(a) Residential Structures. Within any identified flood-prone area, the lowest floor (including the basement) of any new residential structure, or any substantial improvement to an existing residential structure, shall be at least one and one-half feet above the 100-year flood elevation. Fully enclosed spaces below the lowest floor shall be prohibited. The design and construction standards and specifications contained in the 2003 IBC (Sec. 13124, 1603.1.6 and 3403.1) and in the 2003 IRC (Sec. R323.1.4, R323.2.1, and R323.2.2) and ASCE 24 (Sec. 2.4 and 2.5, Chap. 5) and the 34 PA Code (Chapters 401-405 as amended) shall be utilized.
(b) Nonresidential Structures.
(1) Within any identified flood-prone area, the lowest floor (including the basement) of any new nonresidential structure, or any substantial improvement to an existing nonresidential structure, shall be at least one and one-half feet above the 100-year flood elevation, or be designed and constructed so that the space enclosed by such structure shall remain either completely or essentially dry during any flood up to that height. Fully enclosed spaces below the lowest floor shall be prohibited.
(2) Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, having a lowest floor which is not elevated to at least one and one-half feet above the 100-year flood elevation, shall be floodproofed in a completely or essentially dry manner in accordance with the Wl 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.
(3) The design and construction standards and specifications contained in the IBC (Sec. 1603.1.2, 1603.1.6, 1+05.2.2, 1606.5, 1612.5.1 and 3403.1) and ASCE 24 (Sees. 2.4 and Chap. 7) and 34 PA Code (Chapters 401-405 as amended) shall be utilized.
(c) Space Below Lowest Floor.
(1) Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (including basement) is prohibited.
(2) Partially enclosed space below the lowest floor (including basement) 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 flood waters for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. The term "partially enclosed space" also includes crawl spaces.
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 (1) square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.
B. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one (1) 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.
(3) Consideration may be given to the requirements of 34 PA Code (Chapters 401 -405 as amended) and the 2003 IRC (Secs.R323.2.2 and R323.1.4) and the 2003 IBC (Secs.1612.4, 1612.5, 1202.3.2 and 1203.3.3).
(Ord. 92-16. Passed 9-21-92; Ord. 2009-04. Passed 10-19-09.)