User’s Guide 

to Technical Bulletins

Developed in Accordance 

with the National Flood Insurance Program

NFIP Technical Bulletin 0 / July 2019
Comments on the Technical Bulletins should be directed to:

DHS/FEMA

Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) Risk Management Directorate 

Building Science Branch 

400 C Street, S.W., Sixth Floor

Washington, DC 20472-3020

Technical Bulletin 0 replaces Technical Bulletin 0 (2009), User’s Guide to Technical Bulletins Developed in 

Accordance with the National Flood Insurance Program.

Cover photograph: Neighborhood in New Orleans, LA, flooded by Hurricane Katrina (August 30, 2005; 

photo courtesy of Jocelyn Augustino).

NFIP Technical Bulletin 0 contains information that is proprietary to and copyrighted by the American 

Society of Civil Engineers and information that is proprietary to and copyrighted by the International Code 

Council, Inc. All information is used with permission.

For more information, see the FEMA Building Science 

Frequently Asked Questions website at http://www.fema.gov/

frequently-asked-questions-building-science.

If you have any additional questions on FEMA Building 

Science Publications, contact the helpline at FEMABuildingsciencehelp@fema.dhs.gov or 866-927-2104.

You may also sign up for the FEMA Building Science email 

subscription, which is updated with publication releases 

and FEMA Building Science activities. Subscribe at https://

service.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSFEMA/subscriber/

new?topic_id=USDHSFEMA_193.

Visit the Building Science Branch of the Risk Management 

Directorate at FEMA’s Federal Insurance and Mitigation 

Administration at https://www.fema.gov/building-science.

To order publications, contact the FEMA 

Distribution Center:

Call: 1-800-480-2520

(Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., EST)

Fax: 719-948-9724

Email: FEMApubs@gpo.gov

Additional FEMA documents can be 

found in the FEMA Library at 

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/

resources.

Please scan this QR code 

to visit the FEMA Building 

Science web page.
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 i

Table of Contents

Acronyms............................................................................................................................................................ iii

1 Introduction and Background..........................................................................................................................1

1.1 Intended Audience.................................................................................................................................2

1.2 Purpose of Technical Bulletins.............................................................................................................2

1.3 Synopses of Technical Bulletins (as of June 2019)...............................................................................2

1.4 Organization of Technical Bulletin 0 – User’s Guide to Technical Bulletins....................................4

2 How to Use the Technical Bulletins .................................................................................................................4

2.1 Minimum NFIP Floodplain Management Criteria..............................................................................4

2.2 Best Practices..........................................................................................................................................5

2.3 Building Codes and Standards..............................................................................................................6

2.4 NFIP Flood Insurance Considerations.................................................................................................7

3 Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations and Technical Bulletins..................................................................................7

4 Key Concepts and Requirements for Structures ........................................................................................... 14

4.1 Special Flood Hazard Areas................................................................................................................ 14

4.2 Lowest Floor, Enclosure, and Basement .............................................................................................16

4.3 Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage...........................................................................16

4.4 Open Foundations in Zone V.............................................................................................................. 17

5 Acronyms and Key Terms..............................................................................................................................18

5.1 Acronyms Used in the Technical Bulletins ........................................................................................18

5.2 Glossary of Terms Used in Technical Bulletins..................................................................................19

6 Supplemental Information.............................................................................................................................24

6.1 How to Obtain Technical Bulletins.....................................................................................................24

6.2 How to Submit Comments on the Technical Bulletins .....................................................................24

6.3 How to Get More Information ............................................................................................................24

6.4 FEMA Regional Offices .......................................................................................................................24

7 Index of Key Words and Subjects in the Technical Bulletins .........................................................................27

8 References ....................................................................................................................................................29

8.1 References.............................................................................................................................................29

8.2 Useful Resources..................................................................................................................................30
ii NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

List of Figures

Figure 1: Typical flood zones from coastal and riverine flood sources......................................................15

Figure 2: Lowest floor reference point for Zone A (at top of lowest floor) versus Zone V 

(at bottom of lowest horizontal structural member of lowest floor) ..........................................16

Figure 3: Locations of FEMA Headquarters and 10 FEMA Regional Offices...........................................25

List of Tables

Table 1: Technical Bulletin Synopses............................................................................................................2

Table 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts....................................8

Table 3: FEMA Headquarters and Regional Office Contact Information...............................................26
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 iii

Acronyms

ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

BFE base flood elevation

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

DFE design flood elevation

DHS Department of Homeland Security

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

FHBM Flood Hazard Boundary Map

FIMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration

FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map

FIS Flood Insurance Study

IBC International Building Code®

ICC International Code Council®

I-Codes International Codes®

IRC International Residential Code®

NFIP National Flood Insurance Program

SEI Structural Engineering Institute

SFHA Special Flood Hazard Area

TB Technical Bulletin

NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 1

1 Introduction and Background

Beginning in the early 1990s, the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration of the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued 11 Technical Bulletins that provide guidance on 

interpreting, enforcing, and complying with the minimum building performance requirements in the 

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations (Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations 

[CFR] Parts 59 and 60). These requirements are intended to reduce the loss of life and property as well as 

the economic and social hardships that can result from flooding.

The NFIP is a Federal program established by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended 

(42 U.S. Code §§ 4011 et seq.). The primary purposes of the Act are to:

• Better indemnify individuals for flood losses through insurance

• Reduce future flood damage through State and community floodplain management regulations

• Reduce Federal expenditures for disaster assistance and flood control

To participate in the NFIP, communities must adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that 

meet or exceed NFIP floodplain management requirements. Owners of property located in communities 

that participate can purchase NFIP flood insurance as a protection against the financial impact of flood 

losses.

NFIP REQUIREMENTS AND HIGHER REGULATORY STANDARDS

State and Local Requirements. State or local requirements that are more stringent than the minimum 

requirements of the NFIP take precedence. The Technical Bulletins and other FEMA publications provide 

guidance on the minimum requirements of the NFIP and describe best practices. Design professionals, 

builders, and property owners should contact local officials to determine whether more restrictive 

provisions apply to buildings or sites in question. All other applicable requirements of the State or local 

building codes must also be met.

Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage. As part of issuing permits, local officials must 

review not only proposals for new construction but also for work on existing buildings to determine 

whether the work constitutes Substantial Improvement or repair of Substantial Damage. If the work is 

determined to constitute Substantial Improvement or repair of Substantial Damage, the buildings must 

be brought into compliance with the NFIP requirements for new construction. Some communities modify 

the definitions of Substantial Improvement and/or Substantial Damage to be more restrictive than the 

NFIP minimum requirements. For more information on Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage, 

see FEMA P-758, Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference (2010), and FEMA 213, 

Answers to Questions About Substantially Improved/Substantially Damaged Buildings (2018).

Higher Building Elevation Requirements. Some communities require that buildings be elevated above 

the NFIP minimum requirement. The additional elevation is called freeboard. Design professionals, 

builders, and property owners should check with local officials to determine whether a community has 

freeboard requirements. References to building elevations in this Technical Bulletin should be construed 

as references to the community’s elevation requirement in areas where freeboard is required.
2 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

The NFIP floodplain management regulations, contained in 44 CFR § 60.3, include minimum building 

performance criteria that apply to (1) new construction, (2) work determined to be Substantial 

Improvement such as improvements, alterations, and additions, and (3) the repair of buildings determined 

to have incurred Substantial Damage and that are in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). 

1.1 Intended Audience

The Technical Bulletins are intended for use primarily by State and local officials who are responsible for 

interpreting and enforcing the NFIP floodplain management regulations.

The Technical Bulletins may also be used by design professionals (e.g., architects, engineers), contractors, 

building owners and operators, planners, and other interested stakeholders to help understand and comply 

with NFIP floodplain management requirements. Using the information in the Technical Bulletins will 

improve the design and construction of buildings, including their utility systems, that are in floodprone 

areas, thereby reducing the potential for damage and increasing building and community resilience.

1.2 Purpose of Technical Bulletins

The Technical Bulletins provide specific FEMA guidance 

for State and local floodplain management officials 

on complying with the NFIP’s minimum floodplain 

management criteria. While the primary focus of the 

Technical Bulletins is on how to meet the minimum NFIP 

floodplain management requirements, they also include 

information on:

• Recommended best practices for reducing flood losses

• Considerations related to NFIP flood insurance rates

• Building codes and standards

Additional information on how to use the Technical 

Bulletins is provided in Section 2.

TECHNICAL BULLETINS 

AND FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT 

BULLETINS

The NFIP Technical Bulletins provide 

guidance on complying with the 

minimum NFIP floodplain management 

requirements that apply to buildings. 

FEMA’s Floodplain Management Bulletins 

provide guidance on administering 

the NFIP requirements that apply to 

development other than buildings and 

guidance on some building requirements. 

The Floodplain Management Bulletins 

are available at https://www.fema.gov/

floodplain-management-publications.

