CHAPTER 6. BUILDING CODES.*
Article II. Flood Damage Prevention Regulations.
Sec. 6-2-17. Standards of construction.
In all areas of special flood hazards, the following standards are
required:
(1) Anchoring.
(A) All new construction and substantial
improvements shall be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or
lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic
loads including the effects of buoyancy.
(B) All manufactured homes shall
meet the anchoring standards of Section 6-2-20.
(2) Construction materials
and methods. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be
constructed:
(A) With materials and utility equipment resistant to flood
damage;
(B) Using methods and practices that minimize flood
damage;
(C) With electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air
conditioning equipment and other service
facilities that are designed and/or
located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the
components during conditions of flooding; and if
(D) Within Zones AH or AO,
so that there are adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide
flood waters around and away from proposed structures.
(3) Elevation and
floodproofing. (See Part B, Section 6-2-5 definitions for
“basement,” “lowest floor,” “new
construction,” “substantial damage” and “substantial
improvement.”)
(A) Residential construction, new or substantial
improvement, shall have the lowest floor, including basement,
(i) In an AO
Zone, elevated above the highest adjacent grade to a height equal to or
exceeding the depth number specified in feet on the FIRM, or elevated at least
two feet above the highest adjacent grade if no depth number is
specified,
(ii) In an A zone, elevated to or above the base flood elevation,
as determined by this community.
(iii) In all other zones, elevated to or
above the base flood elevation,
(iv) Upon the completion of the structure,
the elevation of the lowest floor including basement shall be certified by a
registered professional engineer or surveyor, and verified by the community
building inspector to be properly elevated. Such certification and verification
shall be provided to the floodplain administrator.
(B) Nonresidential
construction, new or substantial improvement, shall either be elevated to
conform with Section 6-2-17(3)(A) or together with attendant utility and
sanitary facilities:
(i) Be floodproofed below the elevation recommended
under Section 6-2-17(3)(A) so that the structure is watertight with walls
substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
(ii) Have structural
components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects
of buoyancy; and
(iii) Be certified by a registered professional engineer
that the standards of this Section 6-2-17(3)(B) are satisfied. Such
certification shall be provided to the floodplain administrator.
(C) All new
construction and substantial improvement with fully enclosed areas below the
lowest floor (excluding basements) that are usable solely for parking of
vehicles, building access or storage, and which are subject to flooding, shall
be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls
by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwater. Designs for meeting this
requirement must exceed the following minimum criteria:
(i) Be certified by
a registered professional engineer; or
(ii) Have a minimum of two openings
having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot
of enclosed area subject to flooding. The bottom of all openings shall be no
higher than one 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 floodwater.
(D) Manufactured homes shall also
meet the standards in Section 6-2-20. (Ord. No. 1342, (part).)
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