Manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and multifamily manufactured housing are constructed and installed under preemptive state and federal standards.

These standards, however, do not address the installation of fire sprinkler systems.

Information for Manufactured Homes, Mobilehomes, and Multifamily Manufactured Housing

As a result, regulations (California Code of Regulations, title 25, sections 4300 through 4324 (PDF)) were approved establishing preemptive requirements for the design and installation of fire sprinkler systems for new and used manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and multifamily manufactured housing containing two dwelling units.

• The regulations do not apply to multifamily manufactured housing containing more than two dwelling units.

State regulations provide requirements for plan approval, inspection, testing, and installation of fire sprinkler systems. The regulations establish specific standards for types of materials, installation instructions, construction methods, workmanship, information labels, and testing requirements, and preempt all other local government requirements that establish standards for the design and installation of fire sprinkler systems in manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and multifamily manufactured housing.

• The regulations do not mandate the installation of fire sprinkler systems in manufactured homes, mobilehomes, or multifamily manufactured housing.

Requirements apply to the installation of fire sprinkler systems in manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and multifamily manufactured housing and apply only in the following circumstances:

• When fire sprinkler systems are required by the local authority having jurisdiction over any fire sprinkler system installation in any residential unit that could be built on the same site.
• Where the purchaser, dealer, or owner elects to install a fire sprinkler system in a new or existing manufactured home, mobilehome, or multifamily manufactured housing located in California.

Prior to shipment of a home containing a fire sprinkler system, the factory is required to affix, inside the water heater compartment, a Fire Sprinkler System Information and Installer Certification label (PDF) that provides detailed information for the on-site installer and homeowner use. Additionally, a reference tag (PDF) must be affixed permanently to the fire sprinkler system riser.