Non-Residential Floodproofing  Requirements and 
Certification 
for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas 
in accordance with the 
National Flood Insurance Program 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FIA-TB-3 
FEDERAL INSURANCE ADMINISRTATION 4/93 


Key Word/Subject index: 

This index allows the user to quickly locate key words and subjects in this Technical Bulletin. 
The Technical Bulletin Users Guide (printed separately) provides references to key 
words and subjects throughout the Technical Bulletins. For definitions of selected terms, 
refer to the Glossary at the end of this bulletin. 

Key Word/Subject Page 

2 
Floodproofing, Emergency Operations Plan, minimum acceptable 5 
Floodproofing, Inspection and Maintenance Plan, minimum acceptable 5 
Floodproofing, recognition of for insurance rating purposes 

A-zone floodproofing 

4 
High hazard area, safety and access in 3 
Hydrodynamic forces on floodproofed building 8 
Hydrostatic forces on floodproofed building 6 
Non-residential floodproofing certificate, how to fill out 10 

Any comments on the Technical Bulletins should be directed to: 

FEMA/FIA 
Office of Loss Reduction 
Technical Standards Division 
500 C St., SW, Room 417 
Washington, D.C. 20472 

Technical Bulletin 3-93 replaces Technical Bulletin 90-3 (draft) Non-Residential Floodproofing Certification 
Requirements.  

Graphic design based on the Japanese print The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, by Katsushika Hokusai (17601849), 
Asiatic collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 


TECHNICAL BULLETIN 3-93 

Non-Residential Floodproofing  Requirements and Certification 
for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas 
in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program 

Introduction 

This bulletin describes design, construction, and planning requirements for the floodproofing of 

non-residential buildings under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations and 

how to correctly complete the NFIPs Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Structures 

form. For the purposes of this bulletin, floodproofing means making a building watertight, 

substantially impermeable to floodwaters. 

Before a floodproofed building is designed, numerous planning considerations, including flood 

warning time, uses of the building, mode of entry to and exit from the building and the site in 

general, floodwater velocities, flood depths, debris impact potential, and flood frequency, must 

be addressed to ensure that dry floodproofing will be a viable floodplain management tool. 

These critical considerations are discussed within this bulletin. 

In the FEMA publication Floodproofing of Non-Residential Structures, floodproofing is 
described as a combination of adjustments and/or additions of features to buildings that eliminate 
or reduce the potential for flood damage. Examples of such adjustments and additions include 
anchoring of the building to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement; installation of 
watertight closures for doors and windows; reinforcement of walls to withstand floodwater 
pressures and impact forces generated by floating debris; use of membranes and other sealants to 
reduce seepage of floodwater through walls and wall penetrations; installation of pumps to 
control interior water levels; installation of check valves to prevent the entrance of floodwater or 
sewage flows through utilities; and the location of electrical, mechanical, utility, and other 
valuable damageable equipment and contents above the expected flood level. 

Floodproofing components for an individual building may also include floodwalls, small localized 
levees, or berms around buildings. However, such components, because they are not part of 
the building itself, are generally not credited for the flood insurance rating of a building under 
the NFIP and are therefore not detailed within this bulletin. 

The NFIP allows a new or substantially improved non-residential building in an A zone (Zone A, 
AE, A 1-A30, AR, AO, or AH) to have a lowest floor below the base flood elevation (BFE), 
provided that the building has been designed, constructed, and certified to be floodproofed and to 
meet established criteria. Floodproofing of areas below the BFE in residential buildings is not 
permitted under the NFIP. In a Coastal High Hazard Area (Zone V, VE, or V 1 -V30), construction 
or substantial improvement of a building with a lowest floor elevation below the BFE is not 
allowed, regardless of any floodproofing techniques employed. 

A Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Structures (FEMA Form 81 -65) has been 
developed by FEMA for use in the certification of non-residential floodproofing designs. Because 
of the increased potential for significant building damage due to the failure of the 
floodproofing system, the NFIP requires a design certification for all floodproofed buildings. In 


accordance with Section 60.3(c)(4), communities shall require a correctly completed certificate 
(or its equivalent) for every floodproofed building within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) 
and shall maintain the completed certificates on file. 

A Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Structures is required for the following types of 
buildings (in A zones only): 

l Floodproofed non-residential buildings (no residential uses). 
l Floodproofed mixed-use buildings that are professionally designed with all residential uses 
located above the floodproofing design elevation. 
NFIP Regulations 

The NFIP regulations that specifically apply to the design of floodproofing for non-residential 
buildings are within Section 60.3(c)(3), which states that the community shall: 

Require that all new construction and substantial improvements of non-residential structures 
within Zones A1 -A30, AE, and AH on the communitys FIRM (i) have the lowest 
floor (including basement) elevated to or above the base flood level, or (ii) together with 
attendant utility and sanitary facilities, be designed so that below the base flood level the 
structure is watertight with walls substantially impermeable to the passage of water and 
with structural components having the capability of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic 
loads and effects of buoyancy.  

Section 60.3(c)(8) further states that the community shall: 

Require within any AO zone on the communitys FIRM that all new construction or 
substantial improvements of non-residential structures (i) have the lowest floor (including 
basement) elevated above the highest adjacent grade at least as high as the depth number 
specified in feet on the communitys FIRM (at least two feet if no depth number is specified), 
or (ii) together with attendant utility and sanitary facilities, be completely 
floodproofed to that (base flood) level to meet the floodproofing standard specified in 
paragraph 60.3(c)(3)(ii). 

Additionally, Section 60.3(c)(4) requires that any floodproofing design be certified in the following 
manner: 

Provide that where a non-residential structure is intended to be made watertight below 
the base flood level, (i) a registered professional engineer or architect shall develop and/or 
review structural design, specifications, and plans for the construction, and shall certify 
that the design and methods of construction are in accordance with the accepted standards 
of practice for meeting the applicable provisions of paragraphs (c)(3)(ii) or (c)(8)(ii) of this 
section, and (ii) a record of such certificates which includes the specific elevation (in 
relation to mean sea level) to which such structures are floodproofed shall be maintained 
with the official designated by the community...  


It should be noted that Technical Bulletins provide guidance on the minimum requirements 

of the NFIP regulations. Community or State requirements that exceed those of the NFIP 

take precedence. Design professionals should contact the community to determine whether 

more restrictive local or State regulations apply to the building or site in question. All

 
applicable standards of the State or local building code must also be met for any building in 
a flood hazard area. 

Planning Considerations 

A review of the following factors for the site in question will assist the design professional in 
determining whether floodproofing is appropriate. For example, if a site will be surrounded by 
rapidly rising, high-velocity floodwaters during a flood, and the available warning time is short, 
then the site is unsuitable for a floodproofed building. 

Warning Time 

The rate-of-rise of floodwaters for the site in question, the established flood warning system (if 
any), the flood warning time available, and the reliability of the flood warning must be reviewed 
to determine appropriate floodproof design elements. The rate-of-rise or the flood warning time 
available through an existing reliable (community-based or regionally based) flood warning 
system must be adequate to provide sufficient lead time to evacuate a floodprone building when 
flooding threatens. In addition, sufficient warning time must exist to successfully place 
floodproofing components, such as removable flood shields or gates, if such components are to 
be included in the floodproofing design. Other examples of floodproofing techniques that can 
require human intervention are operating sump pumps and closing valves. The amount of time 
necessary to put human intervention floodproofing components in place will depend upon the 
number of components, their complexity, and the availability of personnel to place them. 
Floodproofed buildings are not appropriate for any site in a flash flood area, because of the 
potentially short warning time. 

Safety and Access 

Safe access to a floodproofed building is a critical factor in the determination of whether 
floodproofing is an appropriate design alternative. In 1987, Colorado State University conducted 
a study of human stability in flood flow conditions based on the product number of depth of flow 
multiplied by the floodwater velocity. Results of this study indicated that any floodplain location 
with a product number of 4 or greater represents a significant hazard to individuals. Floodplain 
sites with a base flood product number number of 4 or greater (depth in feet multiplied by velocity 
in feet per second) will create a hazard for anyone attempting to escape from or gain access to 
the site. Such sites are not generally acceptable for floodproofed buildings, unless modifications 
are made to the site to reduce the flood hazard. 

For any floodproofed building, all roads to be used as evacuation routes must remain passable as 
the floodwaters rise. In addition, all roads that provide access to buildings whose dryfloodproofing 
components require human intervention must remain passable long enough for the 

3 


floodproofing components to be installed and for all personnel to safely evacuate the site. For 
sites with an acceptably low hazard (product number less than 4) that are contiguous to land 
above the BFE, evacuation and access during times of flooding are generally not critical considerations. 

