04/06/2009 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

• • • Flood Plain Management under garages. The base or floor of an enclosed area shall be considered above grade and not a structure's basement or lowest floor if: 1) the enclosed area is above grade on at least 1 side of the structure; 2) is designed to internally flood and is constructed with flood resistant materials; and 3) is used solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage. The above noted alternative elevation methods are subject to the following additional standards: (a) Design and certification. The structure's design and as built condition must be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect as being in compliance with the general design standards of the State Building Code and, specifically, that all electrical heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities must be at or above the regulatory flood protection elevation or be designed to prevent flood water from entering or accumulating within these components during times of flooding. (b) Specific standards for above grade, enclosed areas. Above grade, fully enclosed areas such as crawl spaces or tuck under garages must be designed to internally flood and the design plans must stipulate: 1. The minimum area of openings in the walls where internal flooding is to be used as a flood proofing technique. When openings are placed in a structure's walls to provide for entry of flood waters to equalize pressures, the bottom of all openings shall be no higher than 1 foot above grade. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters. 2. The enclosed area will be constructed of flood resistant materials in accordance with the FP -3 or FP -4 classifications in the State Building Code and shall be used solely for building access, parking of vehicles or storage. (c) Basements. Basements, as defined in § 1103.03 of this chapter, shall be subject to the following: 1. Residential basement construction shall not be allowed below the regulatory flood protection elevation. 2. Non - residential basements may be allowed below the regulatory flood protection elevation provided the basement is structurally dry flood proofed in accordance with § 1103.07(4). (d) Non - residential structures. All areas of non - residential structures, including basements to be placed below the regulatory flood protection elevation, shall be flood proofed in accordance with the structurally dry flood proofing classifications in the State Building Code. Structurally dry flood proofing classification in the State Building Code shall require making the structure water tight with the walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water and with structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and the effects of buoyancy. Structures flood proofed to the FP -3 or FP -4 classification shall not be permitted.