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The primary methodology for lowering formaldehyde levels in temporary housing units involves removing products that release elevated levels of formaldehyde and other chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). This means that productscontaining formaldehyde or VOCs, such as Medium Density Fiber products, all vinyl gypsum board, all urea formaldehyde emitting materials and high formaldehyde emitting insulation products must not be present in the units. Also, to ensure proper aircirculation, FEMA is requiring that all newly purchased housing units comply with HUD's 35 percent minimum air exchange rate per hour for manufactured housing.
The new procurement specifications will be part of a request for proposals that FEMA will post on the FedBizOpps.gov Web site for the design and production of aninitial 500 manufactured homes and 100 park models. The contract will be in place for three years and allow FEMA to purchase up to 1,400 manufactured homes and 1,900 regular park models for use in future disasters.
"There is no national standard for formaldehyde levels in American homes; not conventional stick-built homes, not manufactured homes," FEMA Administrator David Paulison, said. "Until such a time as there is a consensus standard, we will takeextraordinary precautions and require that all new-production units that FEMA purchases test below the lowest existing 'standard' and below the midpoint of the range that CDC calls 'typical' for conventional homes."
FEMA has been working with the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs (DHS/OHA) since last August to develop thisnew set of procurement specifications for manufactured housing. Temporary housing units always are a last resort and are used only in the aftermath of disaster events in which rental resources are limited or nonexistent.
A prototype two-bedroom model, built to these new indoor air quality requirements, already has been evaluated and found to meet these specifications by a third-party industrial hygienist expert in indoor air quality. Full production is under way anddelivery of the first units is expected to begin within eight weeks.
All the new units, whether park models or manufactured housing (mobile homes), are to be designed and constructed with a superior grade quality of workmanship and, at a minimum, meet the construction material requirements and air exchange rates established for manufactured housing in HUD's Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards (Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations 3280).
Procurement specifications differ for units depending on whether they are intended to be used in warmer U.S. climates or colder U.S. climates. Additionally, construction and outfitting standards identify minimum square footage of living space, floorplan configuration, finishes, furnishing and environmental living conditions necessary to provide emergency housing for disaster relief operations. All units accepted by FEMA will emit 'limited or no detectable levels of formaldehyde.' Testing will beconducted for each unit at the manufacturing plant before the unit leaves the plant.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
FEMA, , 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472; Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA
Release Number: HQ-08-056
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