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Idaho Manufactured Home Installer License Exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Idaho Manufactured Home Installer License Exam is administered by the Idaho Division of Building
Safety (DBS) – Manufactured Home Program. The exam is based on the Idaho Administrative Code
(IDAPA) 07.01.06 (Rules for Manufactured Home Installation) and the HUD Manufactured Home
Installation Standards (24 CFR 3285 & 3286).
Below is a summarized coverage of exam topics, followed by 250 randomized, scenario-based
MCQs with answers and summarized rationales.
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (point form)
• Legal & Administrative: IDAPA 07.01.06, Idaho Code 44-2401, Division of Building Safety (DBS)
authority, installer licensing & renewal (annual, November 1 deadline), insurance requirements,
permit requirements.
• Site & Foundation: Soil bearing capacity, frost depth (Idaho 30-48 inches), foundation types
(footings, piers, slabs), pier spacing, tie-downs, footing sizing, ground clearance (minimum 12
inches at perimeter, 18 inches under home for access).
• Anchorage & Stabilization: Over-the-top vs. frame ties, foundation straps, tie-down sizing,
anchor depth, resistance to wind (110 mph), seismic zones.
• Transport & Set-Up: Towing, blocking before disconnect, marriage line connections for multi-
section homes, roof seams, siding/trim.
• HUD Standards (24 CFR 3285/3286): Load zones (wind, snow, seismic), installation manual
requirements, manufacturer specifications vs. Idaho amendments.
• Utility Systems: Electrical (GFCI, disconnect), plumbing (water, waste, venting), gas lines
(propane/natural gas, drip legs, interior vs. exterior), HVAC, tie-in requirements.
• Safety & Work Practices: Fall protection, excavation shoring, electrical lockout/tagout, flame
retardant materials, fireblocking.
• Post-Installation Requirements: Certificate of Installation, final inspection, maintainability
(clearance for access), skirting requirements (ventilation: 1 sq. ft. per 150 sq. ft. of crawlspace
area).
1. A manufactured home is being installed in rural Idaho on a site with clay soil. Before placing footings,
what must the installer do to ensure adequate bearing capacity?
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A) Wet the soil to increase compaction
B) Perform a soil bearing capacity test or use prescriptive values from HUD standards
C) Pour footings 24 inches deeper than frost depth
D) Assume clay is always adequate
Answer: B – HUD and IDAPA require soil evaluation to ensure footings support the home’s load.
2. An installer forgets to install manufacturer-required tie-downs at the specified spacing. What is the
most likely consequence during a DBS inspection?
A) Verbal warning
B) Final inspection failure, with required retrofit before occupancy
C) No consequence if the home is single-wide
D) Immediate fine of $50
Answer: B – Improper anchorage is a life-safety violation and must be corrected before final approval.
3. What is the minimum ground clearance required for the perimeter of a manufactured home installed
in Idaho?
A) 6 inches
B) 12 inches
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C) 18 inches
D) 24 inches
Answer: B – IDAPA 07.01.06 requires 12-inch clearance for ventilation and under-home access.
4. An installer fails to renew their license by the November 1 deadline. What is the status of their
license?
A) Automatically extended 30 days
B) Active but with a $50 late fee
C) Expired; reinstatement requires re-examination and fees
D) Valid until December 31
Answer: C – Licenses expire if not renewed by November 1; re-examination is required after 30 days
unless late fees paid timely.
5. During a multi-section home installation, the installer discovers that the marriage line roof seam has a
1/2-inch gap at the peak. What is the proper action?
A) Seal with silicone caulk only
B) Install manufacturer-specified splice plate or compression system per installation instructions
C) Ignore because skirting will cover it
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D) Use expanding foam to fill the gap
Answer: B – Marriage line connections must follow manufacturer’s instructions for structural integrity
and weather resistance.
6. Under Idaho law, who is responsible for obtaining the installation permit before work begins?
A) Homeowner
B) Licensed installer
C) Retailer of the manufactured home
D) Municipality
Answer: B – The licensed installer must pull the permit before beginning installation.
7. What is the minimum depth for footings in northern Idaho to prevent frost heave?
A) 12 inches
B) 24 inches
C) 30 inches (varies; 30-48 inches depending on zone)
D) 60 inches
Answer: C – Frost depth in Idaho ranges from 30″ to 48″; footings must extend below frost line.
