What Does A Flood Vent Do

Flood vents protect houses and buildings during floods by preventing hydrostatic pressure buildup that can destroy walls and foundations.

What does a flood vent do. This mitigation technique referred to as wet floodproofing allows floodwater to freely flow through an enclosure such as a crawlspace or garage. This mitigation technique referred to as wet floodproofing allows floodwater to freely flow through an enclosure such as a crawlspace or garage. This site serves as a technical resource for examining the purpose of flood openings how they perform and when they are required. Flood vents protect houses and buildings during floods by preventing water pressure buildup that can destroy walls and.

These permanent openings accomplish this objective by allowing water to pass into or out of a building s exterior foundation walls. The opening in the wall must be at least 3 in diameter. The mapping and regulatory standards of the national flood insurance program nfip are general standards and do not address every flood problem in the united states. Flood openings protect residential houses and commercial buildings in floodplains by preventing hydrostatic pressure buildup that can destroy walls and foundations.

The bottom of the flood vent opening must not be higher than 12 inches above the adjacent grade. These permanent openings accomplish this objective by allowing water to pass into or out of a building s exterior foundation walls. The top of the opening must be below the base flood elevation bfe. See fema technical bulletin 1 2008 page 21 and 26.

A garage attached to an elevated building is considered an enclosure. This requirement refers to the hole in the wall and not the flood vent. Certain floodplains and flood related hazards are less common more destructive and harder to map than riverine coastal alluvial fan and shallow flooding. Proper opening requirements an elevated building with an enclosure or crawlspace below the elevated floor with proper flood openings flood vents in the enclosure or crawlspace can be rated using the elevated floor as the lowest floor.

Why is that so important. Smart vent s line of icc es certified engineered flood vents protect houses and buildings during floods by preventing hydrostatic pressure buildup that can destroy walls and foundations. A flood vent or flood port is a permanent opening in a wall designed to allow the unobstructed passage of water automatically in both directions in to or out of the building interior. The purpose of flood vents also called flood gates or flood ports is to reduce structural damage from flooding.