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<br />NFIP Regulations <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The NFIP regulations require that all enclosures below the BFE in A zones be designed to allow <br />for the automatic equalization of hydrostatic forces during a flood event. Section 60,3(c)(5) of <br />the NFIP regulations states that a community shall: <br /> <br />"Require, for all new construction and substantial improvements, thatfully enclosed areas <br />below the lowest floor that are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or <br />storage in an area other than a basement and which are subject to flooding shall be de- <br />signed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterWr walls by allowing for <br />the entry and exit of floodwaters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be <br />certified by a registered professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following <br />minimum criteria: A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than <br />one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be pro- <br />vided. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. Openings <br />may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves, or other coverings or devices provided tlud <br />they permit the auto11UZtic entry and exit offloodwaters." <br /> <br />As stated in the regulations, buildings in A zones that are substantially damaged and/or substan- <br />tially improved must meet all the NFIP requirements for new construction, including the open- <br />ings requirement. All design plans for substantial improvements to buildings in A zones must be <br />thoroughly reviewed by the community to ensure compliance with the openings requirement. <br />Funher information on substantial damage and substantial improvement may be found in the a <br />FEMA publication "Answers to Questions About Substantially Damaged Buildings," .. <br /> <br />It should be noted that Technical Bulletins provide guidance on the minimum requirements. <br />of the NFIP regulations, Community or State requirements that exceed those of the NFIP <br />take precedence, Design professionals should contact the community to detemtine whether <br />more restrictive local or State regulations apply to the building or site in question. All <br />applicable standards of the State or local building code must also be met for any building in a <br />flood hazard area, <br /> <br />Guidance for Non-Engineered Foundation Openings <br /> <br />Each of the following four design criteria must be met for new and substantially improved A-zone <br />buildings that have enclosed areas below the BFE with openings not designed and certified by a <br />design professional: <br /> <br />1. There must be a minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area. If a <br />building has more than one enclosed area, each area must have openings on exterior walls to <br />allow floodwater to directly enter. <br /> <br />2, The total area of all openings must be at least 1 square inch for each 1 square foot of enclosed <br />area. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />e <br />