The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction
and development proposed within any identified floodplain area:
A. Limitations on the use of fill to elevate structures.
(1) If fill is used in any A, AE, A1-30, AO, or AH Zones, it shall:
(a)
Extend laterally at least 15 feet beyond the building line from
all points;
(b)
Consist of soil or small rock materials only - sanitary landfills
shall not be permitted;
(c)
Be compacted to provide the necessary permeability and resistance
to erosion, scouring, or settling;
(d)
Be no steeper than one vertical to two horizontal feet unless
substantiated data justifying steeper slopes are submitted to, and
approved by the Floodplain Administrator; and
(e)
Be used to the extent 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 supply 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 waste disposal 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 UCC and FEMA #348,
"Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damages" and "The International
Private Sewage Disposal Code" 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 regulatory flood elevation.
F. Storage. All materials that are buoyant, flammable, explosive, or in times of flooding, could be injurious to human, animal, or plant life, and not listed in §
30-25, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood elevation 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 regulatory flood elevation shall be
securely anchored or affixed to prevent flotation.
I. Floors, walls and ceilings.
(1) Wood flooring used at or below the regulatory flood 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 regulatory flood elevation shall be
of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3) Walls and ceilings at or below the regulatory flood 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 regulatory flood
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 regulatory flood elevation
shall be of marine or water-resistant quality.
(2) Adhesives used at or below the regulatory flood elevation shall be
of a marine or water-resistant variety.
(3) All wooden components (doors, trim, cabinets, etc.) used at or below
the regulatory flood elevation shall be finished with a marine or
water-resistant paint or other finishing material.
K. Electrical components.
(1) Electrical distribution panels shall be at least three feet above
the base flood elevation.
(2) Separate electrical circuits shall serve lower levels and shall be
dropped from above.
L. Equipment.
(1) Water heaters, furnaces, air-conditioning and ventilating units,
and other electrical, mechanical or utility equipment or apparatus
shall not be located below the regulatory flood elevation and shall
be anchored to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.
(2) Ductwork shall be elevated to or above the regulatory flood elevation
or floodproofed to remain water-resistant.
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.
N. Uniform Construction Code Coordination. 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 supplement the requirements of this
chapter.
(1) International Building Code (IBC) 2009 or the latest revision thereof
as adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Secs. 801, 1202, 1403,
1603, 1605, 1612, 3402, and Appendix G.
(2) International Residential Building Code (IRC) 2009 or the latest
revision thereof as adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Secs.
R104, R105, R109, R322, Appendix E, and Appendix J.
O. Requirements in Coastal High Hazard Areas (V Zones) and Coastal A
Zones.
(1) General requirements.
(a)
In addition to the general requirements of §
30-24, the requirements of this section shall:
[1]
Apply in flood hazard areas that are identified as coastal high
hazard areas (V Zones) and Coastal A Zones (if delineated).
[2]
Apply to all development, new construction, substantial improvements
(including repair of substantial damage), and placement, replacement,
and substantial improvement (including repair of substantial damage)
of manufactured homes.
(b)
Exception: In Coastal A Zones, the requirements of §
30-27E shall apply to substantial improvements (including repair of substantial damage), and substantial improvement of manufactured homes (including repair of substantial damage) and replacement manufactured homes.
[Note: See "Coastal Construction Manual" (FEMA P-55).]
(2) Location and site preparation.
(a)
The placement of structural fill for the purpose of elevating
buildings is prohibited.
(b)
Buildings shall be located landward of the reach of mean high
tide.
(c)
Minor grading, and the placement of minor quantities of fill,
shall be permitted for landscaping and for drainage purposes under
and around buildings and for support of parking slabs, pool decks,
patios and walkways.
(d)
Site preparations shall not alter sand dunes unless an engineering
analysis demonstrates that the potential for flood damage is not increased.
(3) Residential and nonresidential structures. New structures and substantial improvement (including repair of substantial damage) of existing structures shall comply with the applicable requirements of §
30-23 and the requirements of this section.
(a)
Foundations.
[1]
Structures shall be supported on pilings or columns and shall
be adequately anchored to such pilings or columns. Pilings shall have
adequate soil penetrations to resist the combined wave and wind loads
(lateral and uplift). Water loading values used shall be those associated
with the base flood. Wind loading values shall be those required by
applicable building codes. Pile embedment shall include consideration
of decreased resistance capacity caused by scour of soil strata surrounding
the piling.
[2]
Slabs, pools, pool decks and walkways shall be located and constructed
to be structurally independent of structures and their foundations
to prevent transfer of flood loads to the structures during conditions
of flooding, scour, or erosion from wave-velocity flow conditions,
and shall be designed to minimize debris impacts to adjacent properties
and public infrastructure.
(b)
Elevation requirements.
[1]
The bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member that supports
the lowest floor shall be located at or above the flood protection
elevation.
[2]
Basement floors that are below grade on all sides are prohibited.
[3]
The space below an elevated building shall either be free-of-obstruction
or, if enclosed by walls, shall meet the requirements of paragraph
(x). (Note: See NFIP Technical Bulletin #5, "Free-of-Obstruction
Requirements.")
(c)
Certification of design. As required in Article
III, the applicant shall include in the application a certification prepared by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed architect that the design and methods of construction to be used meet the requirements of paragraph (c), paragraph (d), paragraph (e), paragraph (f), and the building code.
(d)
Enclosures below the lowest floor.
