Orange County NC Website
. '4U <br /> 3. <br /> 2. Mechanical and Utility Equipment. You gust have a provision <br /> in your ordinance that specifically requires mechanical and <br /> utility equipment to be elevated above the base flood elevation <br /> or designed so as to prevent water from entering or accumulat- <br /> ing within the equipment components . (see 56O.3(a) (iv)] . You <br /> may meet this requirement by demonstrating that your current <br /> ordinance already contains such a provision or by incorporating <br /> the following or its equivalent into your ordinance: <br /> Electrical, heating, Ventilation, plumbing, <br /> and air-conditioning equipment and other ` <br /> service facilities shall be designed -and/or <br /> located so as to prevent water f- oru entering <br /> or accumulating within the components during <br /> conditions of flooding . <br /> 3 . Definition of Start of Construction. The final rule modifies <br /> the definition of "start of construction" to eliminate incon- <br /> sistencies in treatment between pile and- column structures and <br /> other types of foundations and to incorporate the "manufactured <br /> home" revisions . You must replace your definition, "start of <br /> construction," with the definition in the final rule. <br /> 4 . Use of Openings in Enclosures Below a Structurtrti s Lowest. Floor. <br /> The final rule adds a provision which requires that fully <br /> enclosed areas below the base flood elevation be designed to <br /> allow for the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters to <br /> equalize hydrostatic flood forces [see S6 0.3(c) (5)1 . You can <br /> comply with this requirement by proiibiting the enclosure of <br /> areas below the base flood elevation or by incorporating the <br /> following provision or its equivalent into your ordinance <br /> For all new construction and sub etntial improve- <br /> ments, fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor <br /> that are subject to flooding shall be designed to <br /> automatically equalize hydrostat=ic flood forces <br /> on exterior walls by allowing feet- the entry and <br /> exit of floodwaters. Designs for meeting this <br /> requirement must either be certified by a <br /> registered professional engineer or architect or <br /> must meet or exceed the following minimum criteria: <br /> A minimum of two openings having a total net area of <br /> not less than one square inch for every square foot <br /> of enclosed area subject to flooding shall be pro- <br /> vided. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher <br /> than one foot above grade. Openings may be equipped <br /> with screens, louvers, or other coverings or devices <br /> provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit <br /> of floodwaters . <br />