Prefab homes are built as strong as or stronger than conventional homes.
Prefab homes can be found in earthquake and seismic zones from California to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Japan. Each house design is individually engineered to meet local seismic code requirements and to adapt to the natural terrain utilizing one among the many foundation options available.
The biggest misconception is that prefab homes are flimsy and fall apart easily. This is due to the videos we see on television about old mobile home parks in hurricanes. The fact of the matter is that the new prefab homes are built as strong as or stronger than conventional homes.
Earthquake Hazard Levels are based on the seismic risk and the damage anticipated from major seismic events. While seismic activity is much more common in California, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, damage from major earthquakes in other areas could be significant since few structures elsewhere are built to be earthquake and seismic resistant.
A unique approach to integrating Post and Beam construction technology with almost any foundation type makes prefab homes adaptable to nearly any terrain, climate or design need. Foundation types include stilts & pilings, basements, crawl-spaces, and on-grade slabs, as well as a unique pedestal foundation design.
Depending upon the specific location and the condition of the soil, various approaches are employed to stabilize the home foundations. Slab foundation homes often only require large steel-reinforced floating slabs, but in some circumstances where soil conditions are poor, steel-reinforced grade beams may also be required. In other settings, foundations may actually have to be pinned to stable rock formations below. And in the most extreme seismic areas, anchoring foundations deep in the ground to stabilizing pilings may be necessary. No matter what the requirement, working closely with structural engineers and local building officials to create the appropriate and safe foundation design, is the best approach.
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