| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | 1929 or other datum as specified. |
| It May Be A Lot Easier Than You Think | | | | If your home isn't mortgaged, you aren't required by |
| Would you like to understand the FEMA flood vent | | | | FEMA/NFIP regulations to have flood insurance or |
| regulations that apply to your home? And reduce your | | | | flood vents. However, flood insurance is advisable to |
| flood insurance premiums by a sizable amount? | | | | protect your investment. And foundation flood vents |
| This document makes the regulations easy to | | | | are still a wise move to ensure that floodwaters do |
| understand, points out the benefits of installing flood | | | | not structurally damage your home. How Cost Savings |
| vents, and will help you decide what kind of vents to | | | | Add Up |
| install. | | | | Properly installed and situated flood vents can pay for |
| Properly positioned and installed flood vents in your | | | | themselves very quickly. They allow you to save in |
| home's foundation walls will not only help you protect | | | | two ways. The annual reduction on your flood |
| your investment, they can help you save money. And, | | | | insurance premiums can be considerable. Secondly, |
| despite what you may have heard, the regulations | | | | should floodwaters rise to your home, flood vents can |
| governing their type and placement are easy to | | | | reduce the risk of structural damage, which can be |
| understand. | | | | very costly to repair. |
| These regulations were stipulated by the National | | | | Which Type of Flood Vent Should You Install? |
| Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a program of the | | | | There are two types of flood vents on the market: |
| Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). | | | | non-engineered and engineered. Engineered vents |
| Requirements: the Basics | | | | have been designed in such a way that they provide a |
| 1 - Openings must be installed in foundation walls so | | | | more efficient flood relief system, and thus fewer |
| that water can flow, unimpeded, in and out of the | | | | vents will need to be installed. |
| crawl space without damaging the walls' integrity. The | | | | The opening size of the non-engineered flood vent is |
| regulation is easy to remember: one square inch of | | | | calculated by multiplying the width times the height of |
| opening in the foundation wall for every square foot of | | | | the opening. The opening size of the engineered flood |
| the area of your house. For example, a | | | | vent is calculated using a mathematical formula that |
| 2,000-square-foot crawl space would need 2,000 | | | | takes into account certain coefficients, net area and |
| square inches of opening. The number of flood vents | | | | opening shapes. This formula calculation must be |
| you need to install depends on the size and type of | | | | certified by a professional engineer. The main |
| vent you buy. (More on that later.) | | | | difference between the two types of flood vents is |
| 2 - Each enclosed area must have a minimum of two | | | | that fewer of the engineered flood vents are required |
| openings. If there are multiple enclosed areas within the | | | | to meet NFIP requirements. For example, a |
| foundation walls, each area must have at least two | | | | non-engineered 8" x 16" vent is rated at 128 square |
| openings in its exterior walls. | | | | inches while an engineered 8" x 16" is rated at 200 |
| 3 - Flood vents must be below flood level to work. | | | | square inches. |
| The bottom of each opening must be no more than 1 | | | | Other design and performance criteria for engineered |
| foot above whichever of these is higher: the interior or | | | | openings are specified by the American Society of |
| exterior grade immediately under the opening. | | | | Civil Engineers: |
| 4 - Any screens, grates, grilles, fixed louvers, or other | | | | 1 - Engineered openings are to perform such that the |
| covers or devices you install must not block or hinder | | | | difference between the exterior and interior water |
| the automatic flow of floodwaters into and out of the | | | | levels shall not exceed 1 foot during base flood |
| enclosed area. | | | | conditions. |
| Why Are Flood Vents Required? | | | | 2 - Engineered openings are to be not less than 3 |
| The purpose of flood vents (also called "flood gates" | | | | inches in any direction in the plane of the wall. This |
| or "flood ports") is to reduce structural damage from | | | | requirement applies to the hole in the wall, excluding |
| flooding. These permanent openings accomplish this | | | | any screen, grate, grille, louvers, or devices that may |
| objective by allowing water to pass into or out of a | | | | be placed in or over the opening. The 3-inch opening |
| building's exterior foundation walls. | | | | requirement applies to the hole in the wall; not the |
| Why is that so important? In a flood situation, if the | | | | space between the grates, grilles or louvers. |
| water pressure inside and outside your home can't | | | | In a Nutshell: Numbers to Remember |
| equalize rapidly enough, the windows and doors could | | | | FEMA's flood insurance requirements boil down to this: |
| blow out. In addition, this pressure can compromise the | | | | 1 - One square inch of opening in a foundation wall per |
| foundation and make your home unsafe to live in. | | | | square foot of house. |
| Studies have shown that houses with proper openings | | | | 2 - Vents must be less than 12 inches above the |
| survive a flood; homes without such vents collapse. | | | | ground. |
| Who Needs Flood Vents? | | | | 3 - Two vents per enclosed area, on different exterior |
| According to its website, the NFIP "requires flood vents | | | | walls. |
| for residential basements, crawl spaces, garages, and | | | | That's it. Make sure you have the appropriate flood |
| other enclosed structures that are below the Base | | | | vents installed -- or do it yourself -- then call your flood |
| Flood Elevation (BFE) in Special Flood Hazard Areas." | | | | insurance company to get a reduction in your |
| BFE is the height of the base flood, usually in feet, in | | | | premiums. You'll also enjoy the peace of mind of |
| relation to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of | | | | knowing that you're not only compliant, you're safer. |