1.3 Synopses of Technical Bulletins (as of June 2019)

Table 1: Technical Bulletin Synopses

TB No. Title (Date) Synopsis

0 User’s Guide to Technical Bulletins 

(2019)

Introduction and background for the TBs, including the intended 

audience, purpose, and synopses of available TBs; how to use the 

TBs; crosswalk of NFIP regulations and the TBs; key concepts and 

requirements used in the TBs; key terms and useful resources; 

supplemental information, including how to obtain copies of the 

TBs; FEMA Headquarters and Regional Office locations; and a key 

word/subject index for the TBs. 
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 3

Table 1: Technical Bulletin Synopses (concluded)

TB No. Title (Date) Synopsis

1 Openings in Foundation Walls and 

Walls of Enclosures Below Elevated 

Buildings in Special Flood Hazard 

Areas (2008) 

Guidance on the NFIP requirements for openings on exterior walls 

and walls of enclosures below elevated buildings in Zones A, AE, 

A1–A30, AR, AO, and AH.

2 Flood Damage-Resistant Materials 

Requirements for Buildings Located 

in Special Flood Hazard Areas (2008)

Guidance on the NFIP requirements on the use of flood damagere¬sistant construction materials in building components below the 

BFE in SFHAs (both Zones A and V). 

3 Non-Residential Floodproofing – 

Requirements and Certification for 

Buildings Located in Special Flood 

Hazard Areas (1993)

Guidance on the NFIP requirements concerning substantially 

impermeable construction and the re¬quired certification for dry 

floodproofed non-residential buildings with lowest floors below the 

BFE in Zones A, AE, A1–A30, AR, AO, and AH.

4 Elevator Installation for Buildings 

Located in Special Flood Hazard 

Areas (2019) 

Guidance on the NFIP requirements for elevator machinery and 

equipment that serve buildings and on the installation of elevators 

below the BFE in SFHAs (both Zones A and V). 

5 Free-of-Obstruction Requirements 

for Buildings Located in Coastal High 

Hazard Areas (2008)

Guidance on NFIP requirements concerning obstructions to 

floodwaters beneath elevated buildings and on building sites in 

Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zones V, VE, and V1-V30).

6 Below-Grade Parking Requirements 

for Buildings Located in Special 

Flood Hazard Areas (1993)

Guidance on the NFIP requirements for below-grade parking garages beneath non-residential buildings located in Zones A, AE, 

A1–A30, AR, AO, and AH.

7 Wet Floodproofing Requirements for 

Structures Located in Special Flood 

Hazard Areas (1993)

Guidance on the NFIP requirements concerning measures referred 

to as “wet floodproofing” applied to certain types of structures in 

Zones A, AE, A1–A30, AR, AO, and AH.

8 Corrosion Protection for Metal 

Connectors and Fasteners in Coastal 

Areas (2019)

Why maintaining the load paths in buildings is important and 

the important role that the proper corrosion protection of metal 

connectors and fasteners has in ensuring that buildings in coastal 

areas are adequately anchored and connected to resist floods and 

high wind events.

9 Design and Construction Guidance 

for Breakaway Walls Below Elevated 

Buildings Located in Coastal High 

Hazard Areas (2008)

Prescriptive, simplified, and performance-based design 

approaches to meeting NFIP requirements in the design and 

construction of wood-framed breakaway walls beneath elevated 

buildings in Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zones V, VE, and V1 30).

10 Ensuring That Structures Built on 

Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard 

Areas Are Reasonably Safe From 

Flooding (2001)

Regulatory and technical guidance on ensuring that the 

construction of the following buildings are reasonably safe from 

flooding: buildings with various types of foundations, including 

basements, in areas that have been proposed to be removed from 

the SFHA through the placement of fill and in areas near the SFHA.

11 Crawlspace Construction for 

Buildings Located in Special Flood 

Hazard Areas (2001)

Interim guidance on minimum NFIP requirements and best 

practices for crawlspace construction, including requirements for 

below-grade crawlspace construction that may extend 1 or 2 feet 

below grade.

BFE = base flood elevation

FEMA = Federal Emergency Management Agency

NFIP = National Flood Insurance Program

SFHA = Special Flood Hazard Area

TB = Technical Bulletin
4 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

1.4 Organization of Technical Bulletin 0 – User’s Guide 

to Technical Bulletins

This User’s Guide to Technical Bulletins contains:

• Information on how to use the Technical Bulletins

• Crosswalk of the NFIP regulations and the Technical Bulletins

• Key concepts and requirements in the Technical Bulletins

• Glossary of acronyms and key terms

• How to obtain copies of Technical Bulletins and submit comments

• FEMA Headquarters and Regional office contact information

• Index of key words and subjects in the Technical Bulletins

• References and resources

2 How to Use the Technical Bulletins

FEMA revises or develops new Technical Bulletins as needed to provide guidance to State and local 

officials, design professionals, contractors, building owners and operators, planners, and other interested 

stakeholders to help them comply with NFIP floodplain management requirements.

The Technical Bulletins are focused on minimum NFIP floodplain management criteria. They also 

provide guidance on best practices for floodplain management and flood hazard-resistant construction, 

building codes and standards, and NFIP flood insurance considerations. 

MINIMUM FLOODPLAIN 

MANAGEMENT CRITERIA

The guidance in the Technical Bulletins 

represents established, application 

methodologies for, minimum NFIP floodplain 

management criteria.

REASONABLY SAFE FROM FLOODING

The Technical Bulletins can be used by 

communities to help them evaluate whether 

proposed development will be reasonably safe 

from flooding.

2.1 Minimum NFIP Floodplain 

Management Criteria

To participate in the NFIP, communities must adopt 

regulations that meet or exceed the minimum 

requirements in 44 CFR § 60.3. The Technical 

Bulletins provide specific FEMA guidance on 

complying with minimum NFIP floodplain 

management requirements. If a community chooses 

not to use the methods or implement the measures 

that are described in the Technical Bulletins, the 

community must demonstrate how it is meeting the 

requirements of 44 CFR § 60.3.

In addition to the community’s responsibility to 

ensure specific building requirements are met, 

such as elevating or dry floodproofing buildings, 
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 5

elevating or otherwise protecting utilities, and installing openings in enclosure walls, communities are 

also required to review development proposals “to determine whether such proposals will be reasonably 

safe from flooding” (44 CFR § 60.3(a)(4)).

To participate in the NFIP, all communities must adopt 

a resolution or ordinance that expresses a “commitment 

to recognize and evaluate flood hazards in all official 

actions and to take such other official action as reasonably 

necessary to carry out the objectives of the program” (44 CFR 

§ 59.22(a)(8)). This is in addition to the general requirement

that communities “take into account flood hazards to the

extent that they are known in all official actions relating to

land management and use” (44 CFR § 60.1(c)).

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT 

TO REDUCING FLOOD LOSSES

Using the guidance in the Technical 

Bulletins illustrates a community’s 

commitment toward evaluating and 

addressing flood hazards.

2.2 Best Practices

Some of the best practices for floodplain management and 

flood hazard-resistant construction that are described in 

the Technical Bulletins are recommendations for increasing 

hazard resistance in buildings and their utility systems and for 

reducing the loss of life and property and economic and social 

hardships. 

FEMA strongly encourages that these best practices be:

• Incorporated into State or community floodplain

management ordinances or building codes

• Implemented by designers, builders, or other stakeholders

to reduce risk and improve resilience

• Used to potentially lower NFIP flood insurance premiums

Many of these best practices are based on field-verified data including data from decades of post-disaster 

building performance assessments. 

USE OF SHALL OR MUST

“Shall” or “must” in the Technical 

Bulletins indicates official guidance 

on methods or measures required 

for compliance with 44 CFR 

§ 60.3. Other measures, such

as best practices, do not have

“shall” or “must.” FEMA strongly

encourages that these measures

be considered.

EXAMPLE OF A BEST PRACTICE FROM TECHNICAL BULLETIN 2, 

FLOOD DAMAGE-RESISTANT MATERIALS REQUIREMENTS

If the lowest floor of a building is elevated higher than the BFE, which is common when the owner wants a 

full story of elevation to accommodate parking under the building, FEMA recommends that flood damageresistant materials also be used up to the level of the lowest floor to reduce damage in these areas should 

flooding exceed the BFE.
6 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

2.3 Building Codes and Standards

In addition to complying with the NFIP requirements, all 

new construction, Substantial Improvements, and repair 

of Substantial Damage must comply with the applicable 

building codes and standards that have been adopted and 

that are enforced by States and communities. Building codes 

govern the design, construction, alteration, and maintenance 

of structures. They specify the minimum requirements 

to adequately safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of 

building occupants. Rather than create and maintain their 

own building codes, most States and local jurisdictions adopt 

the International Codes® (I-Codes®), which are a family of 

model building codes published by the International Code 

Council® (ICC®).

