jar546
Forum Coordinator
- Community Requirements: Communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) must adopt an ordinance that sets minimum design and construction standards for floodplain management. This includes certifying the structural design and construction methods.
- Professional Involvement: A registered professional engineer or architect is required to develop or review the structural design, specifications, and plans for construction. They must also certify that the design and construction methods meet established standards.
- Design Standards: The design professional should use ASCE 24 and ASCE 7 as engineering standards. The certification must ensure that:
- The lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor is at or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
- The foundation and structure are anchored to withstand wind and water loads, based on guidelines from ASCE 7-10.
- V Zone Design Certificate: There is no uniform national V Zone certificate. Local communities or states have their own procedures and documents for certification. Professionals involved in V Zone construction should consult local authorities for specific certification requirements.
- Additional Certifications:
- Breakaway Wall Design: Must be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect.
- “As Built” Lowest Floor Elevation: Certified by a surveyor, engineer, or architect.
- NFIP Free-of-Obstruction Requirement: For V Zones, the space below the lowest floor must either be obstruction-free or constructed with non-supporting breakaway walls, open lattice, or insect screening, to avoid obstructing or deflecting floodwaters.
