FLOOD00910

• County: Statewide
• Community: Statewide
• Stream Name: All
• Title: Elevation of Floodprone Residential Buildings
• Date: 1/1/1995
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

Chapter VI: General Design Practices
Elevation

DESIGN

~

To illustrate the design process, a
worked example is shown follow-
ing the instructions for Steps 1-7,
Information on Step 9 is presented
in the Chapter VI section on Wet
Floodproofing. The designer
should refer to local codes for
guidance on Steps 8 and 10,

~

If building and flood guidance is
not covered by the local building
code, refer to ASCE 7.

The design process for an elevated structure shown in
Figure VI-E24 consists of the following steps:

Step 1: Calculate gravity loads.

The computation of gravity (vertical) loads such as building
dead and live loads and buoyancy forces was presented in
Chapter IV.

Snow Loads: There are no "typical" formulas for houses,
since the calculation of snow loads depends upon the
building code in use, the geographic area in which the house
is located, and the size and shape of the house and roof.
The governing building code will clearly spell out the
correct procedure to follow, Most procedures are simple
and straightforward. Some houses will be more complex
due to their shape or quantity of snow that must be allowed
for, However, the general procedure is as follows:

. To determine the ground snow load, consult snow maps
within the building code, andlor local requirements with
the local building official.

. Determine importance factors,

. To determine the exposure factors, analyze the sur-
rounding terrain, trends in snow patterns, and slope of
roof,

. Determine the snow load,

. Determine considerations for drifting snow by examin-
ing any adjacent house or structure, a mountain above
the house, or higher roofs,

VI - E.34

Engineering Principles and Practices of Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
January 1995