I-Codes include the International Residential Code®

(IRC®), International Building Code® (IBC®), International

Existing Building Code® (IEBC®), and codes that govern the

installation of mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas service, and

other aspects of building construction. Provisions in Stateand community-adopted building codes can vary from these

model codes, so coordination with local building officials is

necessary to confirm which requirements apply within a given

jurisdiction.

The IBC applies to all applicable buildings and structures 

whereas the scope of the IRC is limited to one- and two-family 

dwellings and townhomes not more than three stories above 

grade plane. The IBC can be used to design dwellings, but it is used primarily for buildings and structures 

other than dwellings within the IRC scope. The flood provisions in the IBC are included by reference to 

ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction, a standard developed by the American Society of Civil 

Engineers (ASCE).

FEMA has deemed that the latest published editions of the I-Codes meet or exceed NFIP requirements 

for buildings and structures. Excerpts of the flood provisions of the I-Codes are available on FEMA’s 

Building Code Resource webpage (http://www.fema.gov/building-code-resources).

The joint ICC and FEMA publication Reducing Flood Losses Through the International Codes: Coordinating 

Building Codes and Floodplain Management Regulations, 4th Edition (2014) recommends that communities 

coordinate the administration of floodplain management provisions and building codes. Differences in 

requirements between the regulatory tools can lead to inconsistencies or confusion when administering 

and enforcing requirements for development in floodprone areas.

BUILDING CODES 

AND STANDARDS COMPARISON 

WITH NFIP REQUIREMENTS

Each Technical Bulletin provides a 

comparison of the building codes 

and standards that are related 

to the Technical Bulletin’s topic 

and the NFIP requirements. The 

comparison indicates the aspects 

of the codes/standards and 

the NFIP requirements that are 

equivalent and the aspects of the 

codes/standards that exceed the 

NFIP requirements.

BUILDING CODE ADOPTION 

AND ENFORCEMENT

Building codes are only 

enforceable if adopted by the State 

or community but can serve as 

best practices in communities that 

have not adopted codes.
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 7

2.4 NFIP Flood Insurance Considerations

Each Technical Bulletin addresses NFIP flood insurance considerations related to the topic of the 

Technical Bulletin. The following stakeholders should be aware of these considerations:

• Local officials, designers, builders, and other stakeholders

• Property owners who are concerned about the impact of design and construction decisions on their

NFIP flood insurance premiums

NFIP flood insurance premiums are based on factors that include, 

but are not limited to, flood risk zone, elevation of the lowest floor 

above or below the BFE, type of building and foundation, the 

number of floors, and whether there is a basement or enclosure 

below the elevated building.

The Technical Bulletins address situations in which a compliant 

building might still be subject to higher NFIP flood insurance 

premiums. As only one example, Technical Bulletin 3, NonResidential Floodproofing – Requirements and Certification for Buildings 

Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas, notes that the minimum 

NFIP requirements allow a new or Substantially Improved nonresidential building in Zone A to have a lowest floor below the BFE, 

provided that the building has been designed, constructed, and certified to be floodproofed and meets 

established criteria. However, while the building needs to be protected only to the BFE for floodplain 

management purposes, freeboard is considered for NFIP flood insurance rating purposes. Because of 

the additional risk associated with any floodproofed building, for NFIP flood insurance rating, 1 foot is 

subtracted from the elevation to which a building has been floodproofed. Therefore, to receive an NFIP 

insurance rating based on the BFE, the building must be floodproofed to an elevation of at least 1 foot 

above the BFE.

NFIP FLOOD INSURANCE

The Technical Bulletins 

describe how NFIP flood 

insurance premiums can be 

affected by changes in design 

and construction. For example, 

some best practices can 

significantly lower annual NFIP 

flood insurance premiums.

3 Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations 

and Technical Bulletins

Table 2 is a crosswalk of select NFIP regulations and the Technical Bulletins that provide guidance on 

them. The table is intended to be a general guide to the Technical Bulletins; it does not include all of 

the NFIP regulations. See the index in Section 7 for more information on where to find guidance in the 

Technical Bulletins on specific NFIP regulations.
8 NFIP TECHNICAL B

Table 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts

NFIP RegulationApplies to All Flood Zones44 CFR § 60.3(a)(3)Review all permit applications to determine whether proposed building sites will be reasonably safe from flooding. If a proposed building site is in a flood-prone area, all new construction and substantial improvements shall (i) be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure resulting from hydrodynamic and hydrostatic loads, including the effects of buoyancy, (ii) be constructed with materials resistant to flood damage, (iii) be constructed by methods and practices that minimize flood damages, and (iv) be constructed with electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing, and air conditioning 

Technical Bulletin Relevant to the NFIP RegulationTechnical Bulletin 1Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures Below Elevated Buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Key Concepts in the NFIP Regulations Covered in the Technical BulletinsFlood openings in foundation walls aenclosures relieve hydrostatic loads, the basic performance requirement tcollapse, or lateral movement due to 

Technical Bulletin 2Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Typical construction materials are claor unacceptable for use below the Bmaterials improves resistance to floo

Technical Bulletin 3Non-Residential Floodproofing — Requirements and Certification for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

When designed to account for base flfloodproofed buildings meet the basrequirement to be constructed using practices that minimize flood damag

equipment and other service facilities that Technical Bulletin 4 Installing elevators and associated eare designed and/or located so as to prevent Elevator Installation for Buildings BFE prevents water from entering or water from entering or accumulating within the Located in Special Flood Hazard most elevator components during cocomponents during conditions of flooding. Areas

Technical Bulletin 5 Obstructions that divert or obstruct tFree-of-Obstruction Requirements floodwater below elevated buildings for Buildings Located in Coastal High impose additional flood loads on fouHazard Areas adjacent buildings.Technical Bulletin 6 Non-residential buildings in Zone A mBelow-Grade Parking Requirements proofed, below-grade parking garagefor Buildings Located in Special building and garage are designed to Flood Hazard Areas loads.Technical Bulletin 7 Measures known as “wet floodproofiWet Floodproofing Requirements for for specific types of buildings, includStructures Located in Special Flood garages, storage buildings, some agHazard Areas and buildings that meet the definition 

dependent use. Wet floodproofing reloads on buildings by allowing floodw
9 NFIP TECHNICAL B

NFIP Regulation

Technical Bulletin Relevant to the NFIP Regulation

Key Concepts in the NFIP Regulations Covered in the Technical Bulletins

44 CFR § 60.3(a)(3) (cont.) Technical Bulletin 8

Corrosion Protection for Metal Connectors and Fasteners in Coastal Areas

Corrosion protection for metal fastenin buildings in coastal areas is imporensure that the buildings are adequaconnected to resist flood loads. In buexposed to moisture and airborne saconnectors and fasteners from corrostructural failure.

Technical Bulletin 9Design and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls Below Elevated Buildings Located in Coastal High Hazard Areas

Walls designed to break away under prevent the walls from obstructing thto minimize the transfer of flood and foundations of elevated buildings.

Technical Bulletin 10Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding

Residual flood hazards may exist on modified by placement of compacted and are subject to the requirement to from flooding.

Technical Bulletin 11Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

The ground or floor inside certain cramay be below grade if specific limitaincluding, but not limited to, flood vewall height, and depth below grade.

Applies to All Zone A44 CFR § 60.3(c)(2)Require that all new construction and substantial improvements of residential structures within Zones A1 30, AE, and AH zones on the community’s FIRM have the lowest floor (including basement) elevated to or above the base flood level.

Technical Bulletin 10Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding

The requirement that the lowest floorof new and Substantially Improved reZone A be at or above the BFE may bbuildings on compacted earthen fill m

Technical Bulletin 11Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Although technically basements, belocrawlspaces are permitted if commuregulations to explicitly allow below-with specific limitations including, buvelocities, perimeter wall height, and 

Table 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts (continued)
10 NFIP TECHNICAL B

NFIP Regulation

Technical Bulletin Relevant to the NFIP Regulation

Key Concepts in the NFIP Regulations Covered in the Technical Bulletins

44 CFR § 60.3(c)(3)Require that all new construction and substantial improvements of non-residential structures within Zones A1-A30, AE, and AH zones on the community’s 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.

Technical Bulletin 3Non-Residential Floodproofing – Requirements and Certification for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Numerous planning and engineering into whether dry floodproofing is a vifloodproofing features include watertand floors that are adequately reinforfloodwater pressures and impact forcby floating debris, use of membranes installation of pumps, and utility prot

Technical Bulletin 6Below-Grade Parking Requirements for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Below-grade parking garages are peresidential buildings in Zone A if the floodproofed.

Technical Bulletin 10Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding

The requirement that the lowest floorbasement, of new and Substantially residential buildings in Zone A be at be met by elevating buildings on commaterial.