Flood Velocities, Flood Depths, and Debris 

For sites with flood velocities in excess of 5 feet per second or base flood depths in excess of 3 
feet, the cost of dry-floodproofed construction may be prohibitive. Part 3 of the section of this 
bulletin titled Minimum Engineering Considerations describes the flood forces that a 
floodproofed building must be able to resist. Flood-borne debris can generate impact forces that 
may make a dry-floodproofed design technically infeasible and therefore inappropriate. A level 
of safety above the BFE, referred to as freeboard, is recommended, as discussed under Minimum 
Engineering Considerations.  

Note: While buildings need only be protected to the BFE for floodplain management pur

poses, freeboard is considered for flood insurance rating purposes. Because of the additional 

risk associated with any floodproofed building, 1 foot is subtracted from the elevation to 

which a building has been floodproofed, for insurance rating (if the building is floodproofed 

at least to the BFE). Therefore, to receive an insurance rating based on 100-year flood 

protection, the building must be floodproofed to an elevation at least 1 foot above the BFE. 

Insurance premiums will be lower if floodproofing exceeds this requirement. 

L 

Flood Frequency 

A site that has been flooded frequently may not be appropriate for a dry-floodproofed building. 
The cumulative wear-and-tear on a buildings external components as a result of recurring 
inundation may render a dry floodproofing strategy infeasible. The cost of repeated business 
interruption and of frequent cleanup activities, as well as the effects of having to repeatedly 
implement a flood emergency plan, must be assessed. 

If the evaluation of each of the aforementioned factors indicates that dry floodproofing is a 
viable floodplain management alternative, then a floodproofing design is developed. For all 
floodproofed buildings, the design professional must then produce both a Flood Emergency 
Operation Plan and an Inspection and Maintenance Plan for the building. 

Flood Emergency Operation Plan 

A Flood Emergency Operation Plan is an integral part of any buildings floodproofing design 
and is critical when the floodproofing requires human intervention such as the installation of 
flood gates or flood shields. A Flood Emergency Operation Plan is necessary for any 
floodproofed building to ensure that the floodproofing components will operate properly under 
all conditions, including power failures. A continuous source of electricity to operate any necessary 
floodproofing components, such as pumps, will be needed for any floodproofing design that 


includes such components. The design professional must produce the plan. An adequate plan 

must include the following: 

1. 
An established chain of command and responsibility with leadership responsibilities clearly 
defined for all aspects of the plan. 
2. 
A procedure for notification of necessary parties when flooding threatens and flood warnings 
are issued. Personnel required to be at the building should have a planned and safe means of 
ingress and should have no other emergency response duties during a flood event. Alternates 
should be assigned in the event that the primary persons responsible are unable to complete 
their assigned duties under the plan. 
3. 
A list of specific duties assigned to ensure that all responsibilities are addressed expeditiously. 
The locations of materials necessary to properly install all floodproofing components 
must be included in the list. 
4. 
An evacuation plan for all personnelthose without duties for the flood emergency as well 
as those with duties for implementing the plan. All possible ingress and egress routes must 
be identified. 
5. 
A periodic training and exercise program to keep personnel aware of their duties and responsibilities. 
Training drills should be held at least once a year and should be coordinated with 
community officials. Flood safety precautions should be repeated during each training drill. 
Inspection and Maintenance Plan 

Every floodproofing design requires some degree of periodic maintenance and inspection to 
ensure that all components will operate properly under flood conditions. The necessary inspection 
and maintenance activities, including inspection intervals and repair requirements, must be 
described in the Inspection and Maintenance Plan. Components that should be inspected as part 
of an annual (as a minimum) maintenance and inspection program include the following: 

1. 
Mechanical equipment such as sump pumps and generators. 
2. 
Flood shields and closures, to ensure that they fit properly and that the gaskets and seals are 
in good working order, properly labeled, and stored as indicated in the Flood Emergency 
Operation Plan. 
3. 
Walls and wall penetrations, for cracks and potential leaks. 
4. 
Levees and berms, for excessive vegetative growth, cracks, or leaks. 
Both the Flood Emergency Operation Plan and the Inspection and Maintenance Plan are necessary 
at the time that the Non-Residential Floodproofing Certificate is submitted to the community. 
Before issuing a building permit, the community should require that the property owner 
sign an agreement stating that the plan will be adhered to. The community should also be assured 
that the inspection and maintenance activities required by the plan will continue regardless 
of changes in the ownership of the floodproofed building. This assurance should be accomplished 
by appropriate deed restrictions. Any lease agreement should also contain clear language 
stating the leaseholders responsibilities for the floodproofed building. 

