User's Guide to 

Technical Bulletins 

Developed in accordance with the National Flood 

Insurance Program 

Technical Bulletin 0 / March 2009
Comments on the Technical Bulletins should be directed to:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Mitigation Directorate

Building Science Branch

500 C Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20472

Technical Bulletin 0 replaces User's Guide 01, User's Guide to Technical Bulletins.

Table of Contents

Introduction....................................................................................................................................1

The Technical Bulletins..................................................................................................................1

Available Technical Bulletins.........................................................................................................2

Key Word/Subject Index................................................................................................................3

FEMA Regional Offices..................................................................................................................7
Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009 1

Introduction

This User’s Guide is intended to assist those using the Technical Bulletins issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mitigation Directorate. This guide includes a

Key Word/Subject Index that identifies topics addressed in the Technical Bulletins regarding

the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Reference sources and information about ordering additional NFIP publications are also provided.

The Technical Bulletins

The Technical Bulletins provide guidance concerning the building performance standards of

the NFIP, which 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 needed. 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 appropriate FEMA Regional Office (see page 7).

Comments on the Technical Bulletins Series should be addressed to:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Mitigation Directorate

Building Science Branch

500 C Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20472

The quickest and easiest way to acquire copies of FEMA’s Technical Bulletins is to download them from the FEMA website (http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/floodplain/techbul.

shtm).

Technical Bulletins may also be ordered free of charge from the FEMA Publications Warehouse by calling 1-800-480-2520, or by faxing a request to 240-699-0525, Monday through

Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST. Please provide the FEMA publication number, title,

and quantity of each publication requested, along with your name, address, zip code, and daytime telephone number. Written requests may be also be submitted by mail to the following

address: FEMA Distribution Center, PO Box 430, Buckeystown, MD 21717.

For questions regarding any of the Technical Bulletins, call the Flood/Wind Building Science

Helpline at (866) 927-2104 or email FEMA-Buildingsciencehelp@dhs.gov.

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

NFIP regulations. State or community requirements that exceed those of the NFIP take precedence. 

Design professionals should contact the community officials to determine whether more restrictive 

State or local 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.
2 Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009

Available Technical Bulletins

As of October 2008, the following Technical Bulletins are available:

Technical Bulletin 0 – User’s Guide to Technical Bulletins

Provides a list of available technical bulletins, a key word/subject reference index for all of the

bulletins, and information about how to obtain copies of the bulletins.

Technical Bulletin 1, 2008 – Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures 

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning the requirements for openings in

foundation walls for buildings with enclosures below the base flood elevation (BFE) and located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)

as Zones A, AE, A1-A30, AR, AO, and AH.

Technical Bulletin 2, 2008 – Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements 

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning the required use of flood-damage resistant construction materials for building components located below the BFE in SFHAs in

both A and V zones.

Technical Bulletin 3-93 – Non-Residential Floodproofing — Requirements and Certification 

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning watertight construction and the required certification for floodproofed non-residential buildings in Zones A, AE, A1-A30, AR,

AO, and AH whose lowest floors are below the BFE.

Technical Bulletin 4-93 – Elevator Installation 

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning the installation of elevators below the

BFE in SFHAs in both A and V zones.

Technical Bulletin 5, 2008 – Free-of-Obstruction Requirements 

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning obstructions to floodwaters below

elevated buildings and on building sites in Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zones V, VE, and

V1-V30).

Technical Bulletin 6-93 – Below-Grade Parking Requirements 

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning the design of below-grade parking garages beneath buildings located in Zones A, AE, A1 -A30, AR, AO, and AH.

Technical Bulletin 7-93 – Wet Floodproofing Requirements

Provides guidance on the NFIP regulations concerning wet floodproofing of certain types of

structures located in Zones A, AE, A1-A30, AR, AO, and AH.
Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009 3

Technical Bulletin 8-96 – Corrosion Protection for Metal Connectors in Coastal Areas

Provides guidance on the need for, selection of, and use of corrsion-resistant metal

connectors for the construction of buildings in coastal areas.

Technical Bulletin 9, 2008 – Design and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls

Provides prescriptive criteria for the design and construction of wood-frame and masonry

breakaway walls beneath elevated buildings in Coastal High Hazard Areas compliant with

NFIP regulatory requirements.

Technical Bulletin 10-01 – Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill in or Near Special Flood Hazard 

Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding

Provides regulatory and technical guidance concerning the construction of buildings with

various types of foundations, including basements, in areas removed from the SFHA through

the placement of fill and in areas near the SFHA.

Technical Bulletin 11-01 – Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard 

Areas

Provides interim guidance on minimum NFIP requirements as well as best practices for

crawlspace construction in SFHAs.

Key Word/Subject Index 

This index is designed to allow the user to quickly locate key words that pertain to the subject in question. The index also cross-references issues that are addressed by more than one

Technical Bulletin. For example, users of Technical Bulletin 2 (Flood Damage-Resistant Materials 

Requirements) should also refer to Technical Bulletin 9 (Design and Construction for Breakaway 

Walls) concerning breakaway walls in V zones.

