§ 50-24. Elevation and floodproofing requirements.

A. 

Residential structures.

(1) 

In AE, A1-30, and AH Zones, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation.

(2) 

In A Zones, where there are no base flood elevations specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 50-20C(2)(b) of this chapter.

(3) 

In AO Zones, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) at or above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number specified on the FIRM.

(4) 

The design and construction standards and specifications contained in the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) or the most recent revisions thereof and ASCE 24 and 34 PA Code (Chapters 401 to 405 as amended) shall be utilized.

B. 

Nonresidential structures.

(1) 

In AE, A1-30 and AH Zones, any new construction or substantial improvement of a nonresidential structure shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation, or be designed and constructed so that the space enclosed below the regulatory flood elevation:

(a) 

Is floodproofed so that the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water; and

(b) 

Has structural components with the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy.

(2) 

In A Zones, where no base flood elevations are specified on the FIRM, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated or completely floodproofed up to, or above, the regulatory flood elevation determined in accordance with § 50-20(2)(b) of this chapter.

(3) 

In AO Zones, any new construction or substantial improvement shall have the lowest floor elevated or completely floodproofed above the highest adjacent grade to at least as high as the depth number specified on the FIRM.

(4) 

Any nonresidential structure, or part thereof, made watertight below the regulatory flood elevation shall be floodproofed in accordance with the W1 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.

(5) 

The design and construction standards and specifications contained in the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), or the most recent revisions thereof, and ASCE 24 and 34 PA Code (Chapters 401 through 405, as amended) shall be utilized.

C. 

Space below the lowest floor.

(1) 

Fully enclosed space below the lowest floor (excluding basements) 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 floodwaters for the purpose of equalizing hydrostatic forces on exterior walls. The term "fully enclosed space" also includes crawl spaces.

(2) 

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 square inch for every square foot of enclosed space.

(b) 

The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one 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.