Technical Bulletin 11Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Although technically basements, belocrawlspaces are permitted if commuregulations to explicitly allow below-with specific limitations including, buvelocities, perimeter wall height, and 

44 CFR § 60.3(c)(4)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 ...

Technical Bulletin 3Non-Residential Floodproofing – Requirements and Certification for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

A Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Rhas been developed by FEMA for use of non-residential floodproofing desicontains information on the building floodproofing design.

Table 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts (continued)
11 NFIP TECHNICAL B

NFIP Regulation

Technical Bulletin Relevant to the NFIP Regulation

Key Concepts in the NFIP Regulations Covered in the Technical Bulletins

44 CFR § 60.3(c)(5)Require, for all new construction and substantial improvements, that fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor that are usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement and which are subject to flooding shall be 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 registered professional engineer or architect or meet or exceed the following minimum criteria: 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. The bottom of all openings shall be no higher than one foot above grade. Openings may be equipped with screens, louvers, valves, or other coverings or devices provided that they permit the automatic entry and exit of floodwaters.

Technical Bulletin 1Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures Below Elevated Buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Flood openings in foundation walls aenclosures relieve hydrostatic loads, the basic performance requirement tcollapse, or lateral movement due to Proper design, selection, and installaopenings help meet the basic performautomatically equalize hydrostatic flowalls and prevent flotation, collapse, due to flood forces.

Technical Bulletin 7Wet Floodproofing Requirements for Structures Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Measures known as “wet floodproofifor specific types of buildings, includgarages, storage buildings, some agand buildings that meet the definition dependent use. Wet floodproofing reloads on buildings by allowing floodw

Technical Bulletin 11Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Crawlspaces, including below-grade treated as enclosures below elevated grade crawlspaces may be permitted modify local regulations to explicitly crawlspaces with specific limitations limited to, flood velocities, perimeter depth below grade.

Applies to Zone AO44 CFR § 60.3(c)(7)Require within any AO zone on the community’s FIRM that all new construction and substantial improvements of residential structures 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 community’s FIRM (at least two feet if no depth number is specified).

Technical Bulletin 10Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding

Placing the lowest floor, including baSubstantially Improved residential buat or above the BFE may be accompbuildings on compacted earthen fill m

Technical Bulletin 11Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Although technically basements, belocrawlspaces are permitted if commuregulations to explicitly allow below-with specific limitations including, buvelocities, perimeter wall height, and 

Table 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts (continued)
12 NFIP TECHNICAL B

NFIP Regulation

Technical Bulletin Relevant to the NFIP Regulation

Key Concepts in the NFIP Regulations Covered in the Technical Bulletins

44 CFR § 60.3(c)(8)Require within any AO zone on the community’s FIRM that all new construction or substantial improvements of nonresidential structures (i) have the lowest floor (including basement)elevated above the highest adjacent grade atleast as high as the depth number specified infeet on the community’s FIRM (at least two feetif no depth number is specified), or (ii) togetherwith attendant utility and sanitary facilities,be completely floodproofed to that [baseflood] level to meet the floodproofing standardspecified in paragraph 60.3(c)(3)(ii).

Technical Bulletin 3Non-Residential Floodproofing — Requirements and Certification for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Numerous planning and engineering into whether dry floodproofing is a vifloodproofing features include watertand floors that are adequately reinforbase floodwater pressures and impaby floating debris, use of membranes installation of pumps, and utility prot

Technical Bulletin 6Below-Grade Parking Requirements for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

Below-grade parking garages are peresidential buildings in Zone A if the floodproofed.

Applies to All Zone V44 CFR § 60.3(e)(4)A community shall require that all new construction and substantial improvements in Zones V1-30, VE, and also Zone V if base flood elevation data is available, on the community’s FIRM, are elevated on pilings and columns so that: (i) the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor (excluding the pilings or columns) is elevated to or above the base flood level; and (ii) the pile or column foundation and the structure attached thereto is anchored to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement due to the combined effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components. Water loading values used shall be those associated with the base flood. Wind loading values used shall be those required by applicable State or local building standards. A registered professional engineer or architect shall develop or review the structural design, specifications, and plans for the construction, and shall certify that the design and methods of construction to be used are in accordance with accepted standards of practice for meeting the provisions of paragraphs (e)(4)(i) and (ii) of this section.

Technical Bulletin 5Free-of-Obstruction Requirements for Buildings Located in Coastal High Hazard Areas

Free-of-obstruction requirements apBFE and below the lowest horizontal the lowest floor of buildings in Zone VThese elevation and foundation requstructurally attached decks, detacherestroom buildings/comfort stations.

Technical Bulletin 8Corrosion Protection for Metal Connectors and Fasteners in Coastal Areas

Where buildings are exposed to moissalt, corrosion of light gauge metal cfasteners contributes to the loss of loprotection for metal fasteners and coin coastal areas is important in helpinthe buildings are adequately anchorecollapse, and lateral movement due teffects of wind and water loads actinall building components.

Table 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts (continued)
13 NFIP TECHNICAL B

NFIP Regulation

Technical Bulletin Relevant to the NFIP Regulation

Key Concepts in the NFIP Regulations Covered in the Technical Bulletins

44 CFR § 60.3(e)(5)Provide that all new construction and substantial improvements within Zones V1-30, VE, and V on the community’s FIRM have the space below the lowest floor either free of obstruction or constructed with non-supporting 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. For the purposes of this section, a breakaway wall shall have a design safe loading resistance of not less than 10 and no more than 20 pounds per square foot. Use of breakaway walls which exceed a design safe loading resistance of 20 pounds per square foot (either by design or when so required by local or State codes) may be permitted only if a registered professional engineer or architect certifies that the designs proposed meet the following conditions: (i) Breakaway wall collapse shall result from a water load less than that which would occur during the base flood; and (ii) The elevated portion of the building and supporting foundation system shall not be subject to collapse, displacement, or other structural damage due to the effects of wind and water loads acting simultaneously on all building components (structural and non-structural). Water loading values used shall be those associated with the base flood. Wind loading values used shall be those required by applicable State or local building standards.Such enclosed space shall be useable solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage.

Technical Bulletin 5Free-of-Obstruction Requirements for Buildings Located in Coastal High Hazard Areas

Obstructions that divert or obstruct tfloodwater below elevated buildings impose additional flood loads on fouadjacent buildings.Measures that allow the free flow of flelevated buildings in Zone V include features satisfy the free-of-obstructio(e.g., access stairs and ramps, decksequipment, foundation bracing, gradslabs, accessory structures, fences aseptic systems, comfort stations, swspas).

Technical Bulletin 9Design and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls Below Elevated Buildings Located in Coastal High Hazard Areas

Walls designed to break away under prevent the walls from obstructing thto minimize the transfer of flood and foundations of elevated buildings.

BFE = base flood elevationCFR = Code of Federal RegulationsFEMA = Federal Emergency Management AgencyFIRM = Flood Insurance Rate MapTable 2: Crosswalk of NFIP Regulations, Technical Bulletins, and Key Concepts (concluded)
14 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

4 Key Concepts and Requirements 

for Structures

Users of the Technical Bulletins should have a basic understanding of the following key concepts:

• Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs)

• Lowest floor, enclosure, and basement

• Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage

• Open foundations in Zone V

These concepts underlie the requirements that are critical in determining compliance with minimum 

NFIP floodplain management criteria. Most of these concepts and other key terms used in NFIP 

regulations are defined in Sections 4 and 5.

4.1 Special Flood Hazard Areas

The SFHA is the land area in the floodplain subject to flooding by the base flood. SFHAs are shown on 

FIRMs prepared by FEMA as Zones A and V. The base flood is the flood that has a 1 percent chance of 

being equaled or exceeded in any given year (commonly called the “100 year flood”). FIRMs also show 

Zone X, which are areas outside the SFHA.

In communities that participate in the NFIP, the minimum 

floodplain management requirements govern development in 

SFHAs, including buildings and other structures, subdivisions, 

new and replacement water supply systems, and new and 

replacement sanitary sewage systems. Floodplain management 

requirements for buildings and other structures can differ 

depending on the flood zone in which a structure is located.

Figure 1 shows the typical flood zones from coastal and riverine 

flood sources. The criteria for construction in Zones V, VE, and 

V1-V30, which are collectively referred to as Zone V or Coastal 

High Hazard Areas, are generally more stringent than in Zones 

A, AE, A1–A30, AR, AO, and AH, which are collectively referred 

to as Zone A. Zone A exists in both coastal and riverine flood 

source environments.

Zone A. In SFHAs identified as Zone A (Zones A, AE, A1–A30, AR, AO, and AH), the principal source of 

flooding is runoff from rainfall, snowmelt, or coastal storms when the potential base flood wave height 

is less than 3.0 feet. Zone A has minimum requirements that specify the elevation of the lowest floor, 

including the basement, in relation to the BFE or depth of the base flood. Specific requirements apply to 

fully enclosed areas below the lowest floor.