5 


Minimum Engineering Considerations 

The design professional, a registered professional engineer or architect, must certify that the 
following requirements have been met by the buildings design, specifications, and plans: 

1. 
The building must be watertight (i.e., floodwaters must not enter the building envelope): 
a. 
The building must be watertight to the floodproof design elevation, which is further 
defined as being at least the BFE. As previously noted, floodproofing to any elevation 
less than 1 foot above the BFE will have a serious negative impact on the flood insurance 
rating for the building. Generally a minimum of 1 foot of freeboard is recommended. 
Additional freeboard is warranted for sites where predicted flood depths may be inaccurate, 
such as sites within large drainage areas and rapidly urbanizing areas. 
b. 
The buildings walls must be substantially impermeable to the passage of water. 
FEMA has adopted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) definition of substantially 
impermeable from the COE publication Flood Proofing Regulations. This document 
states that a substantially impermeable wall shall not permit the accumulation of more 
than 4 inches of water depth during a 24-hour period if there were no devices provided 
for its removal. However, sump pumps shall be required to control this seepage. Flood-
resistant materials, described in Technical Bulletin 2, Flood-Resistant Materials Requirements, 
must be used in all areas where such seepage is likely to occur. 
2. 
The buildings utilities and sanitary facilities, including heating, air conditioning, electrical, 
water supply, and sanitary sewage services, must be located above the BFE, completely 
enclosed within the buildings watertight walls, or made watertight and capable of resisting 
damage during flood conditions. 
3. 
All of the buildings structural components must be capable of resisting specific flood-related 
forces. These are the forces that would be exerted upon the building as a result of floodwaters 
reaching the BFE (at a minimum) or floodproofing design level, and include the following: 
a. Hydrostatic Flood ForceThis is the force that water at rest exerts on any submerged 
object. For a floodproofed building design, the calculations of hydrostatic flood forces 
must include saturated soil pressure on any portion of the building that is below grade 
(see Figure 1). Guidelines for determining hydrostatic pressure are provided on the 
following page. 
6 


HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES 
BY WATER DEPTH 
HEIGHT (H) 
(WATER DEPTH] 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Ph (LBS/SQ.FT.) I 
62.4 
124.8 
187.2 
249.6 
312.0 
374.4 
436.8 
499.2 
561.6 
624.0 
II II 
H 
Buoyancy Force 
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES 
BY WATER DEPTH 
HEIGHT (H) 
(WATER DEPTH] 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
Ph (LBS/SQ.FT.) I 
62.4 
124.8 
187.2 
249.6 
312.0 
374.4 
436.8 
499.2 
561.6 
624.0 
II II 
H 
Buoyancy Force 
Figure 1. Hydrostatic Pressure Diagram 

Resultant Lateral Force Due to Hydrostatic Pressure from Freestanding Water: 

F
F
h = wH2 

where: Fh is the lateral force from freestanding water (in pounds per linear 
foot of surface) 
w is the specific weight of water (62.4 pounds per cubic foot) 

H is the height of the standing water (to the floodproof design level) 
If any portion of the building is below grade, then calculate the Resultant Cumulative 
Lateral Force Due to Hydrostatic Pressure from Saturated Soil: 

Fsat = SD2+Fh 

where: Fsa t is the lateral force from saturated soil 

s is the equivalent fluid weight of saturated soil (in pounds per 

F
F
cubic foot) 
D is the depth of saturated soil (in feet) 
h is the lateral force from freestanding water 

Note: See Appendix C of the FEMA Design Manual for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures 
for further information. 

