WHAT IS A FLOOD CERTIFICATE, WHO SIGNS IT AND WHY?

The flood certificate can be found in FEMA technical bulletin 3-93 (pages 10-12) This Seventeen-page bulletin gives the basic requirements for the design of a flood-proofed non-residential structure and the certificate required by both the building department and insurance agency.

It is the responsibility of the design professional of the project, architect or engineer, to sign and seal the certificate. In doing so, they certify that the structure has been designed in accordance with criterions set forth in FEMA Flood proofing non-residential structures (FEMA 102 / May 1986) , and not to the as-built condition of the structure.

If the project is a threshold building, generally only the engineer of record may sign; all other occasions, the architect’s signature is allowable. These requirements may very from municipality to municipality and one should consult with the local building officials as to what are the specific requirements..

This certificate is what FEMA The Federal Emergency Management Agency -- FEMA -- is an independent agency of the federal government, reporting to the President. bases its flood insurance policy rate on; and what most building department require be submitted with the master permit application. This information is also used to help determine the design requirements of all flood related components (i.e. flood proofing, flood barriers, etc..).

Definitions

FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency -- FEMA -- is an independent agency of the federal government, reporting to the President. Since its founding in 1979, FEMA's mission has been clear:
to reduce loss of life and property and protect our nation's critical infrastructure from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
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