New Specification for Structural And Chassis Assemblies And Anchorage For Tiny Houses
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers the minimum requirements for the structural design and construction of the floor, wall, roof, chassis assemblies and connections, attachment, and anchoring systems to soil and foundations for tiny houses. The standard applies to tiny houses on wheels, tiny houses on a foundation, tiny houses on skids, and tiny houses transported on a wheeled carrier system or retractable trailer platform for both temporary and permanent placement.
1.2 The standard will include wood and cold steel form framing, and structural insulated panels ( Sips).
1.3 The standard includes the minimum requirements to establish uniformity between the consumer, manufacturers, owner-builders, building officials, legislators, advocates, and third-party agencies that certify tiny houses.
1.4 The standard will include the criteria for the structural attachment to the roof, trusses, rafters, walls, floor systems, and chassis including but not limited to bolts, straps, braces, welds, rivets, and rods for tiny houses. The structural design, environmental factors, load requirements, and strength and compatibility between the attachment and the materials being joined are essential for achieving a secure and durable connection and ensuring the overall safety and durability of the tiny house.
1.5 The standard will include multiple procedures with figures to design and construct a tiny house floor system that includes floor joists, insulation, moisture control for mold prevention, energy conservation, and the subfloor.
1.7 The standard will include structurally engineered calculation tables for both tiny houses that are stationary and in transit that include dead, live, and environmental loads based on Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE/SEI 7-22).
1.8 The standard will include the chassis system which includes the chassis which is the load-bearing frame that the tiny house is built on and includes the steel frame, braking systems, lighting systems, and axles.
1.9 The standard will include the design and construction of anchoring systems that is a combination of anchoring equipment and anchor assemblies that when properly designed and installed, will resist the uplift, overturning, and lateral forces on the tiny house and on its support and foundation system or attachment to the ground.
1.10 The standard will include soil conditions, and the minimum requirement for leveling and blocking tiny houses on wheels and include multiple foundation types, both temporary and permanent.
1.11 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.12 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of the regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.13 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides, and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Keywords
THOW; microhomes; tinyhomes; adus; accesory dwelling unit, adu; cottage house; small dwelling
Rationale
The standard was initiated to address the lack of tiny house industry standards and unsafe practices that have flourished along with an emerging industry that is a global phenomenon and to meet the immediate needs and gaps in building codes and standards for tiny houses to develop a new classification of housing that is uniform and universal in design and construction for the purpose of removing the barriers to placement, including, but not limited to zoning, lack of financing, and the allowance of tiny houses as a viable solution for the global housing crisis.
The immediate needs and gaps for tiny houses are the procedures for structural design and construction of the floor, wall, roof, chassis assemblies and connections, attachment, and anchoring systems to soil and foundations for tiny houses.