7 


b. Buoyancy-This is the vertical force associated with the building's tendency to float 
when inundated or surrounded by floodwaters. This force can be calculated as shown 
below. 
Buoyancy Force: 

F
F
b = wAH 
where: Fb is the force due to buoyancy 

w is the specific weight of water (62.4 pounds per cubic foot) 

A is the area of horizontal surface (floor or slab) being acted upon (in 

square feet) 
H is the depth of building below the floodproofing design level (in feet) 
Note: See Appendix C of the FEMA Design Manual for Retrofitting Ftood-Prone Residential Structures 
for further information. 

c. Hydrodynamic ForceThis is the force exerted on vertical surfaces exposed to moving 
floodwaters. The determination of hydrodynamic force is based on the expected velocity 
of the floodwaters with depths to the floodproofing design level (BFE or higher). The 
projected average base flood velocity within the floodway may be obtained using FEMA 
Flood Insurance Studies (FISS) where a floodway has been identified. It should be noted 
that velocities in the flood fringe will generally be less than the floodway velocities 
presented in the FIS. Where no FIS velocity data exist, velocities should be determined 
using Mannings equation, as found in most hydraulic reference and text books. 
Hydrodynamic Force: 

F
F
d = Cdm(V)2A 

where: Fd is the lateral force due to hydrodynamic pressure 

C
C
d is the drag coefficient 

m is the mass density of water (1.94 slugs per cubic foot) 

v 

is the velocity of the water (in feet per second) 
A is the area of the wall affected (in square feet) 
Note: See Appendix C of the FEMA Design Manual for Retrofitting Ftood-Prone Residential Structures for 
further information. 

8 


d. 
Debris Impact ForceThis is the force associated with flood-borne debris striking the 
side of a building. This force presents the greatest unknown to the designer, but a value 
must be estimated to develop an effective floodproofing design. Unless more detailed 
information is available, such as historical debris flow data, the formula shown below 
should be used. This formula assumes a 1-second duration of impact. The weight of the 
object is generally estimated at 1,000 pounds but can be reduced to 500 pounds for areas 
subject to minor debris flow potential. Any areas subject to severe debris (such as mountainous 
regions or areas subject to ice floes) are not appropriate sites for floodproofed 
buildings unless the designer takes these forces into account in designing and armouring 
the building. Armouring often results in designs that are not cost-effective. 
where: Fi 
w 
v 
g 
t 
Debris Impact Force: 
is the Impact Force 
is the weight of the object (in pounds) 
is the velocity of the object (in feet per second) 
is the acceleration due to gravity (32.2 feet per second2) 
is the duration of impact (in seconds) 
Note: See Appendix C of the FEMA Design Manual for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures 
for further information. 

4. 
Like all construction that falls under the NFIP regulations, the building must meet the requirements 
of all applicable portions of local and State building codes, including the provisions 
of the Americans with Disabilities Act; life-safety codes for ingress, egress, and clearing; 
and venting and combustion air requirements. 
9 


Preparation of the Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Buildings 

The Floodproofing Certificate is required for all non-residential buildings to be floodproofed and 
is to be completed by the design professional. The first part of the Certificate contains information 
concerning the location and ownership of the building. 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY 

O.M.B. No. 3067-007 
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM 

FLOODPROOFING CERTIFICATE 

FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES 

The floodproofing of non-residential buildings maybe permitted as an alternative to elevating to or above the Base Flood Elevation; 
however, a floodproofing design certification is required. This form is to be used for that certification. Floodproofing of a residential 
building does not alter a cummunitys floodplain management elevation requirements or affect the insurance rating unless the 
community has been issued an exception by FEMA to allow floodproofed residential basements. The permitting of a floodproofed 
residential basement requires a separate certification specifying that the design complies with the local floodplain management 

ordinance. 
FOR INSURANCE COMPANY USE 
BUILDING OWNERS NAME POLICY NUMBER 
STREET ADDRESS (including Apt., Unit, Suite and/or Bldg. Number) OR P.O ROUTE AND BOX NUMBER COMPANY NAIC NUMBER 
OTHER DESCRIPTION (Lot and Block Numbers, etc.) 

CITY STATE ZIP CODE 

Building location and Ownership information 

Section I of the Certificate is the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) information, including the 

BFE used in designing the floodproofing system. Copies of the FIRM should be available 

through the communitys floodplain administrator. 

