FEMA P55 Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition - Mad Cad

1 CHAPTER TITLE
COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
7Pre-Design Considerations
This chapter provides an overview of the issues that should be
considered before the building is designed.
Coastal development has increased in recent years, and some
of the sites that are chosen for development have higher risks of
impact from natural hazards than in the past. Examples of sites
with higher risks are those that are close to the ocean, on high
bluffs that are subject to erosion, and on artificial fill deposits.
In addition, many of the residential buildings constructed today
are larger and more costly than before, leading to the potential
for larger economic losses if disaster strikes. However, studies
COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
CROSS REFERENCE
For resources that augment
the guidance and other
information in this Manual,
see the Residential Coastal
Construction Web site (http://
www.fema.gov/rebuild/mat/
fema55.shtm).
conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and others after major coastal disasters
have consistently shown that coastal residential buildings that are properly sited, designed, and constructed
have generally performed well during natural hazard events.
Important decisions need to be made prior to designing the building. The decisions should be based on an
understanding of regulatory requirements, the natural hazard and other risks associated with constructing
a building on a particular site (see Chapter 4), and the financial implications of the decisions. The financial
implications of siting decisions include the cost of hazard insurance, degree of hazard resistance and
sustainability in the design, and permits and inspections.
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