Opportunities to Improve Manufactured Housing
Through the Use of Advanced Adhesives and Sealants (January
2003, 26p.)
Factory-produced housing provides many opportunities for
adhesive-based automation and assembly line methods to significantly
reduce labor and increase building performance and durability.
Newer adhesives are also available that reduce worker exposure
to dangerous chemicals, reduce air pollution, and minimize
waste disposal concerns that are becoming more common with
older solvent-based products. This report presents the results
of an investigation into how these new products could be more
extensively used in manufactured housing production. The research
steering committee included representatives from home manufacturers;
adhesives manufacturers and distributors; engineering, testing
and certification firms, and HUD.
Researchers identified and evaluated adhesive and sealant
opportunities that offer the greatest potential benefit to
manufactured housing construction based on a survey of 21
manufactured housing plants. The survey was designed to evaluate
satisfaction levels of current adhesives and sealants in use,
as well as identify and characterize other manufacturing,
performance, and service issues related to adhesives and sealants.
Ten adhesive manufacturers were interviewed to get a supplier's
perspective. Home and adhesive manufacturers were also probed
for new opportunities for adhesives in manufactured housing
production.
As a result of this survey, the report identifies interior
wall construction and bottom board repair as the two application
areas where improvements to the adhesive systems currently
being used can have the greatest impact on manufactured housing
quality and affordability. It proposes a research program
focusing on these two areas of the manufactured housing construction
process.
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