NFIP DEFINITION OF 

DEVELOPMENT

“Any man-made change to 

improved or unimproved real 

estate, including but not limited 

to buildings or other structures, 

mining, dredging, filling, grading, 

paving, excavation or drilling 

operations, or storage of 

equipment or materials” (44 CFR 

§ 59.1).
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 15

Figure 1: Typical flood zones from coastal and riverine flood sources

COASTAL A ZONE

Since 2009, coastal flood studies have examined 

wave conditions in Zone A. Based on the studies, 

FEMA delineates an informational line called the 

Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) on FIRMs 

where wave heights in Zone A are expected to be 

1.5 feet or greater during base flood conditions. 

See Figure 1. 

FEMA uses the term “Coastal A Zone” to refer 

to areas seaward of the LiMWA and landward of 

the Zone V boundary or landward of the shoreline 

where Zone V is not identified. The term refers 

to some areas identified as Zone A that are 

subject to flooding from a coastal or tidal source. 

However, Coastal A Zones are not identified on 

FIRMs, and the NFIP regulations for development 

in SFHAs and the NFIP regulations that govern 

the identification of SFHAs on maps do not use 

the term “Coastal A Zone.” 

The NFIP floodplain management requirements 

regulate areas identified as Coastal A Zones to 

Zone A standards. FEMA’s Community Rating 

System awards credits to communities that 

regulate Coastal A Zones to Zone V standards. 

The latest editions of the I-Codes and ASCE 24 

require buildings in Coastal A Zones to meet 

Zone V requirements; FEMA guidance, best 

practices, and FEMA Mitigation Assessment 

Team reports support this requirement.

Zone V. Zone V (Zones V, VE, and V1-V30), 

also called Coastal High Hazard Areas, extends 

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 tsunamis where the potential base 

flood wave height is 3.0 feet or more. Zone V has 

minimum requirements pertaining to the siting 

of buildings, elevation of the lowest horizontal 

structural member of the lowest floor in relation 

to the BFE, foundation design, enclosures below 

the lowest floor, and alterations of sand dunes 

and mangrove stands.

Zone X. Zone X identifies areas outside the 

SFHA. Zone X (shaded) identifies two areas 

of moderate flood hazard: (1) areas subject to 

inundation by the flood that has a 0.2 percent 

chance of being equaled or exceeded during 

any given year (commonly called the “500-year 

flood”) and (2) areas protected by accredited 

levee systems. Zone X (unshaded) identifies 

areas of minimal flood hazard, which are outside 

the 500-year floodplain. The NFIP floodplain 

management requirements do not apply in 

Zone X.

Example of Criteria Difference. An example 

of a difference in criteria for Zone A and Zone 

V is where the lowest floor is measured (see 

Figure 2):
16 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

• In Zone A, the lowest floor (including basement) of a structure must be elevated to or above the BFE.

• In Zone V, the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor of a structure 

(excluding pilings or columns) must be elevated to or above the BFE.

Figure 2: 

Lowest floor reference point for 

Zone A (at top of lowest floor) 

versus Zone V (at bottom of lowest 

horizontal structural member of 

lowest floor)

4.2 Lowest Floor, Enclosure, and Basement

Under the NFIP:

• The lowest floor is defined as “the lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An 

unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage 

in an area other than a basement area is not considered a building’s lowest floor; Provided, that such 

enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design 

requirements of § 60.3” (44 CFR § 59.1).

• An enclosure is an area below the lowest floor that is enclosed on all sides by walls.

• A basement is defined as “any area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on 

all sides” (44 CFR § 59.1).

4.3 Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage

The repair or improvement of buildings presents an opportunity to reduce future flood damage to the 

structures and to improve their resilience. Local floodplain management regulations based on the NFIP 

and building codes contain requirements that apply not only to new structures but also to buildings with 

proposed Substantial Improvements or repair of Substantial Damage (described below).

As part of issuing permits, local officials must review not only proposals for new construction but also for 

work on existing buildings to determine whether the work constitutes Substantial Improvement or repair 

of Substantial Damage. If the work is determined to constitute Substantial Improvement or repair of 

Substantial Damage, the buildings must be brought into compliance with the NFIP requirements for new 

construction, including the requirement that the lowest floor be elevated to or above the BFE. Meeting 

this requirement can also be accomplished by demolishing the building followed by constructing a new 

building that meets the NFIP requirements on the same site or by relocating the building to outside the 

SFHA. More information on Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage can be found in FEMA 
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 17

P-758, Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference (2010), and FEMA 213, Answers to Questions 

About Substantially Improved/Substantially Damaged Buildings (2018).

Substantial Improvement is defined in 44 CFR § 59.1 as:

... 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 which have incurred 

“substantial damage,” regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, 

however, include either:

(1) Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local 

health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code 

enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions 

or

(2)Any alteration of a “historic structure,” provided that the alteration will not preclude the 

structure’s designation as a “historic structure.”

Substantial Damage is defined in 44 CFR § 59.1 as “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 Damage can have any cause, 

not just flooding.

Some communities modify the definitions of Substantial Improvement and Substantial Damage 

requirements in one of two ways: (1) adopting a lower threshold than 50 percent (e.g., 40 percent, 30 

percent) or (2) tracking costs of improvements and costs of repairs over a specific period, referred to as 

“cumulative Substantial Improvement.”

4.4 Open Foundations in Zone V

Coastal waves and flooding can exert strong hydrodynamic 

forces on any building element that is exposed to waves or the 

flow of water. Therefore, open foundation systems that offer 

minimal resistance to waves and floodwaters passing beneath 

elevated buildings (e.g., pile and column foundations) are 

required in Zone V.

The NFIP requires that all new construction and Substantially 

Improved buildings in Zone V be elevated to or above the BFE 

on open foundations (pilings, columns, and sometimes shear 

walls) that allow floodwater and waves to pass beneath the 

elevated structure. The NFIP further requires that areas below 

elevated structures remain free of obstructions that would 

prevent the free flow of coastal floodwater and waves during a 

base flood event.

COASTAL A ZONE 

WAVE HAZARD

Coastal A Zones are subject to 

conditions similar to those in Zone 

V (Coastal High Hazard Areas), 

including breaking waves, erosion, 

and scour.

Although the minimum NFIP 

requirements for Coastal A Zones 

are the same as Zone A, it is 

recommended that structures in 

Coastal A Zones be designed and 

constructed to Zone V standards.
18 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

5 Acronyms and Key Terms

The acronyms and key terms that are used in the Technical Bulletins are defined in Sections 5.1 and 5.2, 

respectively. 

5.1 Acronyms Used in the Technical Bulletins

ACI American Concrete Institute

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act

AF&PA American Forest & Paper Association

ANSI American National Standards 

Institute

ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

ASME American Society of Mechanical 

Engineers

ASTM American Society for Testing and 

Materials

AWC American Wood Council

BFE base flood elevation

CAZ Coastal A Zone

CCA chromated copper arsenate

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CMU concrete masonry unit

DFE design flood elevation

EIFS Exterior Insulation Finishing System

FEMA Federal Emergency Management 

Agency

FHBM Flood Hazard Boundary Map

FIA Federal Insurance Administration

FIMA Federal Insurance and Mitigation 

Administration

FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map

FIS Flood Insurance Study

IBC International Building Code

ICC International Code Council

ICC-ES ICC Evaluation Service

I-Codes International Codes

IEBC International Existing Building Code

IMOA International Molybdenum 

Association

IRC International Residential Code

LAG lowest adjacent grade

LHSM lowest horizontal structural member

LiMWA Limit of Moderate Wave Action

LOMC Letter of Map Change

LOMR-F Letter of Map Revision based on fill

MAT Mitigation Assessment Team

MRL machine room-less traction elevators

MSJC Masonry Standard Joint Committee

NDS National Design Specification

NEMA National Emergency Management 

Agency; National Electrical 

Manufacturers Association

NFIP National Flood Insurance Program

NFPA National Fire Protection Association

NGVD National Geodetic Vertical Datum

oz/ft2 ounces per square foot

PFD primary frontal dune

PWF Permanent Wood Foundation

SBX/DOT sodium borate disodium octaborate 

tetrahydrate

SEI Structural Engineering Institute

SFHA Special Flood Hazard Area

SFIP Standard Flood Insurance Policy

SSPC Society for Protective Coatings

TB Technical Bulletin

TPI Truss Plate Institute

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

VPL vertical platform lift

WTCA Wood Truss Council of America
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 19

5.2 Glossary of Terms Used 

in Technical Bulletins

The quoted material from ASCE 24-14 in this glossary is used 

with permission.

Accessory (or appurtenant) structure. “Structure which is on 

the same parcel of property as the principal structure to 

be insured and the use of which is incidental to the use of 

the principal structure” (44 CFR § 59.1). Detached garages 

used for parking of vehicles and limited storage and small 

sheds used for limited storage are considered accessory 

structures.

