47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

path when designing and specifying connections. Connectionsmust be capable of withstanding simultaneous wind and floodforces. Poorly connected buildings may fail or float off of foundationswhen floodwaters and waves are higher than the designflood elevation. Corrosion-resistant connections are critical for thelong-term integrity of the structure, and should be inspected andmaintained periodically.Emergency equipment: Equipment that is required for emergencyfunctioning during or immediately after a storm surge event,such as emergency generators and fuel tanks, is best installed wellabove the design flood elevation.Occupancy of surge-prone areas: Designers and owners should planto use the lowest elevated floor for non-critical uses that, even ifexposed to flooding more severe than the design flood, will notimpair critical functioning during post-flood recovery.2.3.5 RISK REDUCTION FOR RELATEDFACILITIESCritical facilities do not exist as purely independent buildings.They usually are accompanied by a variety of related facilities,such as utility installations both inside and outside of buildings,gas and electric services, water and wastewater services, abovegroundor underground storage tanks, accessory structures andoutbuildings, and access roads and parking lots.2.3.5.1 Access RoadsAccess roads to critical facilities should be designed to provide safeaccess at all times, to minimize impacts on flood hazard areas, tominimize damage to the road itself, and to minimize exposing vehiclesto dangerous situations. Depending on the site and specificflood characteristics, balancing those elements can be difficult.Designers should take the following into consideration.Safety factors: Although a critical facility’s access road may not berequired to carry regular traffic like other surface streets, a floodproneroad always presents a degree of risk to public safety. ToMAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM Flooding2-73