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LEED v4
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Floodplain avoidance

LEED CREDIT

ND-v4 SLLp5: Floodplain avoidance Required

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SPECIAL REPORT

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

To protect life and property, promote open space and habitat conservation, and enhance water quality and natural hydrological systems.

Case 1. Sites without flood hazard areas
Locate on a site that is entirely outside any flood hazard area shown on a legally adopted flood hazard map or otherwise legally designated by the local jurisdiction or the state. For projects in places without legally adopted flood hazard maps or legal designations, locate on a site that is entirely outside any floodplain subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
Case 2. Infill or previously developed sites with flood hazard areas
Locate the project on an infill site or a previously developed site and select one of the following two options.
Option 1. American Society of Civil Engineers standard
For any portion of the site within the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 24-05 (ASCE 24). If the project includes construction of a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the floodwater levels specified in ASCE 24, or at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood, whichever is higher. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.

OR

Option 2. National Flood Insurance Program
For any portion of the site within the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to NFIP as long the program is equal to or more stringent than NFIP and is administered at the national level. If the project involves a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.
Case 3. All other sites with flood hazard areas
Meet the requirements of one of the following two options.
Option 1. American Society of Civil Engineers standard
Previously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 24-05 (ASCE 24). Nonpreviously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, do not develop on land that is within either a regulatory floodway or a coastal high hazard area (Zone V), as shown on the flood hazard map. On all other portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with ASCE 24. Critical facilities in the flood hazard area If the project involves a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the floodwater levels specified in ASCE 24 or at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood, whichever is higher. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.

OR

Option 2. National Flood Insurance Program
Previously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. Project outside of the U.S. may use a local equivalent program to NFIP if the program is equal to or more stringent than NFIP and is administered at the national level. Nonpreviously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, do not develop on land that is within either a regulatory floodway or a coastal high hazard area (Zone V), as shown on the flood hazard map. On all other portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with NFIP. Critical facilities in the flood hazard area If the project involves a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations. See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Addenda

10/14/2019 – Updated: 10/14/2019
Global ACP
Description of change:
Add the following language to the International Tips section:

For projects developed on land that lies within a flood hazard area, meet the requirements of ASCE 24-2014 and all of the following:

1. Heating, cooling, and hot water equipment must be located above the 100-year flood plain height, in a serviceable location that meets the requirements of the manufacturer’s installation instructions and any relevant building codes.
2. Ductwork – including ventilation supply, exhaust, outside air intakes, dryer vents, combustion venting, etc. – must be located above the 100-year flood plain height. If ductwork is needed below the 100-year flood plain height to satisfy code or other LEED requirements, ductwork length should be minimized as much as possible.
3. Electrical service box must be located above the 100-year flood plain height.
4. Any basement circuits must be limited to serving the basement only, to allow for power to be restored to the remainder of the building if the basement has been flooded.
5. Any electric service disconnect must be located above grade, to allow for easy disconnect of power in an emergency.
6. Any propane tanks in the home must be located above the 100-year flood plain height, or must be secured.
7. No carpet may be installed in levels of the home / building below the 100-year flood plain height.
8. Install backflow protection for any drainage piping below the level of the adjoining street. Drainage systems shall be designed such that backflow prevention devices are sufficient for expected surge of a 100-year storm.
9. All buildings and accessory structures (e.g. parking garages, storage sheds) must be anchored to resist flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

To protect life and property, promote open space and habitat conservation, and enhance water quality and natural hydrological systems.

Case 1. Sites without flood hazard areas
Locate on a site that is entirely outside any flood hazard area shown on a legally adopted flood hazard map or otherwise legally designated by the local jurisdiction or the state. For projects in places without legally adopted flood hazard maps or legal designations, locate on a site that is entirely outside any floodplain subject to a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
Case 2. Infill or previously developed sites with flood hazard areas
Locate the project on an infill site or a previously developed site and select one of the following two options.
Option 1. American Society of Civil Engineers standard
For any portion of the site within the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 24-05 (ASCE 24). If the project includes construction of a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the floodwater levels specified in ASCE 24, or at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood, whichever is higher. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.

OR

Option 2. National Flood Insurance Program
For any portion of the site within the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to NFIP as long the program is equal to or more stringent than NFIP and is administered at the national level. If the project involves a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.
Case 3. All other sites with flood hazard areas
Meet the requirements of one of the following two options.
Option 1. American Society of Civil Engineers standard
Previously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 24-05 (ASCE 24). Nonpreviously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, do not develop on land that is within either a regulatory floodway or a coastal high hazard area (Zone V), as shown on the flood hazard map. On all other portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with ASCE 24. Critical facilities in the flood hazard area If the project involves a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the floodwater levels specified in ASCE 24 or at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood, whichever is higher. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.

OR

Option 2. National Flood Insurance Program
Previously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. Project outside of the U.S. may use a local equivalent program to NFIP if the program is equal to or more stringent than NFIP and is administered at the national level. Nonpreviously developed portions of the site On portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, do not develop on land that is within either a regulatory floodway or a coastal high hazard area (Zone V), as shown on the flood hazard map. On all other portions of the site that are not previously developed and in the flood hazard area, design buildings in accordance with NFIP. Critical facilities in the flood hazard area If the project involves a critical facility that is intended to remain operational in the event of a flood, or whose function is critical for postflood recovery, design the facility to be protected and operable at the water levels represented by a 0.2% annual chance (500-year) flood. For the purpose of this requirement, critical facilities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency operations centers, building or portions of buildings designated as emergency shelters, water and sewage treatment facilities, and fire and police stations.
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