Area of special flood hazard. “Land in the flood plain within a community subject to a 1 percent or 

greater chance of flooding in any given year. The area may be designated as Zone A on the Flood 

Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM). After detailed ratemaking has been completed in preparation for 

publication of the flood insurance rate map, Zone A usually is refined into Zones A, AO, AH, A1-30, 

AE, A99, AR, AR/A1-30, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, or V1 30, VE, or V. For purposes of 

these regulations, the term ‘special flood hazard area’ is synonymous in meaning with the phrase 

‘area of special flood hazard’ ” (44 CFR § 59.1).

Base flood. “Flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year” (44 CFR 

§ 59.1).

Base flood elevation (BFE). The computed elevation to which floodwater is anticipated to rise during 

the base flood, including wave height, relative to the datum specified on the Flood Insurance Rate 

Map. The BFE is shown on the FIRM for Zones AE, AH, A1–A30, AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/A1–A30, 

V1–V30, and VE. For Zones AR/AH and AR/AO, a depth of flooding is provided for the 1 percent 

annual chance event. SFHAs without BFEs are identified on FIRMs as Zone A or Zone V. When 

BFEs are not identified, communities must obtain, review and reasonably use any BFE data available 

from a Federal, State, or other source.

Basement. “Area of the building having its floor subgrade (below ground level) on all sides” (44 CFR 

§ 59.1). NFIP regulations do not allow basements to extend below the BFE except in dry-floodproofed,

non-residential buildings.

Breakaway wall. “A wall that is not part of the structural support of the building and is intended through 

its design and construction to collapse under specific lateral loading forces without causing damage 

to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system” (44 CFR § 59.1)

Coastal A Zone. “Area within a special flood hazard area, landward of a V Zone or landward of an open 

coast without mapped V Zones. In a Coastal A Zone, the principal source of flooding must be 

astronomical tides, storm surges, seiches, or tsunamis, not riverine flooding. During the base flood 

conditions, the potential for breaking wave heights shall be greater than or equal to 1.5 feet. The 

inland limit of the Coastal A Zone is (1) the Limit of Moderate Wave Action if delineated on a FIRM, or 

(2) designated by the authority having jurisdiction” (ASCE 24-14).

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

Readers are cautioned that the 

definitions of some of the terms 

that are used in the Technical 

Bulletins are not the same when 

used by the NFIP for the purpose 

of rating flood insurance policies. 

Definitions specific to NFIP 

flood insurance can be found in 

FEMA’s Flood Insurance Manual.
20 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

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” (44 CFR § 59.1). The coastal high hazard area is shown on a 

FIRM or other flood hazard map as Zone V, VO, VE, or V1-V30.

Community. “Any State or area or political subdivision thereof, or any Indian tribe or authorized tribal 

organization, or Alaska Native village or authorized native organization, which has authority 

to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations for the areas within its jurisdiction” 

(44 CFR § 59.1).

Design flood. “The flood associated with the greater of the following two areas: (1) area within a floodplain 

subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any year, or (2) area designated as a flood hazard area

on a community’s flood hazard map or otherwise legally designated” (ASCE 24-14).

Design flood elevation (DFE). “Elevation of the design flood, including wave height, relative to the datum 

specified on the community’s flood hazard map” (ASCE 24-14). In areas designated as Zone AO, the 

design flood elevation is the elevation of the highest existing grade of the building’s perimeter plus 

the depth number (in feet) specified on the flood hazard map. In areas designated as Zone AO 

where a depth is not specified on the map, the depth is taken as equal to 2 feet. The DFE is the 

locally adopted regulatory flood elevation. If a community regulates based on the FIRM, the DFE is 

identical to the BFE. If a community chooses to regulate based on a different flood hazard map, a 

lower frequency flood, or adds freeboard, the DFE must be at least as high as the BFE.

Detailing. Design practice of using structural and architectural drawings and specifications to arrange, 

configure, and connect structural and nonstructural building components of a building system. 

Design details convey to the contractor exactly how the structural and nonstructural components of 

a building should be built.

Development. ”Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited 

to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling 

operations or storage of equipment or materials” (44 CFR § 59.1).

Elevation Certificate. An NFIP administrative tool used to document elevation and other information 

necessary to determine compliance with a community’s floodplain management requirements, 

determine proper insurance premium rates, or support requests for Letters of Map Change 

(LOMCs).

Enclosure or enclosed area. Area below an elevated building and enclosed by walls on all sides. The 

NFIP does not explicitly define “enclosure,” but it is mentioned in the definition of “lowest floor.” 

Enclosures may be formed by foundation perimeter walls (crawlspace), framed walls, or breakaway 

walls. Also defined in ASCE 24-14 as the “confined area below the DFE, formed by walls on all sides 

of the enclosed space.”

Existing construction (may also be referred to as existing construction/structures). For the purposes 

of determining flood insurance rates, structures for which the ‘‘start of construction’’ commenced 

before the effective date of the FIRM or before January 1, 1975, for FIRMs effective before that 

date. ‘‘Existing construction’’ may also be referred to as ‘‘existing structures’’ (44 CFR § 59.1). 

Also defined in ASCE 24-14 as “any structure for which the start of construction commenced before 

the effective date of the first floodplain management code, ordinance, or standard adopted by the 

authority having jurisdiction.”
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 21

Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM). “Official map of a community, issued by the Federal Insurance 

Administrator, where the boundaries of the flood, mudslide (i.e., mudflow) related erosion areas 

having special hazards have been designated as Zones A, M and/or E” (44 CFR § 59.1).

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). “Official map of a community, on which ... [FEMA] has delineated 

both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community” 

(44 CFR § 59.1).

Flood Insurance Study (FIS) (flood elevation study). “An examination, evaluation and determination 

of flood hazards and, if appropriate, corresponding water surface elevations, or an examination, 

evaluation and determination of mudslide (i.e., mudflow) and/or flood-related erosion hazards” 

(44 CFR § 59.1). The FIS is the official report provided by FEMA that contains the FIRM, the Flood 

Boundary and Floodway Map (if applicable), the water surface elevations of the base flood, and 

supporting technical data.

Floodplain or floodprone area. “Any land area susceptible to being inundated by water from any source” 

(44 CFR § 59.1).

Floodproofing, dry. “Any combination of structural and non-structural additions, changes, or adjustments 

to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water 

and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents” (44 CFR § 59.1). Referred to simply as “flood 

proofing” in 44 CFR § 59.1. Further defined in ASCE 24-14 as “a combination of measures that 

results in a structure, including the attendant utilities and equipment, being water tight, with all elements 

substantially impermeable and with structural components having the capacity to resist flood loads.”

Floodproofing, wet. “Floodproofing method that relies on the use of flood damage-resistant materials 

and construction techniques in areas of a structure that are below the elevation required by this 

standard by intentionally allowing those areas to flood” (ASCE 24-14). The NFIP does not define 

wet floodproofing. Wet floodproofing measures allow areas to flood in such a way that damage 

to a structure and its contents is minimized by using specific design, construction, and planning 

measures outlined in Technical Bulletin 7, Wet Floodproofing Requirements for Structures Located in 

Special Flood Hazard Areas.

Floodproofing Certificate. An NFIP administrative tool that documents certification by a registered 

professional engineer or architect that the design and methods of construction of a nonresidential 

building are in accordance with accepted practices for meeting a community’s floodplain 

management requirements for floodproofing. This documentation is required for both floodplain 

management requirements and NFIP flood insurance rating purposes.

Flow diversion. Change in the course of flood flow when it encounters an object or structure. Diversion 

can be accompanied by an increase in the local flood level and/or flood velocity when the blockage 

is large relative to the area through which the flow would otherwise pass.

Hydrodynamic loads. “Loads imposed on an object [such as a building or foundation element] by water 

flowing against and around it” (ASCE 24-14). Examples are positive frontal pressure against the 

structure, drag effect along the sides, and negative pressure on the downstream side. The magnitude 

of hydrodynamic load varies as a function of the square of velocity and other factors.
22 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

Hydrostatic loads. “Loads imposed on an object [or a surface, such as a wall or floor slab] by a standing 

mass of water” (ASCE 24-14). Hydrostatic loads can be caused by slowly moving masses of water. 

Hydrostatic load increases as water depth increases.

Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA). “The inland limit of the area affected by [breaking] waves 

greater than 1.5 feet” (FEMA Procedure Memorandum No. 50). FEMA began delineating the 

LiMWA on coastal FIRMs in 2009.

Lowest floor. Lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area of a building, including basement. An unfinished or 

flood-resistant enclosure that is used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage in an 

area other than a basement area is not considered a building’s lowest floor, provided the enclosure is 

built in compliance with applicable requirements.

Net open area. Permanently open area of a non-engineered flood opening.

