It is confusing to try to decide if an elevated house is a type 5 or 6. The instructions say a type 5 has no enclosures below the elevated floor. A type 6 is defined as "The area below the elevated floor is enclosed, either partially or fully". It also states that insect screening, lattice, and shutters with 40% open space are allowed i.e. not considered an enclosure.
The confusion is some consider "partial enclosure" as a building with walls on three sides. I don't think this fits the definition of "enclosure", to enclose something you need to have connected walls not open ended. The "partial" means that only a portion of the area below the elevated floor is enclosed.
Another instruction that adds to the confusion is that it states a garage below the elevated floor would be an enclosure, is this true with the garage door open or closed.
I would consider an elevated house with breakaway walls on three sides and lattice work on the fourth as a Building Type 5 but I appear to be in the minority. Any EC experts out there that could help with this?
I have been told by a Certified Flood Plain Manager in NY to call it a the diagram with a walkout level, 7, i believe, so far no problems for me in NYC and Long Island area. If the garage floor is below grade I have been told to use the same. He also said that a surveyor's task when choosing the diagram is to put what you feel is the best because it usually is, as long as you clarify in the comments section.
My advice is to contact the Flood Plain manager in your area, they are pretty helpful to me if I am unclear on something.
Hope this helps:-)
#5 says "No obstructions below the elevated floor".
#6 says elevated on columns, with a "full or partial enclosure".
#7 says elevated on foundation walls.
I don't call anything a #5 unless there is are no walls below the floor (except lattice and screen walls).
If the building is raised on columns, but has non-supporting break away walls below, I call it a #6.
If the building is raised and supported by solid walls, then I go with #7.