SECTION I FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM) INFORMATION 
Provide the following from the proper FIRM: 
COMMUNITY NUMBER I PANEL NUMBER I SUFFIX I DATE OF FIRM INDEX I FIRM ZONE I BASE FLOOD ELEVATION I 
(in AO Zones use depth) 
I 
Section I 

10 


Section II requests information regarding the floodproofing design. The first item is the elevation, 
referenced to the datum of the FIRM (generally the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 
1929), to which the building is floodproofed. This elevation must be equal to or greater than the 
BFE. It is important to note that for insurance rating purposes, the floodproofing design must 
provide protection to 1 foot above the BFE to receive rating credit. If the building is 
floodproofed only to the BFE, then the buildings insurance rating will result in a higher premium. 
Before a decision is made to floodproof to less than 1 foot above the BFE, insurance 
implications should be carefully considered. 

The second item is the height of the floodproofing above the lowest adjacent grade. This information 
is intended to be used by community building officials, FEMA, and NFIP insurance 
underwriters to analyze the level of safety that the floodproofing design will provide. Since 
floodwaters exert greater pressure on the floodproofed building as the height of the flooding 
increases (see Figure 1), floodproofing that exceeds 3 feet in height represents a greater risk and 
may result in insurance rates that reflect this increased risk. 

SECTION II FLOODPROOFING INFORMATION (By a Registered Professional Engineer or Architect) 
Floodproofing Design Elevation Information: 
Building is floodproofed to an elevation of __.__ feet NGVD. (Elevation datum used must be the same as that on 
the FIRM.) 
Height of floodproofing on the building above the lowest adjacent grade is feet. 
(NOTE: for insurance rating purposes, the buildings floodproofed design elevation must be at least one foot above the 
Base Flood Elevation to receive rating credit. If the building is floodproofed only to the Base Flood Elevation, then the 
buildings insurance rating will result in a higher premium.) 

Section II 

Section III is the actual certification of the floodproofing design as required in Section 60.3(c)(4) 

of the NFIP regulations. It is important to note that design professionals signing this form are 

certifying that they have developed and/or reviewed the design plans and specifications and find 

them in compliance with accepted standards of practice for dry floodproofing. This certification 

is based on the floodproofing design, not the as-built condition of the building. The person 

signing this form must be a registered professional engineer or architect within the state or 

territory where the building will be constructed or substantially improved. 

11 


SECTION Ill CERTIFICATION (By a Registered Professional Engineer or Architect) 
Non-Residential Floodproofed Construction Certification: 
I certify that based upon development and/or review of structural design, specifications, and plans for construction that 
the design and methods of construction are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the 
following provisions: 
The structure, together with attendant utilities and sanitary facilities, is watertight to the floodproofed design 
elevation indicated above, with walls that are substantially impermeable to the passage of water. 
All structural components are capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic flood forces, including the 
effects of buoyancy, and anticipated debris impact forces. 
I certify that the information on this certificate represents my best effort to interpret the data available. I understand that 
any false statement may be punishable by fine or imprisonment under 18 U.S. Code, Section 1001. 
CERTIFIERS NAME LICENSE NUMBER (or Affix Seal) 
TITLE COMPANY NAME 
ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP 
SIGNATURE DATE PHONE 
Copies should be made of this certificate for: 1) community official, 2) insurance agent/company, 3) building owner. 
FEMA Form 81-65 

Section Ill 

The NFIP 

The NFIP was created by Congress in 1968 to provide federally backed flood insurance coverage, 
because flood insurance was generally unavailable from private insurance companies. The 
NFIP is also intended to reduce future flood losses by identifying floodprone areas and ensuring 
that new development in these areas is adequately protected from flood damage. The NFIP is 
based on an agreement between the federal government and participating communities that have 
been identified as being floodprone. FEMA, through the Federal Insurance Administration 

(FIA), makes flood insurance available to the residents of a participating community provided 
that the community adopts and enforces adequate floodplain management regulations that meet 
the minimum NFIP requirements. The NFIP encourages communities to adopt floodplain management 
ordinances that exceed the minimum NFIP criteria. Included in the NFIP requirements, 
found under Title 44 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, are minimum building design and 

12 


construction standards for buildings located in Through their floodplain management 
ordinances, communities adopt the NFIP design performance standards for new and substantially 
improved buildings located in floodprone areas identified on FIAs FIRMs. 

