47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

Table 2-3: Checklist for Building Vulnerability of Flood-Prone Critical Facilities (continued)Vulnerability Sections Guidance ObservationsSite Conditions (continued)Is at least one access roadto the site/building passableduring flood events?Are at-grade parking lotslocated in flood-prone areas?Are below-grade parkingareas susceptible toflooding?Are any portions of thebuilding below the DesignFlood Elevation?Has the building beendamaged in previous floods?Are any building spacesbelow-grade (basements)?Are any critical buildingfunctions occupying spacethat is below the elevationof the 500-year flood or theDesign Flood Elevation?Can critical functions berelocated to upper levels thatare above predicted floodelevations?If critical functions cannot berelocated, is floodproofingfeasible?If critical functions mustcontinue during a floodevent, have power, supplies,and access issues beenaddressed?Access is increasingly important as theduration of flooding increases. For the safety ofoccupants, most critical facilities should not beoccupied during flood events.Areas where vehicles could be affectedshould have signage to warn users of the risk.Emergency response plans should includenotification of car owners.For existing buildings, it is important todetermine which portions are vulnerable inorder to evaluate floodproofing options. If flooddepths are expected to exceed 2 or 3 feet, dryfloodproofing may not be feasible. Alternativesinclude modifying the use of flood-prone areas.Below-grade spaces and their contents aremost vulnerable to flooding and local drainageproblems. Rapid pump out of below-gradespaces can unbalance forces if the surroundingsoil is saturated, leading to structural failure.If below-grade spaces are intended to be dryfloodproofed, the design must account forbuoyant forces.New critical facilities built in flood hazard areasshould not have any functions occupying floodpronespaces (other than parking, buildingaccess and limited storage).Existing facilities in floodplains should beexamined carefully to identify the best options forprotecting functionality and the structure itself.MAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM Flooding2-95