Existing Home
Frost Free Foundation^© Design: Non-Exclusive Right of Use and Disclaimer, Individual Site, Existing Home

Disclaimer
The FFF design was prepared as an account of work conducted for SBRA by Paul Hayman, PE. Neither SBRA, nor any of the organizations providing funding for this work make any warranty, express or implied, or assume legal liability or responsibility for the use of the design or the performance of homes built using the design.