Specifying Foundation Flood Vents for Building Sustainability, Durability and Performance
This course is no longer active
Sponsored by SMART VENT Inc.
Learning Objectives:
- %IIdentify the effects of hydrostatic pressure on building sustainability
- %IExplain the role of foundation flood vents on building enclosure performance in relationship to air, water and land use
- %IIdentify FEMA regulations and ICC building codes as they relate to sustaining foundations in flood hazard areas
- %IAnalyze the differences between engineered and non-engineered foundation flood openings in terms of optimizing health, durability, and maintenance
Credits:
Required in floodplain construction, foundation flood vents protect buildings during flooding. This course identifies the effects of hydrostatic pressure on building sustainability and explains the role of vents on building enclosure performance in relationship to air, water and land use. It identifies relevant FEMA regulations and ICC building codes and summarizes the LEED® categories where foundation flood vents can contribute credits. The course lists the requirements for flood vent compliance, the characteristics of non-engineered and engineered models in terms of optimizing health, durability, maintenance and methods for achieving flood vent certification. Two post-Hurricane Katrina case studies demonstrate how insurance premiums were significantly reduced by the specification of engineered foundation flood vents.
Originally published in October 2009