gfnshedT REYNOLDS ENGINEERING | CIVIL ENGINEERS | PLANNING, DESIGN, AND PERMITTING SERVICES
152 MAPLEWOOD TERRACE, FLORENCE, MA 01062 | PHONE: 413-387-8078 | FAX: 413-727-3477
terry@treynoldsengineering.com | www.treynoldsengineering.com
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To: Grow Food Northampton
From: Terrence Reynolds, P.E.
Subject: Floodplain Building Permit For Storage Shed, Approximate Location 140 Meadow
Street, Florence, MA
Date: 8/24/15
Based on review of Flood Insurance Rate Map Panel 251067 0001A, Dated April 3,1978, the parcel at
140 Meadow Street Florence, MA is located in a A7 Flood zone with an estimated flood elevation of
243 feet. As a result the parcel is subject to Appendix “G” of the Massachusetts State Building Code.
The following review of the building permit application package, dated August 2015 is for compliance
with 780 CMR 120.G FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION IN COASTAL
DUNES (Appendix “G”). Each section has been reviewed for applicability and conformance.
120.G.401 Hazard Zones
The site is in a Zone A flood-hazard zone and has a design flood-depth of 3 feet.
120.G.501 Flood Hazard Zones
120.G.501.1 Construction in flood-hazard zones (A Zones):
120.G.501.2 Elevation in a flood-hazard zone: Except as otherwise provided in 120.G.501, all
buildings or structures, including new or replacement manufactured homes, erected or substantially
improved within a flood-hazard zone shall be elevated so that the lowest floor is located at or above the
base flood elevation. All basement/ cellar floor surfaces shall be located at or above the base flood
elevations.
Exceptions:
1. Floors of occupancy in any use group, other than use group R, below the base flood elevation shall
conform to 780 CMR 120.G.501.5.2. Floors of occupancies in any use group which are utilized solely
for structure means of egress, incidental storage garages and parking, and which are located below the
base flood elevation, shall conform to 780 CMR 120.G.501.4.
This use is an incidental storage shed and is therefore except from needing to be located above the
base flood elevation.
120.G.501.3 Anchorage in a flood-hazard zone:
The proposed building is anchored by means of a slab-on-grade foundation as appended to this
submittal. The proposed structure is anchored to the foundation by Simpson STHD10 strap-tie
holdowns at each post location, secured by hot-dipped galvanized 10d nails into the posts and cast-in-
place into the foundation.
120.G.501.4 Enclosures below base flood elevation in a flood-hazard zone:
Enclosed spaces in this structure are not intended for human occupancy as the proposed building is
for incidental storage. The design includes measures to equalize hydrostatic forces resulting from the
entry and exit of floodwaters. Non-engineered vents designed to permit the passage of floodwaters will
be installed with a ratio of at least one square inch net open area per square foot of area. The overall
Grow Food Northampton, 8/24/2015
T REYNOLDS ENGINEERING | CIVIL ENGINEERS | PLANNING, DESIGN, AND PERMITTING SERVICES
152 Maplewood Terrace, Florence, MA 01062 |PHONE:413-387-8078 | FAX:413-727-3477
terry@treynoldsengineering.com |www.treynoldsengineering.com
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square footage of the shed is 192 square feet.
FEMA Technical Bulletin 1/August 2008
Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures
Non-engineered openings are openings that are used to satisfy the prescriptive requirement that calls for
1 square inch of net open area for each square foot of enclosed area. A wide variety of options is
available to satisfy the prescriptive requirements.
The following requirements for installation apply regardless of whether engineered openings or non-
engineered openings are used to satisfy the NFIP requirements (also see page 13, Requirements and
Guidance for Installation of Openings):
- Each enclosed area must have a minimum of two openings; if there are multiple enclosed areas, each
area must have openings in its exterior walls,
- The bottom of each opening must be no more than 1 foot above the higher of the interior or exterior
grade immediately under the opening, and
- Any screens, grates, grilles, fixed louvers, or other covers or devices must not block or impede the
automatic flow of floodwaters into and out of the enclosed area.
A 1x10 White Cedar watertable trim board will wrap the perimeter of the structure, starting at the
height of the finished floor. White Cedar is naturally resistant to decay. 3-inch by 12-inch slots will be
removed from the approximate center of the watertable, for a total combined length of 216 inches. The
sliding door of the shed shall be raised a minimum of 1-inch off of the slab for it’s 5 foot span, yielding
an additional 60 square inches of net open area for a total net open area of 276 square inches,
exceeding the minimum requirement of 192 square inches. (See attached diagram.)
120.G.501.5 Water-resistant construction in a flood-hazard zone:
No human occupancy is proposed below the flood zone.
120.G.501.6 Repair or replacement of existing foundations in a flood-hazard zone:
None proposed.
120.G.501.7 Protection of mechanical and electrical systems in a flood-hazard zone:
No mechanical or electrical systems are proposed.
120.G.501.8 Construction materials, methods, and practices in a flood-hazard zone:
Construction materials have been specified to be in compliance with Flood Damage-Resistant
Materials Requirements for Building Located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in accordance with the
National Flood Insurance Program, Technical Bulletin 2/ August 2008.
FEMA Technical Bulletin 2/ August 2008 – Flood Damage Resistant Materials Requirements
Structural materials are of solid wood, listed as “Resistant to floodwater damage from wetting and
drying, but less durable when exposed to moving water” in Table 1 of FEMA Technical Bulletin
2/August 2008.
All structural materials are of solid wood with the foundation being made of cast-in-place concrete,
conforming to acceptable standards as listed on Table 2 of FEMA Technical Bulletin 2/ August 2008.
This Technical Bulletin, consistent with ASCE 24 and the International Code Series, recommends that
stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized fasteners and connectors be used below the BFE in both inland
(noncorrosive) and coastal (corrosive) areas.
All fasteners below the BFE will be hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel, as per FEMA Technical
Bulletin 2/ August 2008, Fasteners and Connectors.
Grow Food Northampton, 8/24/2015
T REYNOLDS ENGINEERING | CIVIL ENGINEERS | PLANNING, DESIGN, AND PERMITTING SERVICES
152 Maplewood Terrace, Florence, MA 01062 |PHONE:413-387-8078 | FAX:413-727-3477
terry@treynoldsengineering.com |www.treynoldsengineering.com
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IBC 2304.11.2.7 Posts or Columns:
Posts or columns supporting permanent structures and supported by a concrete or masonry slab or
footing that is in direct contact with the earth shall be of naturally durable material or preservative
treated wood.
Posts specified as 7x7 Eastern White Pine. Mudsill specified as 2x8 White Oak – naturally resistant to
decay.
120.G.501.9 Recreational vehicles in a flood-hazard zone:
No recreational vehicles are proposed to be stored at this site.
120.G.501.10 Alterations, renovation and repairs in a flood-hazard zone:
No alteration, renovations or repairs to existing buildings are proposed.
120.G.501.11 Certifications and Plans for construction in a flood-hazard zone:
Certifications and plans will be provided as required.
120.G.501.12 As-built elevation certification for construction in a flood-hazard zone:
As-built elevation certification will be provided following construction as required.
120.G.501.13 Documentation -Water resistant construction in a flood-hazard zone:
The proposed building is not proposed to be constructed in accordance with 780 CMR 120.G501.5
since no human occupancy is proposed.
120.G.601 High Hazard Zones
120.G.601.1 Construction in high-hazard zones (V Zones):
This is not a High Hazard Zone
120.G.701 Coastal Dunes
120.G.701.1 Determination of Coastal Dunes.
This is not a Coastal Dune.