The general requirements of this section apply to all development proposed within special flood hazard areas identified in §
91-4.
All new construction of buildings and structures, including
placement of manufactured homes and substantial improvements to existing
buildings and structures, that are to be located, in whole or in part,
in special flood hazard areas shall meet the following requirements.
A. Be designed (or modified) and constructed to safely resist flood
loads. The construction shall provide a complete load path capable
of transferring all loads from their point of origin through the load-resisting
elements to the foundation. Buildings and structures shall be designed,
connected and anchored to resist flotation, collapse or permanent
lateral movement due to structural loads and stresses from flooding
equal to the design flood elevation, including hydrodynamic and hydrostatic
loads and the effects of buoyancy.
B. Be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damage.
C. Use flood damage-resistant materials below the elevation of the lowest
floor. See FEMA Technical Bulletin No. 2, Flood Damage-Resistant Materials
Requirements, and FEMA Technical Bulletin No. 8, Corrosion Protection
for Metal Connectors in Coastal Areas.
D. Have electrical systems, equipment and components, and heating, ventilating,
air conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct
systems, and other service equipment located at or above the elevation
of the lowest floor. Electrical wiring systems are permitted to be
located below the elevation of the lowest floor provided they conform
to the provisions of the electrical part of this code for wet locations.
If replaced as part of a substantial improvement, electrical systems,
equipment and components, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning,
and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other
service equipment shall meet the requirements of this section. See
FEMA Technical Bulletin No. 4, Elevator Installation.
E. As an alternative to §
91-21D, electrical systems, equipment and components, and heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and plumbing appliances, plumbing fixtures, duct systems, and other service equipment are permitted to be located below the elevation of the lowest floor provided that they are designed and installed to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components and to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and stresses, including the effects of buoyancy, during the occurrence of the base flood.
F. Meet the specific requirements of Article
V.
G. In a special flood hazard area with more than one designation (Zones
A, AE, and AO, floodway), meet the requirements of the most restrictive
designation.
Repair, alteration, or rehabilitation of historic structures shall be subject to the requirements of these regulations unless a determination is made that compliance with these regulations will preclude the structure's continued designation as an historic structure and a variance is granted in accordance with Article
VI and such variance is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.