[Ord. 974, 3/17/2016]
All electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air-conditioning
equipment and other service facilities in a permitted structure shall
be designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or
accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.
[Ord. 974, 3/17/2016]
For all new construction and substantial improvements, fully
enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are subject to flooding
shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces
on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters.
Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a
registered professional engineer or architect or must meet or exceed
the following minimum criteria. 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 shall be provided. The bottom
of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. Openings
may be equipped with screens, louvers or other coverings or devices,
provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
[Ord. 974, 3/17/2016]
In administering this Part, the Borough Manager and Borough
Council shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood
elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state or other
source, as criteria for administrative determinations in the administration
and enforcement of this Part.
[Ord. 974, 3/17/2016]
1.
Residential Structures. Within any identified floodplain area, any new construction or substantial improvement of a residential structure shall have the lowest-floor (including basement) elevated up to or above the five-hundred-year-flood elevation. The design and construction standards and specifications contained in the most current edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, ASCE 24 (§§ 2.4 and 2.5, Chapter 5) and 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended, shall be utilized.
2.
Nonresidential Structures.
A.
Within any identified floodplain area, any new construction or substantial
improvement of a nonresidential structure shall have the lowest floor
(including basement) elevated up to or above the five-hundred-year-flood
elevation or be designed and constructed so that the space enclosed
by such structure shall remain either completely or essentially dry
during any flood up to that height.
B.
Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, having a lowest floor
which is not elevated up to or above the five-hundred-year-flood elevation
shall be floodproofed in a completely or essentially dry manner in
accordance with the W1 or W2 space classification standards contained
in the publication entitled "Flood-Proofing Regulations" published
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (June 1972, as amended March 1992)
or with some other equivalent standard. All plans and specifications
for such floodproofing shall be accompanied by a statement certified
by a registered professional engineer or architect which states that
the proposed design and methods of construction are in conformance
with the above-referenced standards.
3.
Space Below the Lowest Floor.
A.
Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (including basement)
is prohibited.
B.
Partially enclosed space below the lowest floor (excluding basement)
which will be used solely for the parking of a vehicle, building access,
or incidental storage in an area other than a basement shall be designed
and constructed to allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters
for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls.
The term "partially enclosed space" also includes crawl spaces. Designs
for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered
professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following
minimum criteria:
(1)
A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less than
one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
(2)
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above
grade.
(3)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc., or other coverings
or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit
of floodwaters.
C.
Consideration may be given to the requirements of 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 through 405, as amended, and the current edition of the International
Residential Code and the International Building Code.
[Ord. 974, 3/17/2016]
1.
The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction
and development proposed within any identified floodplain area:
A.
Fill. Permitted only in the Flood-Fringe District by special use
permit approved by Borough Council. Fill shall:
(1)
Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building line from all
points;
(2)
Consist of soil or small rock materials only; sanitary landfills
shall not be permitted;
(3)
Be compacted to provide the necessary permeability and resistance
to erosion, scouring, or settling;
(4)
Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal feet unless substantiated
data justifying steeper slopes are submitted to, and approved by,
the Building/Development Permit Officer; and
(5)
Be used to extend to which it does not adversely affect adjacent
properties.
B.
Drainage Facilities. Storm drainage facilities shall be designed
to convey the flow of stormwater runoff in a safe and efficient manner.
The system shall ensure proper drainage along streets and provide
positive drainage away from buildings. The system shall also be designed
to prevent the discharge of excess runoff onto adjacent properties.
C.
Water and Sanitary Sewer Facilities and Systems.
(1)
All new or replacement water and sanitary sewer facilities and systems
shall be located, designed and constructed to minimize or eliminate
flood damages and the infiltration of floodwaters.
(2)
Sanitary sewer facilities and systems shall be designed to prevent
the discharge of untreated sewage into floodwaters.
(3)
No part of any on-site sewage system shall be located within any
identified floodplain area except in strict compliance with all state
and local regulations for such systems. If any such system is permitted,
it shall be located so as to avoid impairment to it or contamination
from it during a flood.
(4)
The design and construction provisions of the Uniform Commercial
Code, 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended and contained
in the current editions of the International Building Code and International
Residential Code, and FEMA No. 348, Protecting Bldg. Utilities From
Flood Damages, shall be utilized.
D.
Other Utilities. All other utilities, such as gas lines, electrical
and telephone systems, shall be located, elevated (where possible)
and constructed to minimize the chance of impairment during a flood.
E.
Streets. The finished elevation of all new streets shall be no more
than one foot below the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation.
F.
Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable or explosive or, in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in § 305, Subsection 1D, shall be stored at or above the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation and/or floodproofed to the maximum extent possible.
G.
Placement of Buildings and Structures. All buildings and structures
shall be designed, located, and constructed so as to offer the minimum
obstruction to the flow of water and shall be designed to have a minimum
effect upon the flow and height of floodwater.
H.
Anchoring.
(1)
All buildings and structures shall be firmly anchored in accordance
with accepted engineering practices to prevent flotation, collapse,
or lateral movement.
(2)
All air ducts, large pipes, storage tanks, and other similar objects
or components located below the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation
shall be securely anchored or affixed to prevent flotation.
(3)
The design and construction requirements of the Uniform Commercial
Code pertaining to this subsection as referred in 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 through 405, as amended and contained in the International Building
Code, International Residential Code and ASCE 24-98 (§ 5.6)
shall be utilized.
I.
Floors, Walls and Ceilings.
(1)
Wood flooring used at or below the five-hundred-year floodplain elevation
shall be installed to accommodate a lateral expansion of the flooring,
perpendicular to the flooring grain, without causing structural damage
to the building.
(2)
Plywood used at or below the five-hundred-year floodplain elevation
shall be of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3)
Walls and ceilings at or below the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation
shall be designed and constructed of materials that are water resistant
and will withstand inundation.
(4)
Windows, doors, and other components at or below the five-hundred-year-floodplain
elevation shall be made of metal or other water-resistant material.
J.
Paints and Adhesives.
(1)
Paints and other finishes used at or below the five-hundred-year-floodplain
elevation shall be of marine or water-resistant quality.
(2)
Adhesives used at or below the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation
shall be of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3)
All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.) shall be finished
with a marine or water-resistant paint or other finishing material.
(4)
The standards and specifications contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 through 405, as amended, current editions of the International
Building Code and the International Residential Code.
K.
Electrical Components.
(1)
Electrical distribution panels shall be at least four feet above
the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation.
(2)
Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels and shall be
dropped from above.
(3)
The provisions pertaining to the above provisions and referenced in the Uniform Commercial Code and 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended and contained in the most current edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code and ASCE 24 (Chapter 8) shall be utilized.
L.
Equipment. Water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning and ventilating
units, and other electrical, mechanical or utility equipment or apparatus
shall not be located below the five-hundred-year-floodplain elevation.
(1)
The provisions pertaining to the above provisions and referenced in the Uniform Commercial Code and 34 Pa. Code Chapters 401 through 405, as amended and contained in the most current edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code and ASCE 24 (Chapter 8) shall be utilized.
M.
Fuel supply systems. All gas and oil supply systems shall be designed
to prevent the infiltration of floodwaters into the system and discharges
from the system into floodwaters. Additional provisions shall be made
for the drainage of these systems in the event that floodwater infiltration
occurs.
[Ord. 974, 3/17/2016]
1.
The standards and specifications contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 through 405, as amended and not limited to the following provisions,
shall apply to the above and other sections and subsections of this
chapter, to the extent that they are more restrictive and/or supplement
the requirements of this chapter.