Technical Bulletins 

This is one of a series of Technical Bulletins FEMA has produced to provide guidance concerning 
the building performance standards of the NFIP. These standards are contained in Title 44 of 
the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at Section 60.3. The bulletins are intended for use primarily 
by State and local officials responsible for interpreting and enforcing NFIP regulations and 
by members of the development community, such as design professionals and builders. New 
bulletins, as well as updates of existing bulletins, are issued periodically, as necessary. The 
bulletins do not create regulations; rather they provide specific guidance for complying with the 
minimum requirements of existing NFIP regulations. Users of the Technical Bulletins who need 
additional guidance concerning NFIP regulatory requirements should contact the Natural Hazards 
Branch of the appropriate FEMA regional office. The Users Guide to Technical Bulletins 
lists the bulletins issued to date and provides a key word/subject index for the entire series. 

Ordering Information 

Copies of the Technical Bulletins can be obtained from the appropriate FEMA regional office. 
Technical Bulletins can also be ordered from the FEMA publications warehouse. Use of FEMA 
Form 60-8 will result in a more timely delivery from the warehouse  the form can be obtained 
from FEMA regional offices and your states Office of Emergency Management. Send publication 
requests to FEMA Publications, P.O. Box 70274, Washington, D.C. 20024. 

Further Information 

The following publications provide further information concerning non-residential 
floodproofing: 

1. 
Answers to Questions About Substantially Damaged Buildings, FEMA, May 1991, FEMA213. 
2. 
Block and Brick Wall Integrity Against Water Heights and Systems and Materials to Prevent 
Flood Waters From Entering Buildings, Carl E. Pace, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways 
Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1984. 
3. 
Commercial-Industrial Flood Audit, New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
n.d. 
4. 
Cooperative Flood Loss Reduction, A Technical Manual for Communities and Industries, 
Flood Loss Reduction Associates, 1981. 
5. 
Design Manual for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures, FEMA, September 
1986, FEMA-1 14. 
6. 
Floodproofing Non-Residential Structures, FEMA, May 1986, FEMA- 102. 
13 


7. Flood Proofing Regulations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, March 1992, EP 1165-2-314. 
8. Human Stability in a High Flood Hazard Zone, S.R. Abt, R.J. Whittlen, A. Taylor, and D.J. 
Love, Water Resource Bulletin, August 1989. 
9. Sealants, Part 1, John P. Cook, Progressive Architecture, December 1974. 
10. Sealants, Part 2, John P. Cook, Progressive Architecture, February 1975. 
11. Systems and Materials to Prevent Flood Waters from Entering Buildings, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, 1984. 
12. Tests of Brick-Veneer Walls and Enclosures for Resistance to Flood Waters, Carl E. Pace, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Mississippi Division, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1978. 
Glossary 

Base flood  The flood that has a 1-percent probability of being equaled or exceeded in any 
given year (also referred to as the 100-year flood). 

Base Flood Elevation (BFE)  The height of the base flood, usually in feet, in relation to the 
National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 or other datum as specified. 

Basement  Any area of a building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides. 

Coastal High Hazard Area  An area of special flood hazard extending from offshore to the 
inland limit of a primary frontal dune along an open coast and any other area subject to high-
velocity wave action from storms or seismic sources. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  The independent federal agency that, in 
addition to carrying out other activities, oversees the administration of the National Flood Insurance 
Program. 

Federal Insurance Administration (FIA)  The component of FEMA directly responsible for 
administering the National Flood Insurance Program. 

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)  The insurance and floodplain management map issued 
by FEMA that identifies, on the basis of detailed or approximate analyses, areas of 100-year 
flood hazard in a community. 

Floodprone area  Any land area susceptible to being inundated by floodwater from any 
source. 

Lowest floor  The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area of a building, including a basement. 
Any NFIP-compliant unfinished or flood-resistant enclosure useable solely for parking of 
vehicles, building access, or storage (in an area other than a basement) is @ considered a 
buildings lowest floor. 

14 


Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)  Area delineated on a Flood Insurance Rate Map as 
being subject to inundation by the base flood and designated as Zone A, AE, A1-A30, AR, AO, 
AH, V, VE, or V1-V30. 

Substantial damage  Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of 
restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the 
market value of the structure before the damage occurred. 

Substantial improvement  Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement 
of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure 
before the start of construction of the improvement. This term includes structures that have 
incurred substantial damage, regardless of the actual repair work performed. 

15