Inspections you can count on!

A day in the life of a quality control pro...

Meet Al Rust, of the Oregon Department of Energy. Al has been in the manufactured housing industry for a very long time. He knows everything (at least we think he does!) Much of his career was as a quality control manager for a high-production plant, so he knows how to make the small things work. More recently, Al was with the Building Codes Division, applying his expertise to making sure what is built is built right.

Nothing like peace of mind, especially when it comes to your new home! Every certified Super Good Cents/ENERGY STAR manufactured home has added layers of inspections and quality assurance. An approved in-plant inspector inspects every home as it goes down the line in the factory. Each factory is inspected by Al, too!

Now, Al is "on-the-line" working with each Northwest plant once every quarter on the details of certified Super Good Cents/ENERGY STAR construction. He will conduct a complete review, from floors to the shipping yard, on every detail that makes your new home perform better. We are excited Al Rust is a part of our team. We think you will be, too!

Here are a few snap shots from a day in the life of Al!

Floors:

Like most home construction, manufactured homes are built from the floor up.  For SGC, energy efficiency begins with the heating systems that are built into the floor.  Al inspects two kinds of duct systems commonly used by most manufacturers, an insulated duct system, and a metal system  Both must be sealed and sized properly for efficient heat delivery.




Floors:

As the floor comes together, Al checks that the insulation is placed properly and the heating ducts are in place.  As the floor decking is applied, he makes sure the connection from the heating ducts to the floor are tight an secure.






Walls:

There's more to a wall than just insulation.  Here, Al is checking to make sure the insulation fills each space between the framing completely, and that it is fully lofted. He also looks at where the wall joins the floor, making sure it is sealed properly all the way around.  Any openings in the wall must also be sealed.





Ceilings:

Up on the roof!  Al climbs the scaffolding to inspect the ceiling before the roof decking is applied.  Here Al is checking to make sure the right amount of insulation is placed in the proper way.  Insulation must fill in and work around the roof trusses, and allow for proper ventilation.  He also checks to make sure any openings are sealed properly.





Equipment:

How a home gets heated and ventilated is part of the certification process.  Al checks the ventilation fans to make sure they meet low wattage  and sound requirements.  He also checks the parts that make up the heating system, making sure they meet the energy requirements.






Inventory:

Al checks a plants inventory to make sure the space and water heaters are consistent with the SGC specifications.  He compares the inventory with production so he knows the plant has what they need to meet their certified home orders.







Working with People:

Getting the details right are what makes a home energy efficient.  Al works with people on the line, going over things he s found and working together to make sure everything is going well.








Windows:

Al checks the window inventory. Certified homes have very efficient windows, each one meeting low NFRC U-Factor requirements.









In-Plant Inspection Review:

Al discusses his quality control review with the In-Plant Inspection Agent (IPIA). The IPIA conducts the HUD code inspections for the plant.









Paperwork:

At every station, Al fills out paperwork recording what he's found. He can compare each visit to make sure each detail is continuously done correctly, and provide terrific data to the General Manager and Quality Control staff at the plant.







Sealing the Sections:

A marraige line gasket is being applied at the factory. Al checks the application to make sure there aren't any gaps. A sealed marraige line is an important detail for energy efficiency in factory built homes.







Duct Testing:

The inspection doesn't stop inside the factory. During his quality reviews, Al will do a "duct blaster" on the homes heating system to make sure it is tight with minimal leakage. This test is done in the shipping yard after the home has come "off the line.".









It's a Lonely Job:

Never missing anything, Al notices something off to the side as he walks to another area in the plant. Experienced and knowledgeable, the "QC" guys make sure that a SGC/Energy Star label means performance for you!