Gentlemen, and ladies, is it possible to have two different building diagrams for one dwelling on an elevation certificate?
I've got a house, built on pilings, that fits both diagram numbers 6 and 9 in that it has a subgrade crawlspace as well as an enclosure below the elevated floor of the living space.
I'm considering filling out what I can on the boilerplate template and attaching an additional sheet explaining what I consider to be the alternate diagram number.
Below is a picture of what I'm describing.
As usual, your responses are greatly appreciated.
What I've done is taken a picture as you describe, load it into cad and sketch the shots on it, plot it and attach. I've even had to do that when insurance folks couldn't understand that a.1 isn't the "finish floor" or main living area elevation. FEMA could make it a whole lot simpler if they weren't such an inefficient bureaucracy like just about everything else run by gov't.
Looks like a "walk out" basement style. Don't have the sheet in front of me but I thought there was one style for that.
So there is a crawl space below the walkout level?? I'd say it's a "7" since there are full story walls. But I'm not sure I'm understanding the construction
I'd agree with Andy. It's a walkout basement style. Building on pilings is just that, not a porch, but the entire building off the ground supported by pilings... You could always ask a CFM.
I was thinking "7" too, when I first looked at the pic, but it looks like there are columns supporting the house and the blocks are basically a knock out wall (probably added after construction) that are non-supporting. Maybe the OP can clear that up. I think for a "7", it has to be "foundation walls". If it is correct that the house is entirely supported by columns, I'd go with 6, with lots of pics and explanation in the comments section.
> I was thinking "7" too, when I first looked at the pic, but it looks like there are columns supporting the house and the blocks are basically a knock out wall (probably added after construction) that are non-supporting. Maybe the OP can clear that up. I think for a "7", it has to be "foundation walls". If it is correct that the house is entirely supported by columns, I'd go with 6, with lots of pics and explanation in the comments section.
TPR,
That's what I finally settled upon. I called it a "6". You're correct in that the house was built on pilings and the cinder block walls were most likely added later.
Andy,
In the top photo the front of the house is to the left and the rear of the house is to the right. The front half of the house has a crawl space underneath, dirt floor, not used for storage at all. At the midpoint of the house there is a cinder block wall, as is evidenced in the photo, that divides the lower portion. From that point to the rear of the house is a storage area with a concrete slab floor. I wasn't able to get inside the house, but I don't believe there is access to this storage area from inside the house. Would that still qualify as a walk out basement?
okay, I can see that as a "6" then, given the further detail. So what is your "next higher floor" after the elevation of the floor of the storage enclosure? Do you go to the floor of the crawlspace or the finished floor of the house?? That is a unique layout.
I think I would call it a 6, but in the comments describe how the front half of the house is crawlspace.
> okay, I can see that as a "6" then, given the further detail. So what is your "next higher floor" after the elevation of the floor of the storage enclosure? Do you go to the floor of the crawlspace or the finished floor of the house?? That is a unique layout.
>
> I think I would call it a 6, but in the comments describe how the front half of the house is crawlspace.
Andy,
I used the finished floor of the living space, approximately 8' higher than the enclosure floor, as the next higher floor.
The perceived safety net on this one is the enclosure floor is certainly the lower of the two floors between the enclosure and the crawl space.
At any rate, the enclosure floor is about 4' above the community established BFE for this area.
I would consider it Diagram 7
DIAGRAM 7
All buildings elevated on full-story foundation walls
with a partially or fully enclosed area below the
elevated floor. This includes walkout levels, where at
least one side is at or above grade. The principal use
of this building is located in the elevated floors of the
building.
Distinguishing Feature – For all zones, the area below the elevated floor is
enclosed, either partially or fully. In A Zones, the partially or fully enclosed
area below the elevated floor is with or without openings* present in the
walls of the enclosure. Indicate information about enclosure size and
openings in Section A – Property Information.
Good to hear this.