§ 44-16. Construction standards for all structures.

A. 

Anchoring. New structures and substantial improvement to structures in areas of special flood hazard shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement during the base flood. This requirement is in addition to applicable state and local anchoring requirements for resisting wind forces.

B. 

Construction materials and methods.

(1) 

New construction and substantial improvements to structures shall be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to flood damage.

(2) 

New construction and substantial improvements to structures shall be constructed using methods and practices that minimize flood damage.

(3) 

For enclosed areas below the lowest floor of a structure within Zones Al, A30, AE or AH, and also Zone A if base flood elevation data are available, new and substantially improved structures shall have 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, 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 licensed professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:

(a) 

A minimum of two openings having a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area subject to flooding; shall be provided; and

(b) 

The bottom of all such openings shall be no higher than one foot above the lowest adjacent finished grade.

(c) 

Openings may be equipped with louvers, valves, screens or other coverings or devices, provided they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters. Enclosed areas subgrade on all sides are considered basements and are not permitted.

(4) 

Within Zones V1-V30 and VE, and also within Zone V if base flood elevation are available, new construction and substantial improvements shall have the space below the lowest floor either free from obstruction or constructed with nonsupporting breakaway walls, open wood lattice-work or insect screening intended to collapse under wind and water loads without causing collapse, displacement, or other structural damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system. The enclosed space below the lowest floor shall be used only for parking vehicles, building access or storage. Use of this space for human habitation is expressly prohibited. The construction of stairs, stairwells and elevator shafts is subject to the design requirements for breakaway walls.

C. 

Utilities.

(1) 

New and replacement electrical equipment, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, plumbing connections, and other service equipment shall be located at or above the base flood elevation or be designed to prevent water from entering and accumulating within the components during a flood and to resist hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and stresses. Electrical wiring and outlets, switches, junction boxes and panels shall be elevated to or above the base flood elevation unless they conform to the appropriate provisions of the electrical part of the Building Code of New York State or the Residential Code of New York State for location of such items in wet locations.

(2) 

New and replacement water supply systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the system.

(3) 

New and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters. Sanitary sewer and storm drainage systems for buildings that have openings below the base flood elevation shall be provided with automatic backflow valves or other automatic backflow devices that are installed in each discharge line passing through a building's exterior wall; and

(4) 

On-site waste disposal systems shall be located to avoid impairment to them or contamination from them during flooding.