New construction (may also be referred to as new construction/structures). “... For floodplain 

management purposes, new construction means structures for which the start of construction

commenced on or after the effective date of a floodplain management regulation adopted by a 

community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures” (44 CFR § 59.1). Further 

defined in ASCE 24-14 as “structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the 

effective date of the first floodplain management code, regulation, ordinance, or standard adopted 

by the authority having jurisdiction, including any subsequent improvements to such structures. New 

construction includes work determined to be substantial improvement.”

Opening, engineered. Opening used to meet the requirement in 44 CFR § 60.3(c)(5) that is “certified by 

a registered professional engineer or architect” for meeting the requirement in 44 CFR § 60.3(c)(5) 

to “be designed to automatically equalize hydrostatic flood forces on exterior walls by allowing for 

the entry and exit of floodwaters.”

Opening, non-engineered. Opening used to meet the prescriptive requirement in 44 CFR § 60.3(c)(5) 

to provide “a total net area of not less than one square inch for every square foot of enclosed area 

subject to flooding.”

Primary frontal dune. “A continuous or nearly continuous mound or ridge of sand with relatively steep 

seaward and landward slopes immediately landward and adjacent to the beach and subject to 

erosion and overtopping from high tides and waves during major coastal storms. The inland limit of 

the primary frontal dune occurs at the point where there is a distinct change from a relatively steep 

slope to a relatively mild slope” (44 CFR § 59.1).

Registered design professional. Individual who is registered or licensed to practice his or her design 

profession (e.g., architect, engineer, land surveyor) as defined by the statutory requirements of the 

professional registration laws of the State or jurisdiction in which a project is to be constructed.

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Referred to as “area of special flood hazard.” “Land in the flood 

plain within a community subject to a 1 percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. The 

area may be designated as Zone A on the FHBM. After detailed ratemaking has been completed in 

preparation for publication of the flood insurance rate map, Zone A usually is refined into Zones A, 

AO, AH, A1-30, AE, A99, AR, AR/A1-30, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, or V1-30, VE, or V. 

For purposes of these regulations, the term ‘special flood hazard area’ is synonymous in meaning 

with the phrase ‘area of special flood hazard’” (44 CFR § 59.1).
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 23

Standard residential garage door. A door, typically up to 18 feet wide by up to 8 feet tall, intended for use 

in a residential garage for vehicular access and normally expected to be operated less than 1,500 

cycles per year.

Structure. For floodplain management purposes, “a walled and roofed building, including a gas or liquid 

storage tank, that is principally above ground, as well as a manufactured home” (44 CFR § 59.1).

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” (44 CFR § 59.1).

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. The term does not, however, 

include either:

(1) Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local

health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code

enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions or

(2) Any alteration of a “historic structure,” provided that the alteration will not preclude the

structure’s continued designation as a “historic structure” (44 CFR § 59.1).

Variance. “Grant of relief by a community from the terms of a flood plain management regulation” 

(44 CFR § 59.1).

Wave reflection. Return or redirection of a wave striking an object.

Wave runup. “Rush of wave water running up a slope or structure” (ASCE 24-14). Wave runup occurs as 

waves break and run up beaches, sloping surfaces, and vertical surfaces.
24 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

6 Supplemental Information

6.1 How to Obtain Technical Bulletins

Download Technical Bulletins at no charge from the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/

nfip-technical-bulletins.

Order Technical Bulletins at no charge from the FEMA Publications Warehouse by:

• Calling 1-800-480-2520, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern

• Faxing a request to 1-719-948-9724

• Sending an email to FEMApubs@gpo.gov

6.2 How to Submit Comments on the Technical Bulletins

FEMA welcomes your comments and recommendations on the Technical Bulletins and may include, 

for example:

• Requests for clarifications of the guidance in the Technical Bulletins

• Requests for additional guidance

• Recommendations for new Technical Bulletins

Send your comments to:

DHS/FEMA

ATTN: Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration,

Risk Management Directorate – Building Science Branch

400 C Street, S.W., Sixth Floor

Washington, DC 20472-3020

6.3 How to Get More Information

For questions on any of the Technical Bulletins, email the Building Science Helpline at FEMAbuildingsciencehelp@fema.dhs.gov or call 1-866-927-2104.

For additional guidance on NFIP regulatory requirements, contact your NFIP State Coordinating Agency 

(www.floods.org) or the FEMA Regional office in your Region (see Section 6.4).

6.4 FEMA Regional Offices

The locations of FEMA Headquarters and the 10 FEMA Regional Offices are shown in Figure 3, and 

addresses and telephone numbers are listed in Table 3. Staff members of the FEMA Regional Offices for 

your area can provide you with more information about the NFIP and Technical Bulletins.
25 NFIP TECHNICAL B

Figure 3: Locations of FEMA Headquarters and 10 FEMA Regional Offices
26 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

Table 3: FEMA Headquarters and Regional Office Contact Information

HQ / Region States/Territories Address Phone No.

FEMA / FIMA 

Headquarters

— 400 C Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20472-3020

202-646-2500

800-621-FEMA (3362)

TTY: 800-462-7585

Region I Connecticut, Maine, 

Massachusetts, New 

Hampshire, Rhode Island, 

Vermont

99 High Street

Boston, MA 02110

877-336-2734

Region II New Jersey, New York, Puerto 

Rico, Virgin Islands

One World Trade Center

52nd Floor

New York, NY 10007-0101

212-680-3600

Region III Washington, D.C., Delaware, 

Maryland, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia, West Virginia

615 Chestnut Street

One Independence Mall, 6th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404

215-931-5500

Region IV Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 

Kentucky, Mississippi, North 

Carolina, South Carolina, 

Tennessee

3003 Chamblee Tucker Road

Atlanta, GA 30341-4112

770-220-5200

Region V Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

536 South Clark Street, Sixth Floor

Chicago, IL 60605-1521

312-408-5500

Region VI Arkansas, Louisiana, New 

Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Federal Regional Center

800 North Loop 288

Denton, TX 76209-3698

940-898-5399

Region VII Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, 

Nebraska

9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 300

Kansas City, MO 64114-3372

816-283-7061

Region VIII Colorado, Montana, North 

Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, 

Wyoming

Denver Federal Center

Building 710, Box 25267

Denver, CO 80255-0267

303-235-4800

Region IX Arizona, California, Hawaii, 

Nevada, American Samoa, 

Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, Federated 

States of Micronesia, Guam, 

Republic of the Marshall 

Islands,

1111 Broadway, Suite 1200

Oakland, CA 94607-4052

510-627-7100

Pacific Area Office:

808-851-7900

Region X Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, 

Washington

Federal Regional Center

130 228th Street, SW

Bothell, WA 98021-8627

425-487-4600

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, see http://www.usace.army.

mil/Locations.aspx and http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/sitenav/soils/states/.
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 27

7 Index of Key Words and Subjects 

in the Technical Bulletins

The numbers in the index indicate the Technical Bulletin number.

accessory structures, 1, 5, 7

basement foundation, with lowest openings at the 

BFE, 10

below-grade parking

garage, considered a basement, 6

garage, defined, 6

in Zone A and Zone V, when allowed, 

requirements for, 6

best practices for corrosion resistance, 8

best practices for crawlspace foundations in the 

SFHA, 11

bracing, see foundation, bracing

breakaway wall

failure modes, 9

in Zone V, made of flood damage-resistant 

materials, 2, 9

insurance considerations, 9

NFIP regulatory requirements, 9

specifications for NFIP-compliant 

construction, 9

breaking wave, impact on vertical surface, 9

bulkheads, as possible obstructions in Zone V, 5

community permitting, administrative options 

for, 10

continuous load path, importance of selecting 

proper connectors and fasteners, 8

corrosion

classes of building exposure to, 8

causes of, 8

control of, 8

identifying high-risk buildings, 8

light gauge metal connectors, 8

planning for, 8

rates of, 8

corrosion-resistant materials for metal connectors 

and fasteners, 8

crawlspace

foundation, 10, 11

NFIP requirements for construction, 11

decks and patios, as possible obstructions in 

Zone V, 5

detached garages, elevation requirement in 

Zone V, 5

drainage considerations, 5, 11

dry floodproofing, 3

elevators

attached to or underneath Zone V structures, 5

components, location of in relation to the 

BFE, 4

electrical equipment, location of in relation to 

the BFE, 4

insurance considerations, 4

types of, 4

enclosed areas, 1, 2, 4, 5, 9

fill

areas where prohibited, 5, 10

as obstruction beneath buildings in Zone V, 5

placed to remove land from the SFHA, 10

proper placement of, 10

float switch, use of in flood areas (for elevator 

cab), 4

flood forces on buildings, 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11

flood insurance considerations, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 

