Mobile Home Appliance Fires Guidelines

OMB Control Number 3041-0029

INVESTIGATION GUIDELINE

Revised 2004
Appendix 123

MANUFACTURED (MOBILE) HOME APPLIANCE FIRES
I.

INTRODUCTION

A.

Background Information

Appliances usually marketed for installation in
manufactured homes often claim to be “zero clearance”
appliances. As a result, minimal amounts of insulation
exist between any heat, sparks or embers potentially
generated by these appliances and the home structure
(floors, walls, ceilings). Restricted living space and
access to exits in these types of homes make such hazards
potentially fatal.
Investigations will support the work of the Fire / Gas
Voluntary Codes and Standards team in developing
improvements in the voluntary standards for appliances
marketed for manufactured homes.
Please note that this is a guideline, not a checklist.
Any relevant information discovered in the course of the
investigation should be included regardless of whether it
was explicitly requested in this guideline or in the
assignment message.
B.

Product Design

Appliances installed in manufactured homes may be
fueled by electricity, wood, or gas. Heating products may
be vented or unvented. Vented gas appliances, such as
furnaces and gas space heaters are often installed as a
direct-vent system. In a direct-vent system, the intake
air brought in from the outdoors and the exhaust air vented
to the outdoors takes place within a sealed system; i.e.,
intake/combustion air is not taken from indoors.
C.
•

Specific Items of Interest
Obtain the square footage and layout of the manufactured
home. If possible, obtain a floorplan from any official

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reports. Label all exits,
and the fire’s location of
of any smoke detectors (or
and note whether they were

including any pop-out windows,
origin. Label the locations
indicate if none were present)
working.

•

Obtain the actual or estimated year the home was
manufactured.

•

Document the cause of the fire and the first material
ignited.

D.

Headquarters Contacts
Ronald Jordan
David Miller

ESFS
EPHA

301 504-7575
301 504-7323

II.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION

A.

Synopsis

Code investigations involving appliances and
manufactured homes with the first product corresponding to
the appliance involved in the fire. If appropriate, code
the second product as 1841 – Mobile/manufactured homes. In
any case, include the words mobile home or manufactured
home in the synopsis.
B.

Description of the Incident Environment

Pre-incident. Include in this portion of the
narrative a description of the specific circumstances
leading to the incident. Document who installed the
appliance, whether it was purchased new or used, and any
repair history of the appliance.
Incident. Describe in the narrative how the fire
happened and how the victim was alerted to it. If this is
speculative, give the reasons for this particular
reconstruction of events.
Post-incident. Include injuries, type of treatment
administered, property damage, medical costs and resulting
physical limitations. Document the disposition of the
appliance and the manufactured home.

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C.

Description of the Injured Person(s) and Product
Interaction

The narrative should include information on how well
the victim(s) understood the products and hazards involved.
Indicate if an instruction manual was included with
purchase of product and if the victim had read and
understood instructions.
D.

Description of the Product

•

Product description, including age, manufacturer, and
model of the appliance, and whether it was new or used
when acquired by the consumer.

•

Provide the age of the manufactured home.

•

If an installed appliance, who installed?

•

If a vented appliance, indicate if it was installed as a
direct-vent system (i.e., The intake air brought in from
the outdoors and the exhaust air vented to the outdoors
takes place within a sealed system. Intake air is not
taken from indoors). Describe the location where the
vent exited the home and if the vents were blocked in any
way.

•

If a vented appliance, describe the location where the
vent(s) exited the home and if the vents were blocked in
any way.

•

Document any standards markings found on the appliance,
in the instruction manual, or recorded by officials.

E.

Product Safety Standards

CPSC does not have mandatory standards on manufactured
homes, which are themselves under the jurisdiction of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, CPSC does
have jurisdiction over any consumer product, including
appliances, used in manufactured homes.

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III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND/OR DIAGRAMING FACTORS
RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION
•

Photograph or obtain photographs of any standards
markings found on the appliance.

•

Photograph or obtain photographs of the area where the
fire started and the remains of the appliance and any
venting system.

IV.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES AND DOCUMENTS
RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION

•

Obtain a copy of the fire department report

•

If a fire investigation was performed, obtain a copy of
the fire investigation report

•

Obtain any police or utility report.

•

If an insurance claim was filed as a result of the
incident, provide the insurance company, contact, and
claim number.

•

Try to obtain expert technical reports from insurance
companies and forensic engineering firms. If a subpoena
is needed, contact David Miller (EPHA) for assistance.

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