Effective August 1, 2003, the State of North Dakota will begin implementation of Chapter 54-21.3-07 of the North Dakota Century Code. This law calls for the creation of the Third-party Inspections Program for manufacturers of modular residential and commercial structures. The administrative rule implementing this program is Article 108-02.
The Third-party Inspections Program requires that manufacturers that produce, in total, six or more modular residential structures per year, that intend to sell modular structures in North Dakota, to hire a third-party inspection entity certified by the Industrialized Building Commission (IBC), an Interstate Compact located in Herndon, Virginia (This does not mean the number shipped to North Dakota; it means the total number produced). In Article 108-02 of the North Dakota Administrative Rule, the state adopts by reference the Uniform Administrative Procedures (UAP) (160kb pdf) of the IBC.
Manufacturers of modular residential and commercial structures that produce, in total, less than six modular structures per year are exempt from the program. To be exempt, manufacturers must submit a yearly Certification of Exemption. However, given the potential benefit of the program to each manufacturer, local jurisdiction, and consumer, we encourage all modular residential and commercial manufacturers to participate.
The program is essentially a consumer protection program, trying to assure that modular buildings installed in North Dakota meet all applicable codes. If construction related problems are found, the owner may (should) complete and submit the Manufactured Housing and Third-party Inspection Complaint form, so that we can inform the Industrialized Building Commission and the applicable Third-party Agency to resolve the problems with the manufacturers.
For more information about North Dakota's Administrative Rule, contact Cal Steiner at (701) 227-7415.
For more information about the IBC, its Uniform Administrative Procedures (UAP), and certified third-party entities, contact Kevin Egilmez at (703) 481-2022. You may also access their web page at www.interstateibc.org.
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