Revise and replace section R322.3.2 as follows:
R322.3.2Elevation Requirements.1. Buildings and structures erected within coastal high-hazard areas and Coastal A Zones shall be elevated so that the bottom of the lowest portion of horizontal structural members supporting the lowest floor, with the exception of pilings, pile caps, columns, grade beams and bracing, is elevated to or above the base flood elevation plus 3 foot or the design flood elevation, whichever is higher.2. Basement floors that are below grade on all sides are prohibited.3. The use of fill for structural support is prohibited.4. Minor grading, and the placement of minor quantities of fill, shall be permitted for landscaping and for drainage purposes under and around buildings and for support of parking slabs, pool decks, patios and walkways. Fill is prohibited unless such fill is constructed and/or placed to avoid diversion of water and waves toward any building or structure.5. Walls and partitions enclosing areas below the design flood elevation shall meet the requirements of sections R322.3.4 and R322.3.5.6. For lateral additions in V Zones and coastal A zones that are not a substantial improvement, only the addition shall be elevated so that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest floor with the exception of pilings, pile caps, columns, grade beams and bracing, is located at an elevation that is at least the design flood elevation.Revise and replace section R322.3.3 Foundations as follows:
R322.3.3Foundations. Buildings and structures erected in coastal high-hazard areas and shall be supported on pilings or columns and shall be adequately anchored to such pilings or columns. The space below the elevated building shall be either free of obstruction or, if enclosed with walls, the walls shall meet the requirements of section R322.3.5. Pilings shall have adequate soil penetrations to resist the combined wave and wind loads (lateral and uplift). Water-loading values used shall be those associated with the design flood. Wind-loading values shall be those required by 780 CMR 51.00: Massachusetts Residential Code. Pile embedment shall include consideration of decreased resistance capacity caused by scour of soil strata surrounding the piling. Pile systems design and installation shall be certified in accordance with section R322.3.9. Spread footing, mat, raft or other foundations that support columns shall not be permitted where soil investigations that are required in accordance with section R401.4 indicate that soil material under the spread footing, mat, raft or other foundation is subject to scour or erosion from wave-velocity flow conditions. If permitted, spread footing, mat, raft or other foundations that support columns shall be designed in accordance with ASCE 24. Slabs, pools, pool decks and walkways shall be located and constructed to be structurally independent of buildings and structures and their foundations to prevent transfer of flood loads to the buildings and structures during conditions of flooding, scour or erosion from wave-velocity flow conditions, unless the buildings and structures and their foundations are designed to resist the additional flood load. Exception: In Coastal A Zones, stem wall foundations supporting a floor system above and backfilled with soil or gravel to the underside of the floor system shall be permitted provided that the foundations are designed to account for wave action, debris impact, erosion and local scour. Where soils are susceptible to erosion and local scour, stem wall foundations shall have deep footings to account for the loss of soil.
Revise and replace section R322.3.5 as follows:
R322.3.5Walls Below Design Flood Elevation. Walls and partitions are permitted below the elevated floor, provided that such walls and partitions are not part of the structural support of the building or structure and: 1. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing system components are not to be mounted on or penetrate through walls that are designed to break away under flood loads; and2. Are constructed with insect screening or open lattice; or3. Are designed to break away or collapse without causing collapse, displacement or other structural damage to the elevated portion of the building or supporting foundation system. Such walls, framing and connections shall have a resistance of not less than ten lbs. per ft2 (479 Pa) and not more than 20 lbs. per ft2 (958 Pa) as determined using allowable stress design; or4. Where wind loading values of 780 CMR 51.00: Massachusetts Residential Code exceed 20 lbs. per ft2 (958 Pa), the construction documents shall include documentation prepared and sealed by a registered design professional that: 4.1 The walls and partitions below the design flood elevation have been designed to collapse from a water load less than that which would occur during the base flood.4.2 The elevated portion of the building and supporting foundation system have been designed to withstand the effects of wind and flood loads acting simultaneously on structural and nonstructural building components. Water-loading values used shall be those associated with the design flood. Wind-loading values shall be those required by 780 CMR 51.00: Massachusetts Residential Code; or5. Walls intended to break away under flood loads as specified in Item 3 or 4 have flood openings that meet the criteria in section R322.2.2, Item 2.780 CMR, ch. 51, ch. 3, R322, R322.3
Amended by Mass Register Issue 1532, eff. 10/11/2024.