[1]
Enclosures below the lowest floor shall be used solely for parking
of vehicles, building access or limited storage.
[2]
Enclosures below the lowest floor shall be less than 200 square
feet in area (exterior measurement).
[3]
Walls and partitions are permitted below the elevated floor,
provided that such walls and partitions are designed to break away
under flood loads and are not part of the structural support of the
building or structure. (Note: See NFIP Technical Bulletin #9, "Design
and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls.")
[4]
Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing system components shall
not be mounted on or penetrate through walls that are designed to
break away under flood loads.
[5]
Walls intended to break away under flood loads shall be constructed
with insect screening or open lattice, or shall be designed to break
away or collapse without causing collapse, displacement or other structural
damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation
system. Such walls, framing and connections shall have a design safe
loading resistance of not less than 10 pounds per square foot and
no more than 20 pounds per square foot; or
[6]
Where wind loading values of the building code exceed 20 pounds
per square foot, the applicant shall submit a certification prepared
and sealed by a licensed professional engineer or licensed architect
that:
[a] The walls and partitions below the lowest floor
have been designed to collapse from a water load less than that which
would occur during the base flood.
[b] The elevated portion of the building and supporting
foundation system have been designed to withstand the effects of wind
and flood loads acting simultaneously on all building components (structural
and nonstructural). Water loading values used shall be those associated
with the base flood; wind loading values used shall be those required
by the building code.
[c] In Coastal A Zones, in addition to the requirements of this section, walls below the lowest floor shall have flood openings that meet the requirements of §
30-23C.
(4) Horizontal additions to structures.
(a)
A horizontal addition proposed for a building or structure that was constructed after the date specified in §
30-17A shall comply with the applicable requirements of §
30-18 and this section.
(b)
For horizontal additions, whether structurally connected or
not structurally connected, to the base building:
[1]
If the addition combined with other proposed repairs, alterations, or modifications of the base building constitutes substantial improvement, the base building and the addition shall comply with the applicable requirements of §
30-18 and this section.
[2]
If the addition constitutes substantial improvement, the base building and the addition shall comply with all of the applicable requirements of §
30-18 and this section. (Note: The base building is required to comply otherwise it is an obstruction that does not comply with the free-of-obstruction requirement that applies to the elevated addition, see §
30-23.)
[3]
A horizontal addition to a building or structure that is not
substantial improvement is not required to comply with this section.
(5) Accessory structures.
(a)
Accessory structures shall be limited to not more than 200 square
feet in total floor area.
(b)
Accessory structures shall comply with the elevation requirements
and other requirements of Section 6.3 or, if not elevated, shall:
[1]
Be usable only for parking of vehicles or limited storage;
[2]
Be constructed with flood-damage-resistant materials below the
base flood elevation;
[3]
Be constructed and placed to offer the minimum resistance to
the flow of floodwaters;
[4]
Be anchored to prevent flotation;
[5]
Have electrical service and mechanical equipment elevated to
or above the base flood elevation; and
[6]
If larger than 100 square feet in size, have walls that meet the requirements of §
30-18E as applicable for the flood zone; and if located in Coastal A Zones, walls shall have flood openings that meet the requirements of §
30-23C.
(6) Other structures and development. (Note: See NFIP Technical Bulletin
#5, "Free-of-Obstruction Requirements.")
(a)
Decks and patios. In addition to the requirements of the building
code or the residential code, decks and patios shall be located, designed,
and constructed in compliance with the following:
[1]
A deck that is structurally attached to a building or structure
shall have the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member at
or above the flood protection elevation and any supporting members
that extend below the design flood elevation shall comply with the
foundation requirements that apply to the building or structure, which
shall be designed to accommodate any increased loads resulting from
the attached deck.
[2]
A deck or patio that is located below the flood protection elevation
shall be structurally independent from structures and their foundation
systems, and shall be designed and constructed either to remain intact
and in place during base flood conditions or to break apart into small
pieces that will not cause structural damage to adjacent elevated
structures.
[3]
A deck or patio that has a vertical thickness of more than 12
inches or that is constructed with more than the minimum amount of
fill that is necessary for site drainage shall not be approved unless
an analysis demonstrates no harmful diversion of floodwaters or wave
runup and wave reflection that would increase damage to adjacent elevated
structures.
[4]
A deck or patio that has a vertical thickness of 12 inches or
less and that is at natural grade or on fill material that is similar
to and compatible with local soils and is the minimum amount necessary
for site drainage may be approved without requiring analysis of the
impact on diversion of floodwaters or wave runup and wave reflection.
(7) Other development. Other development activities shall be permitted
only if located outside the footprint of, and not structurally attached
to, structures, and only if an analysis demonstrates no harmful diversion
of floodwaters or wave runup and wave reflection onto adjacent elevated
structures. Other development includes but is not limited to:
(a)
Bulkheads, seawalls, retaining walls, revetments, and similar
erosion control structures;
(b)
Solid fences, privacy walls, and fences prone to trapping debris,
unless designed and constructed to fail under base flood conditions;
and
All subdivision proposals and development proposals containing
at least 50 lots or at least five acres, whichever is the lesser,
in identified floodplain areas where base flood elevation data are
not available, shall be supported by hydrologic and hydraulic engineering
analyses that determine base flood elevations and floodway information.
The analyses shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer
in a format required by FEMA for a conditional letter of map revision
(CLOMR) and letter of map revision (LOMR). Submittal requirements
and processing fees shall be the responsibility of the applicant.