Ala. Admin. Code r. 535-X-13 § 535-X-13-.09

(1) All manufacturers of ground anchors and tiedown devices must have the approval of their products by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission before offering their products for sale and use within the State of Alabama.

(2) All anchors and tiedown devices used in the State of Alabama for the purpose of anchoring a manufactured home or building to the ground must be tested by a third party independent testing agency, recognized by the Commission as having the technical background and experience in testing ground anchors and tiedown devices. The third party agency cannot have any interest or ties with the manufacturer which the agency is testing. There can be no conflict of interest between the agency and the manufacturer.

(3) All anchors and tiedown devices shall be tested to a minimum of 4,725 lbs. The combined vertical displacement attributed to the elongation of the anchor and withdrawal from the substrate shall not exceed 2" at an applied load of 4,725 lbs. Anchors tested with loads applied at an angle to the anchor shaft shall not displace the anchor more than 3" horizontally at an applied load of 4,725 lbs.

(4) Anchors designed for connection of multiple ties must be capable of resisting the combined loads placed upon such anchors. The displacement cannot exceed 2" vertically and 3" horizontally.

(5) All tiedown devices shall be tested with the same loads as the ground anchors. Failure of the tiedown devices and ground anchors shall be considered as breakage, bending or slippage that results in excessive yielding at 2" vertically and 3" horizontally at an applied load of 4,725 lbs. or with combined loads.

(6) A complete product description shall be provided for each anchor and each tiedown device tested and submitted for approval. The information shall include the following:

(a) Manufacturer and model identification: Each model shall show model identification and shall be permanently marked indicating the conditions under which such anchor or device has been approved. For traceability, the identification marks of all anchors, components, straps, and devices used for anchoring and tying down manufactured homes must be visible after the anchor or device is installed.

(b) Detailed drawings including all dimensions (i.e. shaft, flute, head, etc.)

(c) Grade of steel or complete description of material used for anchor.

(d) Methods of securing tiedown device to the anchor.

(e) Methods of securing device to home including all buckles, crimps and bolts required.

(f) Method of installing anchor in ground.

(g) Special requirements for protecting the anchor against frost heave where applicable.

(h) A written detailed description of the quality assurance program and its procedures. The program shall include areas of material compliance and dimensional adherence to the engineered drawings, traceability of incoming raw materials, control of manufacturing methods, random and individual inspection of finished goods, and periodic testing to assure 95-98 percent compliance to program standards. Periodic test results are to be filed with the Commission office.

(i) Drawings shall bear the seal of a registered engineer (structural-mechanical) registered in the state of manufacture or the State of Alabama.

(j) Each model must be field tested and certified for holding power in the bottom half of the soil classifications adopted by the Commission. All tests must be conducted with representatives of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission present when the tests are performed.

(7) Any change from the engineered drawings (metal size, welding alterations, coatings, etc.) as well as significant changes in the quality assurance program will nullify the approval.

(8) A test report is required to accompany each anchor or tiedown device submitted for approval and shall be sufficiently detailed so that the test can be replicated without a requirement for additional information. The test report shall include the following:

(a) Description of anchor and tiedown devices and components used in the test (i.e. buckles, hooks, bolts, crimps, straps and etc.)

(b) Date of tests.

(c) Description or classification of soil type in which anchor was tested. Tests must be conducted for all soil types within the State of Alabama.

(d) Location of tests.

(e) Embedment depth of the anchor.

(f) Minimum distance that ground anchors shall be separated so that the capacity of the anchors will not be reduced.

(g) The application and orientation of the applied load on the anchor.

(h) The report shall detail the applied load at 10 second intervals and 500 lb. increments. The test report shall identify the vertical and horizontal displacements at each increment and describe the mode and location of failure.

(9) All test procedures should conform to the applicable ASTM Standards: