BC 2008 12 15 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 15, 2008 (Regular Meeting) Page 1103 Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to NCGS 193-143.15. Additionally, when the elevation would be met by an elevation of the chassis thirty-six (36) inches or less above the grade at the site, the chassis shall be supported by reinforced piers or engineered foundation. When the elevation of the chassis is above thirty-six (36) inches in height, an engineering certification is required. (c) All enclosures or skirting below the lowest floor shall meet the requirements of Article 5, Section B(9). (d) An evacuation plan must be developed for evacuation of all residents of all new, substantially improved or substantially damaged manufactured home parks or subdivisions located within flood prone areas. This plan shall be filed with and approved by the Floodplain Administrator and the local Emergency Management coordinator. (4) Elevated Buildings. Fully enclosed area, of new construction and substantially improved structures, which is below the lowest floor: (a) shall not be designed or used for human habitation, but shall only be used for parking of vehicles, building access, or limited storage of maintenance equipment used in connection with the premises. Access to the enclosed area shall be the minimum necessary to allow for parking of vehicles (garage door) or limited storage of maintenance equipment (standard exterior door), or entry to the living area (stairway or elevator). The interior portion of such enclosed area shall not be finished or partitioned into separate rooms, except to enclose storage areas; (b) shall be constructed entirely of flood resistant materials at least to the regulatory flood protection elevation; (c) shall include, in Zones A, A0, AE, and Al-30, flood openings to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on walls by allowing for the entry and exit of floodwaters. To meet this requirement, the openings must either be certified by a professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum design criteria: (i) A minimum of two flood openings on different sides of each enclosed area subject to flooding; (ii) The total net area of all flood openings must be at least one (I) square inch for each square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding; (iii) If a building has more than one enclosed area, each enclosed area must have flood openings to allow floodwaters to automatically enter and exit; (iv) The bottom of all required flood openings shall be no higher than one (I) foot above the adjacent grade; (v) Flood openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices, provided they permit the automatic flow of floodwaters in both directions; and (vi) Enclosures made of flexible skirting are not considered enclosures for regulatory purposes, and, therefore, do not require flood openings. Masonry or wood underpinning, regardless of structural status, is considered an enclosure and requires flood openings as outlined above. (5) Additions/Improvements. (a) Additions and/or improvements to pre-FIRM structures when the addition and/or improvements in combination with any interior modifications to the existing structure are: (i) not a substantial improvement, the addition and/or improvements must be designed to minimize flood damages and must not be any more non-conforming than the existing structure. (ii) a substantial improvement, both the existing structure and the addition and/or improvements must comply with the standards for new construction.