Overview
This one-hour course is based on the FEMA construction guidelines for “breakaway” walls used below Elevated Coastal Buildings.
In Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zones V, VE, and V1-30), the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations require that communities participating in the program adopt floodplain management ordinances or laws requiring that all new and substantially improved buildings be elevated to or above the base flood elevation (BFE) on foundations consisting of piles, posts, piers, or columns.
These open foundations must be designed to allow waves and water moving at high velocity to flow beneath the building. Local ordinances or laws adopted by participating communities must further require that the area below the lowest floor of the elevated building be left free of obstructions. Walls or other obstructions below the elevated building can significantly increase the potential for flood damage to the elevated building by increasing the surface area subject to wave impact and velocity flow during a coastal storm.
Although obstructions are prohibited, the area below the lowest floor of an elevated building in a Coastal High Hazard Area may be enclosed with open wood latticework, insect screening, or non-supporting “breakaway” walls. However, each of these must be designed and constructed to collapse under wind and water loads without causing collapse, displacement, or other structural damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system. In addition, like all other construction in the Special Flood Hazard Area, any enclosure below the lowest floor of an elevated building must be built with flood-resistant materials and with methods and practices that minimize flood damage. Furthermore, the area below the lowest floor of the elevated building may be used only for parking, building access, or storage.
The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten (10) questions at the end of this course to earn PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Breakaway wall, failure modes
- Breakaway wall, NFIP regulatory requirements
- Breakaway wall, requirement for construction with flood-resistant materials
- Breakaway wall, specifications for NFIP-compliant construction
- Breaking wave, impact on vertical surface
- Insect screening for below-building enclosures
- Latticework for below-building enclosures
Course
Click on the following link to the PDF document to review the course material before taking the quiz for credit.
Breakaway Walls Below Elevated Coastal Buildings
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