400 sq ft

Stanbnv · 03-16-2008, 04:52 PM

Just reading some posts and saw something about RV's limited to 400 sq ft. Where is this written? Please give me the law that says this.

Stanbnv · 03-16-2008, 04:52 PM

Just reading some posts and saw something about RV's limited to 400 sq ft. Where is this written? Please give me the law that says this.

bsavage · 03-16-2008, 08:32 PM

I have no idea, but I'd love to hear the answer. I'd also like to know where and how to get actual square footage measurements without doing it myself. But, I've googled and searched, and I can't find square footage for our coach, so I guess I'm going to have to go measure it!

Brenda, of...

**NLOVNIT** · 03-16-2008, 09:44 PM

Stanbnv,

I'm not sure it's a law, but it's a guideline put out by ANSI (The American National Standards Institute). This is an organization that administers the creation, communication & the use of guidelines for businesses. Since this organization consists of government agencies, companies & the like, any changes to their set guidelines probably takes a small army & mountains of paperwork to make the change.

I couldn't get the actual guideline without paying for it. Maybe some other member has access to the guideline wording they could post for validation on the square footage issue.

L-

RustyJC · 03-17-2008, 03:53 AM

A quick Google search found the 400 square foot breakpoint codified in a number of state regulations. Here are a few:

Nevada
Kentucky

The Federal regulations, I believe, include 24 CFR Part 3280, 42 USC sec 5401 et seq. You'll also find reference to the 400 square foot breakover point in THIS HUD document.

Is this enough to get you started?

Rusty

**Route 66** · 03-17-2008, 04:08 AM

Found this on the net.

Recreational park trailer manufacturers say that the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) is going to damage its trade group financially by allowing RVIA members to build travel trailers between 320 and 400 square feet – a market niche heretofore occupied exclusively by park models.

The 320-square-foot limit, unchanged since 1987, originally was established by RVIA bylaws to distinguish between travel trailers and recreational park trailers. The limit has since been adopted in ANSI and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards that are somewhat different for the two types of trailers.

During a special RVIA board meeting in November, members were authorized to begin building travel trailers up to 400 square feet, effective Jan. 1, which RPTIA also opposes.

Beyond 400 square feet, units are considered manufactured homes that are regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Ann n Gene · 03-17-2008, 11:33 AM

My understanding (may be wrong) has always been that it is NOT a federal law, just an arbitrary decision by RVIA that carries no force of law. It hog ties manufactures because they can not put an RVIA certification sticker on any unit larger than that. There are a number of fifth wheels that are well above this artificial limit and tagged in many different states as travel trailers. When I have asked manufacture's reps about this silly regulation they claim that RVIA can jerk and manufacture's certification if they show up for an inspection and find uints larger than 400 sq. ft. Not sure I understand why they would care whether they had RVIA certification or not but that seems to be the excuse they mostly use. just my 2 cents. Gene