Eight-Year Summary of Fort Irwin, CA, Family Housing Comparison Test: Operation and Maintenance Costs of Manufactured vs. Conventionally Built Units

To determine if manufactured/factory-built family housing is more cost-effective in providing housing than conventional construction, Congress directed that a test of construction methods be conducted. In 1982, Congress authorized the construction of 200 units of manufactured/factory-built housing at Fort Irwin, CA, and concurrently, 144 units of conventionally built units. Congress directed the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct a fair and reliable study comparing the operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of manufactured housing to those of conventional housing. DOD reported to Congressional committees on the conditions and parameters under which this test would be conducted and the results of the test after the housing had been in use for 5 years. Through 8 years occupancy maintenance costs for the manufactured housing were significantly higher than for the conventionally built housing, with defective water piping a major problem. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Logistics, and Environment requested that the study be extended beyond the 5 years. This report compares the first 8 years of O&M costs. Fort Irwin, CA, Cost analysis, Family housing, Prefabricated buildings, Operation and maintenance.