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<br /> <br /> <br /> Created: 2025-05-22 16:40:51 [EST] <br />(Supp. No. 36) <br /> <br />Page 88 of 198 <br />spaces or tuck under garages. The base or floor of an enclosed area shall be considered above- <br />grade and not a structure's basement or lowest floor if: 1) the enclosed area is above-grade on at <br />least one side of the structure; 2) it is designed to internally flood and is constructed with flood <br />resistant materials; and 3) it is used solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage. The <br />above-noted alternative elevation methods are subject to the following additional standards: <br />1. Design and certification. The structure's design and as-built condition must be <br />certified by a registered professional engineer or architect as being in <br />compliance with the general design standards of the state building code and, <br />specifically, that all electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air <br />conditioning equipment and other service facilities must be at or above the <br />regulatory flood protection elevation or be designed to prevent flood water <br />from entering or accumulating within these components during times of <br />flooding. <br />2. Specific standards for above-grade, enclosed areas. Above-grade, fully <br />enclosed areas such as crawl spaces or tuck under garages must be designed to <br />internally flood and the design plans must stipulate: <br />i. A minimum area of openings in the walls where internal flooding is to be <br />used as a flood proofing technique. There shall be a minimum of two <br />openings on at least two sides of the structure and the bottom of all <br />openings shall be no higher than one-foot above grade. The automatic <br />openings shall have a minimum net area of not less than one square inch <br />for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding unless a <br />registered professional engineer or architect certifies that a smaller net <br />area would suffice. The automatic openings may be equipped with <br />screens, louvers, valves, or other coverings or devices provided that they <br />permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters without any form of <br />human intervention; and <br />ii. That the enclosed area will be designed of flood resistant materials in <br />accordance with the FP-3 or FP-4 classifications in the state building code <br />and shall be used solely for building access, parking of vehicles or storage. <br />d. Structures shall be constructed to prevent flotation which may result in damage to other <br />structures and/or restrictions of bridge openings or other narrow sections of watercourses. <br />e. Public services such as gas, electrical, sewer and water supply systems shall be floodproofed in <br />accordance with the state building code, unless situated above the regulatory flood protection <br />elevation. <br />f. Parking lots may be constructed at elevations lower than the regulatory flood protection <br />elevation, provided that for the parking lots to be used by employees or the general public, a <br />flood warning system must be in place and operational. The flood warning system must provide <br />adequate time for evacuation if the area would be inundated to a depth and velocity such that <br />when multiplying the depth (in feet) times the velocity (in feet per second) the product number <br />exceeds four upon occurrence of the regional flood. <br />g. Railroad tracks, roads, and bridges shall be elevated to, or above, the regulatory flood protection <br />elevation where failure or interruption of the facility would result in danger to the public health <br />or safety, or where such facilities are essential to the orderly functioning of the area. <br />h. Uses and principal structures that do not have a vehicular access at or above an elevation not <br />more than two feet below the regulatory flood protection elevation to lands outside of the