47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

Wastewater system components become sources of contaminationduring floods. Rising floodwaters may force untreated sewage tobackup through toilets. Specially designed back-flow devices canbe installed, or restrooms below the DFE can be provided withoverhead piping that may require specially designed pumps to operateproperly. Septic tanks can be sealed and anchored.2.4.8 OTHER DAMAGE REDUCTIONMEASURESA number of steps can be taken to make existing facilities in floodhazard areas more resistant to flood damage, which also facilitatesrapid recovery, cleanup, and reoccupancy. Whether these measuresare applicable to a specific facility depends, in part, on thecharacteristics of the flood hazard and the characteristics of thebuilding itself. Facility planners and designers should consider thefollowing:m Rehabilitate and retrofit the building envelope with openingsspecifically designed to allow floodwaters to flow in andout to minimize hydrostatic pressure on walls (called wetfloodproofing, see Figure 2-35). Although it allows water toenter the building, this measure minimizes the likelihood ofmajor structural damage. Walls that enclose interior spaceswould also be retrofitted with openings.Figure 2-35:The enclosed entry andstorage area to the rightof the fire truck bayswere retrofitted with floodopenings.SOURCE: SMART VENT, LLCMAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM Flooding2-87