Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-126-302

(a) The general assembly finds that, in an effort to meet the building needs within the state, the private construction industry has developed mass production techniques that can substantially reduce construction costs, and that the mass production of buildings presents unique problems with respect to the establishment of uniform health and safety standards and inspection procedures. The general assembly further finds that, by minimizing the problems of standards and inspection procedures, it is demonstrating its intention to encourage the reduction of building construction costs and to make building and home ownership more feasible for all residents of the state.

(b) Because of the nature of the construction of modular building units that arrive at the site of installation with some or all of the electrical, mechanical, plumbing and other systems already built into the unit and not able to be inspected at the site without disassembly or destruction, it is the purpose of this part to provide for the inspection of modular building units for compliance with building codes at the place of manufacture.

(c) The commissioner is authorized to set standards for the construction and installation of modular building units, and to provide for the inspection of such units by the department, by an approved inspection agency or by reciprocal agreement with other states.