A.
Alteration or relocation of watercourse.
(1)
No encroachment, alteration, or improvement of any kind shall be
made to any watercourse until all adjacent municipalities which may
be affected by such action have been notified by the municipality,
and until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained
from the Department of Environmental Protection Regional Office.
(2)
No encroachment, alteration, or improvement of any kind shall be
made to any watercourse unless it can be shown that the activity will
not reduce or impede the flood-carrying capacity of the watercourse
in any way.
(3)
In addition, the FEMA and Pennsylvania Department of Community and
Economic Development, shall be notified prior to any alteration or
relocation of any watercourse.
B.
Technical or scientific data shall be submitted to FEMA for a letter
of map revision (LOMR) within six months of the completion of any
new construction, development, or other activity resulting in changes
in the BFE.
C.
Any new construction, development, uses or activities allowed within
any identified floodplain area shall be undertaken in strict compliance
with the provisions contained in this chapter and any other applicable
codes, ordinances and regulations.
A.
Residential structures.
(1)
In AE, A1-30, and AH zones, any new construction or substantial improvement
shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or
above, the regulatory flood elevation.
(2)
In A zones, where there are no base flood elevations specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 284-19C(2)(b) of this chapter.
(3)
In AO zones, any new construction or substantial improvement shall
have the lowest floor (including basement) at or above the highest
adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified on the
FIRM.
(4)
The design and construction standards and specifications contained
in the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and in the 2006 International
Residential Code (IRC) or the most recent revisions thereof and ASCE
24 and 34 Pa. Code (Chapters 401 through 405, as amended) shall be
utilized.
B.
Nonresidential structures.
(1)
In AE, A1-30 and AH zones, any new construction or substantial improvement
of a nonresidential structure shall have the lowest floor (including
basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation,
or be designed and constructed so that the space enclosed below the
regulatory flood elevation:
(2)
In A zones, where there no base flood elevations are specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated or completely floodproofed up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 284-19C(2)(b) of this chapter.
(3)
In AO zones, any new construction or substantial improvement shall
have their lowest floor elevated or completely floodproofed above
the highest adjacent grade to at least as high as the depth number
specified on the FIRM.
(4)
Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, made watertight below
the regulatory flood elevation shall be floodproofed in accordance
with the WI 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.
(5)
The design and construction standards and specifications contained
in the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and in the 2006 International
Residential Code (IRC) or the most recent revisions thereof and ASCE
24 and 34 Pa. Code (Chapters 401 through 405, as amended) shall be
utilized.
C.
Space below the lowest floor.
(1)
Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (excluding basements)
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 "fully enclosed space" also includes crawl spaces.
(2)
Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by
a registered professional engineer or architect, or meet or exceed
the following minimum criteria:
(a)
A minimum of two openings having a net total area of not less
than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
(b)
The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot
above grade.
(c)
Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, etc., or other
coverings or devices, provided that they permit the automatic entry
and exit of floodwaters.
The following minimum standards shall apply for all construction
and development proposed within any identified floodplain area:
A.
Fill. If fill is used, it 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 floodplain administrator; and
(5)
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 insure 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 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 UCC and FEMA No. 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 § 284-25, Development which may endanger human life, shall be stored at or above the regulatory flood 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 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.
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 regulatory flood elevation.
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 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.
A.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Flood Plain Management Act, and
the regulations adopted by the Department of Community and Economic
Development as required by the Act, any new or substantially improved
structure which: will be used for the production or storage of any
of the following dangerous materials or substances; or will be used
for any activity requiring the maintenance of a supply of more than
550 gallons; or other comparable volume of any of the following dangerous
materials or substances on the premises; or will involve the production,
storage, or use of any amount of radioactive substances shall be subject
to the provisions of this section, in addition to all other applicable
provisions. The following list of materials and substances are considered
dangerous to human life:
(1)
Acetone.
(2)
Ammonia.
(3)
Benzene.
(4)
Calcium carbide.
(5)
Carbon disulfide.
(6)
Celluloid.
(7)
Chlorine.
(8)
Hydrochloric acid.
(9)
Hydrocyanic acid.
(10)
Magnesium.
(11)
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
(12)
Petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.)
(13)
Phosphorus.
(14)
Potassium.
(15)
Sodium.
(16)
Sulphur and sulphur products.
(17)
Pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides)
(18)
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise
regulated.
B.
Within any floodway area, any structure of the kind described in Subsection A, above, shall be prohibited.
C.
Where permitted within any floodplain area, any new or substantially improved structure of the kind described in Subsection A, above, shall be: elevated or designed and constructed to remain completely dry up to at least 1 1/2 feet above base flood elevation, designed to prevent pollution from the structure or activity during the course of a base flood. Any such structure, or part thereof, that will be built below the regulatory flood elevation shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards for completely dry floodproofing contained in the publication "Flood-Proofing Regulations" (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, June 1972 as amended March 1992), or with some other equivalent watertight standard.
All subdivision proposals and development proposals containing
at least 50 lots or at least five acres, whichever is the lesser,
in flood hazard 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
or Letter of Map Revision. Submittal requirements and processing fees
shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
A.
Within approximate floodplain or special floodplain area, manufactured
homes shall be prohibited within the area measured 50 feet landward
from the top-of-bank of any watercourse.
B.
Where permitted within any floodplain area, all manufactured homes,
and any improvements thereto, shall be:
C.
Installation of manufactured homes shall be done in accordance with
the manufacturers' installation instructions as provided by the manufacturer.
Where the applicant cannot provide the above information, the requirements
of Appendix E of the 2006 International Residential Building Code
or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Permanent
Foundations for Manufactured Housing, 1984 Edition, draft or latest
revision thereto shall apply and 34 Pa. Code Chapter 401 through 405.
D.
Consideration shall be given to the installation requirements of
the 2006 IBC, and the 2006 IRC or the most recent revisions thereto
and 34 Pa. Code, as amended, where appropriate and/or applicable to
units where the manufacturers' standards for anchoring cannot be provided
or were not established for the units(s) proposed installation.
