All new construction and substantial improvements with fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor (excluding basements) that are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage, and which are subject to flooding, shall be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for the entry and exit of flood waters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a licensed professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:
A. Must have a minimum of two (2) openings, have a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding;
B. The bottom of all such openings will be no higher than one foot (1') above the lowest adjacent finished grade.
Openings may be equipped with louvers, valves, screens or other coverings or devices, provided they permit the automatic entry and exit of flood waters. (Ord. 99-02, 7-6-1999)
Next Doc