In all areas of special flood hazard,
compliance with the applicable requirements of the Uniform Construction
Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) and the following standards, whichever is more
restrictive, is required.
All new construction and substantial
improvements having fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that
are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage
in an area other than a basement 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 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. A minimum of two openings in at least two
exterior walls of each enclosed area, 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.
B. The bottom of all openings shall be no
higher than one foot above grade.
C. Openings may be equipped with screens,
louvers, or other coverings or devices, provided that they permit
the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.
In all areas of special flood hazard where base flood elevation data have been provided as set forth in §
37-7, Basis for establishing areas of special flood hazard or in §
37-14B, Use of other base flood data, the following standards are required.
In an area of special flood hazard,
all new construction and substantial improvement of any commercial,
industrial or other nonresidential structure located in an A or AE
Zone shall have the lowest floor, including basement, together with
the attendant utilities and sanitary facilities as well as all electrical,
heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other service equipment:
A. Either:
(1) Elevated at or above the more restrictive,
base flood elevation (published FIS/FIRM) plus one foot, the best
available flood hazard data elevation plus one foot, or as required
by ASCE/SEI 24-14, Table 2-1; and
(2) Require within any AO or AH Zone on the
municipality's FIRM to elevate above the depth number specified in
feet plus one foot, above the highest adjacent grade (at least three
feet if no depth number is specified) or at or above the best available
flood hazard data elevation plus one foot, whichever is more restrictive,
and require adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to
guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures;
B. Or:
(1) Be floodproofed so that below the more
restrictive, base flood elevation (published FIS/FIRM) plus one foot,
the best available flood hazard data elevation plus one foot, or as
required by ASCE/SEI 24-14, Table 6-1, the structure is watertight
with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water;
(2) Have structural components capable of resisting
hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy; and
(3) Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the applicable provisions of this subsection. Such certification shall be provided to the official as set forth in §
37-14C(2)(b).
Located within areas of special flood hazard established in §
37-7 are areas designated as floodways. Since the floodway is an extremely hazardous area due to the velocity of floodwaters which carry debris, potential projectiles, and erosion potential, the following provisions apply:
A. Prohibit encroachments, including fill,
new construction, substantial improvements, and other development
unless a technical evaluation demonstrates that encroachment shall
not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of
the base flood discharge.
B. If §
37-27A is satisfied, all new construction and substantial improvements must comply with Article
V, Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction.
C. In all areas of special flood hazard in
which base flood elevation data has been provided and no floodway
has been designated, the accumulative effect of any proposed development,
when combined with all other existing and anticipated development,
shall not increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more
than 0.2 foot at any point.