2. NFIP Regulations

An important National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) objective is protecting buildings constructed in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) from damage caused by flood forces. The SFHA, composed of Zones A and V, is the areal extent of the base flood shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) prepared by FEMA. The base flood is the flood that has a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (commonly called the “100-year flood”).

The NFIP regulations are codified in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 60. Specific to this Course, in coastal regions, corrosion-resistant connectors and fasteners are essential to maintaining a building’s load paths and demonstrating compliance with 44 CFR Sections 60.3(a)(3) and 60.3(e)(4).

• Section 60.3(a)(3) is applicable to all SFHAs:
  
  • If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements shall (i) be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy, (ii) be constructed with materials resistant to flood damage, (iii) be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages …
• Section 60.3(e)(4) is applicable to Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zone V):
  
  • … new construction and substantial improvements… [shall be] elevated on pilings and columns so that …(ii) the pile or column foundation and structure attached thereto is anchored to resist flotation, collapse and lateral movement due to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components. Water loading values used shall be those associated with the base flood. Wind loading values used shall be those required by applicable State or local building standards.