Foundation

The purpose of this page is to define a foundation, a commonly used term in floodplain management.

Definition/Description

Without a proper foundation, an elevated building can suffer damage from a flood due to erosion, scour, or settling. The Nationalf Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations provide performance standards for anchoring new buildings and foundation and fill placement standards for buildings, for manufactured homes, and in V Zones. However, the NFIP performance standards do not specify how a building''s foundations are to be constructed in A Zones. The national model building codes address building foundations and the proper placement, compaction, and protection of fill.

The use of fill is prohibited for structural support of buildings in V Zones. Pile or column foundations must be used.

NFIP Requirement

• 60.3 - Flood plain management criteria for flood-prone areas
  • (a) (3) (ii) - General Anchoring Requirement
  • (c) (6) (iv) - Manufactured Home Foundations
  • (c) (12) (ii) -Manufactured Homes in an existing park or subdivision;
  • (e)(4) (ii) - V Zone Foundation Requirement
  • (e) (5) (ii) - V Zone Free of Obtruction Requirement
  • (e) (6) - V Zone Fill for Structural Support

Guidance

• IS-9 Managing Floodplain Development Through The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (page 6-17)
• Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures (Technical Bulletin 1) (2008)
• Ensuring That Structures Built on Fill In or Near Special Flood Hazard Areas Are Reasonably Safe From Flooding (FIA-TB-10)
• Crawlspace Construction for Buildings Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (FIA-TB-11)

Related Keywords

• Anchoring
• Basement
• Fill
• Manufactured (Mobile) Home
• Openings
• V-Zone Certificate
• Elevation

Special Topic Resources

• CRS Credit for Higher Regulatory Standards - Foundation Protection
• Foundation Flood Risk (Technical Bulletin 10, p. 13)