In Section A of the elevation certificate, do you include the number and area of vents that are located above base flood elevation?
I don't. I write in a zero for both, but include the number and area in the comments section.
From page 13 of http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1502-20490-9949/fema_tb_1__1_.pdf&apos ;">FEMA Technical Bulletin 1:
[INDENT=1]" In order to meet the requirement, the openings must be located so that the portion of the opening intended to allow for inflow and outflow is below the BFE. Openings that are entirely above the BFE (or any portion of an opening that is above the BFE) will not serve the intended purpose during base flood conditions and thus are not counted towards the compliance with the flood opening requirements."[/INDENT]
You are doing it correctly.
Thanks for the reply.
I keep a highlighted pdf of that technical bulletin section for when I'm challenged on this. Sometimes, though, reassurance is good...Especially when a major insurance carrier and their underwriters that "work with FEMA guidelines daily" and say, "use the number of vents along with the number of square inches of vents to comply with FEMA's compliance guidelines whether or not they are above or below based flood elevation" and "are only concerned with whether or not the vents are within 1 foot of the adjacent grade."
I'm hoping the new elevation certificate section A8.b) & A9.b) will state something similar to, "No. of permanent flood openings in the crawlspace or enclosure(s) within 1.0 foot above adjacent grade and below the base flood elevation."
Yeah..if water can't get there, what good are they.
Joe the Surveyor, post: 331392, member: 118 wrote: Yeah..if water can't get there, what good are they.
[sarcasm]VENTS????[/sarcasm]
LowcountrySurveyor, post: 331262, member: 599 wrote: In Section A of the elevation certificate, do you include the number and area of vents that are located above base flood elevation?
I don't. I write in a zero for both, but include the number and area in the comments section.
I have the local floodplain administrator fill these in...
Jim in AZ, post: 331394, member: 249 wrote: I have the local floodplain administrator fill these in...
Always? Or, just when above?
I had the same problem a while back. We looked at all the items you mention and I came to the same conclusion as you did. The flood rating company insisted I was wrong and gave me a name at the NFIP to talk to. Seems like there is a directive out there that allows them to be counted. If you call the NFIP they will tell you this.
Count them and move on with your life. Your client will get a better / preferred premium.......
survey4ya, post: 332231, member: 2430 wrote: I had the same problem a while back. We looked at all the items you mention and I came to the same conclusion as you did. The flood rating company insisted I was wrong and gave me a name at the NFIP to talk to. Seems like there is a directive out there that allows them to be counted. If you call the NFIP they will tell you this.
Count them and move on with your life. Your client will get a better / preferred premium.......
I would say that unless this directive has been written into the NFIP regulations (which I would like to see), I would not count them, but note them in the comments. That way if the person rating the policy wants to count them, you can let them make that call.
LowcountrySurveyor, post: 331475, member: 599 wrote: Always? Or, just when above?
I always have the FP Admin. do it. Its actually their job to fill in most if not all of this Section on the form...
survey4ya, post: 332231, member: 2430 wrote: I had the same problem a while back. We looked at all the items you mention and I came to the same conclusion as you did. The flood rating company insisted I was wrong and gave me a name at the NFIP to talk to. Seems like there is a directive out there that allows them to be counted. If you call the NFIP they will tell you this.
Count them and move on with your life. Your client will get a better / preferred premium.......
Possibly, but if it is wrong when FEMA audits the local agency they will hunt you down and make you correct it.
I know nothing about the flood insurance rules.
But the risk breaks down into the probability of a flood affecting the property and the likely damage if it does. Logically, the purpose of flood vents is to equalize hydrostatic pressure between inside and outside of the structure and avoid structural collapse. If a flood comes, it may approach BFE, or exceed BFE, but the water and the structure know nothing about BFE. Logically, vents should be counted if, and only if, they are placed where they will sufficiently equalize pressure, irrespective of BFE.
But I know nothing about the rules.