Idaho Manufactured Home Installer License Exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Idaho Manufactured Home Installer License Exam is administered by the Idaho Division of Building
Safety (DBS) – Manufactured Home Program. The exam is based on the Idaho Administrative Code
(IDAPA) 07.01.06 (Rules for Manufactured Home Installation) and the HUD Manufactured Home
Installation Standards (24 CFR 3285 & 3286).
Below is a summarized coverage of exam topics, followed by 250 randomized, scenario-based
MCQs with answers and summarized rationales.
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (point form)
• Legal & Administrative: IDAPA 07.01.06, Idaho Code 44-2401, Division of Building Safety (DBS)
authority, installer licensing & renewal (annual, November 1 deadline), insurance requirements,
permit requirements.
• Site & Foundation: Soil bearing capacity, frost depth (Idaho 30-48 inches), foundation types
(footings, piers, slabs), pier spacing, tie-downs, footing sizing, ground clearance (minimum 12
inches at perimeter, 18 inches under home for access).
• Anchorage & Stabilization: Over-the-top vs. frame ties, foundation straps, tie-down sizing,
anchor depth, resistance to wind (110 mph), seismic zones.
• Transport & Set-Up: Towing, blocking before disconnect, marriage line connections for multi-
section homes, roof seams, siding/trim.
• HUD Standards (24 CFR 3285/3286): Load zones (wind, snow, seismic), installation manual
requirements, manufacturer specifications vs. Idaho amendments.
• Utility Systems: Electrical (GFCI, disconnect), plumbing (water, waste, venting), gas lines
(propane/natural gas, drip legs, interior vs. exterior), HVAC, tie-in requirements.
• Safety & Work Practices: Fall protection, excavation shoring, electrical lockout/tagout, flame
retardant materials, fireblocking.
• Post-Installation Requirements: Certificate of Installation, final inspection, maintainability
(clearance for access), skirting requirements (ventilation: 1 sq. ft. per 150 sq. ft. of crawlspace
area).
1. A manufactured home is being installed in rural Idaho on a site with clay soil. Before placing footings,
what must the installer do to ensure adequate bearing capacity?
, Page 2 of 107
A) Wet the soil to increase compaction
B) Perform a soil bearing capacity test or use prescriptive values from HUD standards
C) Pour footings 24 inches deeper than frost depth
D) Assume clay is always adequate
Answer: B – HUD and IDAPA require soil evaluation to ensure footings support the home’s load.
2. An installer forgets to install manufacturer-required tie-downs at the specified spacing. What is the
most likely consequence during a DBS inspection?
A) Verbal warning
B) Final inspection failure, with required retrofit before occupancy
C) No consequence if the home is single-wide
D) Immediate fine of $50
Answer: B – Improper anchorage is a life-safety violation and must be corrected before final approval.
3. What is the minimum ground clearance required for the perimeter of a manufactured home installed
in Idaho?
A) 6 inches
B) 12 inches
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C) 18 inches
D) 24 inches
Answer: B – IDAPA 07.01.06 requires 12-inch clearance for ventilation and under-home access.
4. An installer fails to renew their license by the November 1 deadline. What is the status of their
license?
A) Automatically extended 30 days
B) Active but with a $50 late fee
C) Expired; reinstatement requires re-examination and fees
D) Valid until December 31
Answer: C – Licenses expire if not renewed by November 1; re-examination is required after 30 days
unless late fees paid timely.
5. During a multi-section home installation, the installer discovers that the marriage line roof seam has a
1/2-inch gap at the peak. What is the proper action?
A) Seal with silicone caulk only
B) Install manufacturer-specified splice plate or compression system per installation instructions
C) Ignore because skirting will cover it
, Page 4 of 107
D) Use expanding foam to fill the gap
Answer: B – Marriage line connections must follow manufacturer’s instructions for structural integrity
and weather resistance.
6. Under Idaho law, who is responsible for obtaining the installation permit before work begins?
A) Homeowner
B) Licensed installer
C) Retailer of the manufactured home
D) Municipality
Answer: B – The licensed installer must pull the permit before beginning installation.
7. What is the minimum depth for footings in northern Idaho to prevent frost heave?
A) 12 inches
B) 24 inches
C) 30 inches (varies; 30-48 inches depending on zone)
D) 60 inches
Answer: C – Frost depth in Idaho ranges from 30″ to 48″; footings must extend below frost line.
