14-5-1 Standards of Construction | Fountain Hills Town Code

Section 14-5-1 Standards of Construction

In all special flood hazard areas, the following standards are required:

1. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy.

2. All manufactured homes shall meet the anchoring standards of subsection 14-5-5(B).

1. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.

2. All new construction and substantial improvements shall be constructed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage.

3. All new construction, substantial improvement and other proposed new development shall be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment and other service facilities that are designed and/or located so as to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

4. Require within Zones AH or AO adequate drainage paths around structures on slopes to guide floodwaters around and away from proposed structures.

1. New construction and substantial improvement of any structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated at or above the regulatory flood elevation. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards in subsection 14-5-1(C)(3). Upon the completion of the structure the elevation of the lowest floor including basement shall be certified by a registered professional engineer or surveyor and provided to the Floodplain Administrator.

2. New construction and substantial improvement of any structure in Zone AO shall have the lowest floor, including basement, higher than the highest adjacent grade and at least one foot higher than the depth number on the FIRM, or at least two feet if no depth number is specified on the FIRM. Nonresidential structures may meet the standards in subsection 14-5-1(C)(3). Upon completion of the structure a registered professional engineer shall certify to the Floodplain Administrator that the elevation of the structure meets this standard.

3. Nonresidential construction shall either be elevated in conformance with subsection 14-5-1(C)(1) or (2) or together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities:

a. Be floodproofed so that below the regulatory flood level the structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water.

b. Have structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy.

c. Be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect that the standards of this subsection are satisfied. Such certifications shall be provided to the floodplain administrator.

4. All new construction and substantial improvements with fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are useable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement 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 floodwaters. Designs for meeting this requirement must either be certified by a registered professional engineer or architect to meet or exceed all of the following minimum criteria:

a. A minimum of two openings on different sides of each enclosed area that have a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be provided.

b. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade.

c. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.

5. Manufactured homes shall meet the above applicable standards and also the standards in Section 14-5-5.

6. Accessory structures used solely for parking vehicles or for storage may be constructed such that the floor is below the regulatory flood elevation, provided the structure is designated and constructed in accordance with the following requirements:

a. Use of the accessory structure must be limited to parking of vehicles or storage.

b. The portions of the accessory structure located below the regulatory flood elevation must be built using flood resistant materials.

c. The accessory structure must be adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse and lateral movement.

d. Any machinery or equipment servicing the accessory structure must be elevated or floodproofed to or above the regulatory flood elevation.

e. The accessory structure must comply with floodway encroachment provisions in Section 14-5-7.

f. The accessory structure must be designed to allow for the automatic entry and exit of flood waters in accordance with Section 14-5-1(C)(4)(a) or (b).

Detached garages, storage structures and other accessory structures not meeting the above standards must be constructed in accordance with all applicable standards in Section 14-5-1(C). Upon completion of the structure, certification by a registered professional engineer or surveyor that the requirements of this section have been satisfied shall be provided to the Floodplain Administrator for verification. (16-02, Added, 06/02/2016; 05-09, Amended, 09/15/2005)