9, 10, 11

flood damage-resistant

elevator components, use of, 4

flooring materials, 2

materials, 2, 8, 11

materials, classifications, 2

wall and ceiling materials, 2

floodproofing

below-grade parking beneath non-residential 

buildings, design requirements for, 6

certificate, non-residential, 3

Emergency Operations Plan, minimum 

acceptable, 3
28 NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019

Inspection and Maintenance Plan, 3

recognition of for insurance rating purposes, 

3, 6

foundation

bracing, as possible obstructions in Zone V, 5

flood risk, summary table, 10

in Zone A, 1

openings in Zone A, size, how to calculate, 1

vents, 1

freeboard, recommendations, 3, 10

free of obstruction

definition of, 5

designing a foundation system in Zone V, 5

requirements in Zone V, 5

functionally dependent use, 7

galvanizing, 8

garage doors, 1, 5, 7, 9

to meet the openings requirement, 1

garages

attached to non-residential structures, 7

attached to residential buildings, 1, 7

below-grade, 6

detached from structures, 7

grade beams, as possible obstructions in Zone V, 5

high hazard area, safety and access in, 3, 5

historic buildings, 7

hydrodynamic forces, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11

hydrostatic forces, 1,3, 4, 6, 10, 11

hydrostatic loads, equalized by openings, 1

hydrostatic pressure, how to relieve, 1

insect screening, for below building enclosures, 

1, 9

insurance coverage for basement flooding, 

restrictions, 10

lattice work, for below-building enclosures, 9

lattice work in Zone V, made of flood-resistant 

materials, 2

lowest floor, definition of, 1, 3

non-residential floodproofing certificate, how to 

fill out, 3

openings for foundations in Zone A, 1

pre-engineered below-grade crawlspace 

foundation guidance, 11

pools, see swimming pools

preservative-treated wood, chemicals used and 

corrosion, 2, 8

professional certification, 5, 10

sample form, 10

reasonably safe from flooding

defined, 10

NFIP regulations concerning, 10

requirements, additional for below-grade 

crawlspaces, 11

safety factor for foundation openings, 1

salt spray from breaking waves, 8

screening in Zone V, made of flood-resistant 

materials, 2

shear walls, 5

slabs-on-grade 5, 10

spas in Zone V, 5

stem wall foundation, 1, 10

substantially impermeable, 3

Substantial Damage, foundation wall openings 

requirement, 1

Substantial Improvement, foundation wall 

openings requirement, 1

sump pump, requirements, 3,10

swimming pools in Zone V, 5

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Flood Proofing 

Regulations (1995), 2

utilities, access, and ventilation openings, 3, 5, 11

variances

from NFIP requirements, 7

issuance in designated floodways, 7

wet floodproofing

allowable structures and uses, 7

definition of, 7

engineering considerations, 7

flood insurance implications, 7

planning considerations, 7
NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 0 JULY 2019 29

8 References

Section 8.1 lists the references that are cited in this Technical Bulletin. Section 8.2 lists additional 

resources related to NFIP requirements.

8.1 References

ASCE/SEI (American Society of Civil Engineers / Structural Engineering Institute). 2014. Flood 

Resistant Design and Construction. ASCE/SEI 24-14. Available at https://ascelibrary.org/doi/

book/10.1061/9780784413791.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Various. Flood Insurance Manual. Available at https://

www.fema.gov/flood-insurance-manual.

FEMA. Various. NFIP Technical Bulletins. Current editions available at https://www.fema.gov/

nfip-technical-bulletins.

– Non-Residential Floodproofing – Requirements and Certification for Buildings Located in Special Flood 

Hazard Areas. Technical Bulletin 3.

– Wet Floodproofing Requirements for Structures Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas. Technical 

Bulletin 7.

FEMA. 2010. Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage Desk Reference. FEMA P-758. Available at https://

www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/18562.

FEMA. 2018. Answers to Questions About Substantially Improved/Substantially Damaged Buildings. FEMA 213. 

Available at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/169099.

ICC (International Code Council). 2018. International Building Code. Available at 

https://www.iccsafe.org/.

ICC. 2018. International Existing Building Code. Available at https://www.iccsafe.org/.

ICC. 2018. International Residential Code. Available at https://www.iccsafe.org/.

ICC and FEMA. 2014. Reducing Flood Losses Through the International Codes: Coordinating Building Codes and 

Floodplain Management Regulations, 4th Edition. Available at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/

assets/documents/96634.
30 NFIP TECHNICAL B

8.2 Useful Resources

Author Date Doc. No. Title WebsiteASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)

2005 ASCE 24-05 Flood Resistant Design and Construction https://ascelibrary2005 ASCE/SEI 7-05 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

2010 ASCE/SEI 7-10 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

2014 ASCE 24-14 Flood Resistant Design and Construction

2016 ASCE/SEI 7-16 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for 

Buildings and Other Structures

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Various — Flood Insurance Manual https://www.fema.

manual

2004 FEMA 467-1 Floodplain Management Bulletin: Elevation Certificate https://www.fema.

2009 FEMA P-85 Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other 

Hazards

2009 FEMA P-550 Recommended Residential Construction for Coastal Areas: 

Building on Strong and Safe Foundations

2009 FEMA P-762 Local Officials Guide for Coastal Construction

2010 FEMA P 499 Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction Technical 

Fact Sheet Series

2010 FEMA P-758 Substantial Improvement / Substantial Damage Desk 

Reference

2011 FEMA P-55 Coastal Construction Manual: Principles and Practices of 

Planning, Siting, Designing, Construction, and Maintaining Residential Buildings in Coastal Areas (Fourth Edition)

2012 FEMA P-259 Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting FloodProne Residential Structures, Third Edition

2013 FEMA P-936 Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings2013 FEMA P-942 Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Sandy in 

New Jersey and New York

2014 FEMA P-312 Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting, 3rd Edition
31 NFIP TECHNICAL B

Author Date Doc. No. Title WebsiteFEMA (cont.) 2014 FEMA P-1019 Emergency Power Systems for Critical Facilities: A Best 

Practices Approach to Improving Reliability

https://www.fema.

2015 FEMA Form 

086-0-33

NFIP Elevation Certificate and Instructions

2015 FEMA Form 

086-0-34

Floodproofing Certificate

2016 FEMA P-787 Catalog of FEMA Building Science Branch Publications 

and Training Courses

2017 FEMA P-348 Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

2018 FEMA 213 Answers to Questions About Substantially Improved/

Substantially Damaged Buildings

2019 NFIP TB 0 User’s Guide to Technical Bulletins www.fema.gov/nfi

2008 NFIP TB 1 Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures 

Below Elevated Buildings in Special Flood Hazard Areas

2009 NFIP TB 2 Flood Damage-Resistant Materials Requirements for 

Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

1993 NFIP TB 3 Non-Residential Floodproofing – Requirements and 

Certification for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas

2019 NFIP TB 4 Elevator Installation for Buildings Located in Special Flood 

Hazard Areas

2008 NFIP TB 5 Free-of-Obstruction Requirements for Buildings Located in 

Coastal High Hazard Areas

1993 NFIP TB 6 Below-Grade Parking Requirements for Buildings Located 

in Special Flood Hazard Areas

1993 NFIP TB 7 Wet Floodproofing Requirements for Structures Located in 

Special Flood Hazard Areas

2019 NFIP TB 8 Corrosion Protection for Metal Connectors and Fasteners 

in Coastal Areas

2008 NFIP TB 9 Design and Construction Guidance for Breakaway Walls 

Below Elevated Buildings in Coastal High Hazard Areas
32 NFIP TECHNICAL B

Author Date Doc. No. Title WebsiteFEMA (cont.) 2001 NFIP TB 10 Ensuring that Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special

Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding

www.fema.gov/nfi

2001 NFIP TB 11 Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special

Flood Hazard Areas

Various — Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) Reports and Recovery

Advisories (RAs)

https://www.fema.

assessment-team-

Various — Building Code Resources https://www.fema.

resources

ICC 

(International

Code Council)

2012,

2015,

2018

— International Building Code

International Existing Building CodeInternational Fuel Gas Code

International Mechanical Code

International Plumbing CodeInternational Private Sewage Disposal CodeInternational Residential Code

https://codes.iccs

Codes

HUD (U.S.Department of

Housing and

Development)

2017 — Residential Structural Design Guide: A State-of-theArt Engineering Resource for Light-Frame Homes,

Apartments, and Townhouses, Second Edition

https://www.hudus

pdf/residential.pdf

NFPA (National

Fire ProtectionAssociation)

2017 NFPA 225 Model Manufactured Home Installation Standard https://www.nfpa.o

USACE (U.S.

Army Corps ofEngineers)

1995 EP 1165-2-314 Flood Proofing Regulations https://www.public

army.mil/portals/7

engineerpamphlet

2002 EM 1110-2-1100 Coastal Engineering Manual https://www.public

mil/USACE-Public

Manuals/u43544q

656E67696E65657

5616C/

NFIP = National Flood Insurance ProgramSEI = Structural Engineering InstituteTB = Technical Bulletin