Technical 

Bulletin Key Words and Subjects

3 A-zone floodproofing 

7 accessory structures

5 accessory structures, as possible obstructions in V zones

7 agricultural structures

10 basement construction, engineered option

10 basement construction, simplified approach

1, 11 basement, definition of 

10 basement foundation in fill, not recommended

10 basement foundation in fill, placed above the base flood elevation (BFE)

10 basement foundation in fill, vulnerability to subsurface flooding

10 basement foundation, with lowest floor at or above the BFE

10 basement foundation, with lowest openings above the BFE
4 Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009

Technical 

Bulletin Key Words and Subjects

10 basement foundation, with lowest openings at the BFE

6 below-grade parking garage, considered a basement 

6 below-grade parking garage, defined 

6 below-grade parking in A and V zones, when allowed, requirements for

11 best practices for crawlspace foundations in the SFHA

9 breakaway wall, failure modes

9 breakaway wall, insurance considerations

9 breakaway wall, NFIP regulatory requirements

9 breakaway wall, specifications for NFIP-compliant construction 

2, 9 breakaway walls in V zones, made of flood damage-resistant materials

9 breaking wave, impact on vertical surface

5 bulkheads, as possible obstructions in V zones

10 community permitting, administrative options for

8 corrosion, classes of building exposure to

8 corrosion, causes of

8 corrosion, identifying high-risk buildings

8 corrosion, planning for

8 corrosion-resistant materials for sheetmetal connectors

10 crawlspace foundation

5 decks and patios, as possible obstructions in V zones 

5 detached garages, elevation requirement in V zones 

11 drainage considerations

10 earthen fill, placed to remove land from the SFHA

10 earthen fill, zones where prohibited

4 elevator components, location of in relation to the BFE 

4 elevator electrical equipment, location of in relation to the BFE

4 elevators, types of

5, 10 fill, areas where prohibited

5 fill, as obstruction beneath buildings in V zones 

10 fill, proper placement of

4 float switch, use of in flood areas (for elevator cab) 

11 flood forces on buildings

11 flood insurance applications

4 flood-resistant elevator components, use of 

2 flood-resistant flooring materials 

11 flood-resistant materials

2 flood-resistant materials, classifications 
Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009 5

Technical 

Bulletin Key Words and Subjects

2 flood-resistant wall and ceiling materials 

3 floodproofing certificate, non-residential 

6 floodproofing, below-grade parking beneath non-residential buildings, design 

requirements for

3 floodproofing, Emergency Operations Plan, minimum acceptable 

3 floodproofing, Inspection and Maintenance Plan 

3, 6 floodproofing, recognition of for insurance rating purposes 

5 foundation bracing, as possible obstructions in V zones 

10 foundation flood risk, summary table

1 foundation openings in A zones, size, how to calculate 

1 foundation vents 

1 foundations in A zones

10 freeboard, recommendations

5 free of obstruction, definition of 

5 free of obstruction, designing a foundation system in V zones 

5 free of obstruction requirements in V zones 

7 functionally dependent use

8 galvanizing

1, 5, 7, 9 garage doors

1 garage doors, to meet the openings requirement 

7 garages attached to non-residential structures

1, 7 garages attached to residential buildings

7 garages, detached from structures

5 grade beams, as possible obstructions in V zones 

3 high hazard area, safety and access in 

7 historic buildings

3 hydrodynamic forces on floodproofed building 

3 hydrostatic forces on floodproofed building 

1 hydrostatic loads, equalized by openings

1 hydrostatic pressure, how to relieve 

1, 9 insect screening, for below building enclosures

10 insurance coverage for basement flooding, restrictions

9 lattice work, for below-building enclosures

2 latticework in V zones, made of flood-resistant materials 

1, 3 lowest floor, definition of 

11 NFIP requirements for all crawlspace construction

3 non-residential floodproofing certificate, how to fill out 

1 openings for foundations in A zones 
6 Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009

Technical 

Bulletin Key Words and Subjects

11 pre-engineered below-grade crawlspace foundation guidance

5, 10 professional certification

10 professional certification, sample form

10 "reasonably safe from flooding," defined

10 "reasonably safe from flooding," NFIP regulations concerning

11 requirements, additional for below-grade crawlspaces

1 safety factor for foundation openings 

8 salt spray from breaking waves

2 screening in V zones, made of flood-resistant materials

10 slab-on-grade foundation

1, 10 stem wall foundation

1 substantial damage, foundation wall openings requirement 

1 substantial improvement, foundation wall openings requirement 

10 sump pump, requirements for simplified basement construction

5 swimming pools, beneath buildings in V zones

2 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Flood Proofing Regulations (1995)

11 utilities, access, and ventilation openings

7 variances from NFIP requirements

7 variances, issuance in designated floodways

7 wet floodproofing, definition of

7 wet floodproofing, engineering considerations

7 wet floodproofing, flood insurance implications

7 wet floodproofing, planning considerations
Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009 7

Region I FEMA

99 High Street, 6th Floor

Boston, MA 02110

(617) 956-7506

Region II FEMA

26 Federal Plaza, Suite 1337

New York, NY 10278-0002

(212) 680-3612

Region III FEMA

One Independence Mall

615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404

(215) 931-5608

Region IV FEMA

3003 Chamblee Tucker Road

Suite 700

Atlanta, GA 30341

(770) 220-5200

Region V FEMA

536 S. Clark Street, 6th Floor

Chicago, IL 60605-1521

(312) 408-5515

Region VI FEMA

Federal Regional Center

800 North Loop 288

Denton, TX 76201-3698

(904) 898-5399

Region VII FEMA

Mitigation Division

9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300

Kansas City, MO 64114-3372

(816) 283-7063

Region VIII FEMA

Denver Federal Center

Building 710, Box 25267

Denver, CO 80225-0267

(303) 235-4830

Region IX FEMA

1111 Broadway, Suite 1200

Oakland, CA 94607-4052

(510) 627-7006

Region X FEMA

Federal Regional Center

130 228th Street, SW

Bothell, WA 98021-8627

(425) 487-4600

I

Alaska

Hawaii

Puerto

Rico

U.S.

Virgin

Islands

American Samoa and Guam

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

FEMA Regional Offices
8 Technical Bulletin 0 – March 2009

Other Federal agencies that provide floodplain management assistance include the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. For their nearest locations, please

refer to your local telephone directory under “United States Government.”