What is freeboard elevation?

a. An additional amount of height above the Base Flood Elevation used as a factor of safety (e.g., 2 feet above the Base Flood) in determining the level at which a structure’s lowest floor must be elevated or floodproofed to be in accordance with state or community floodplain management regulations.

What is freeboard civil engineering?

Civil Engineering. the height of the watertight portion of a building or other construction above a given level of water in a river, lake, etc.

What is a freeboard in a dam?

Freeboard is the vertical distance of a dam crest above the maximum reservoir water level. It is clear that the goal of constructing completely stable dams cost effectively is challenging.

Is base flood elevation above sea level?

Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The water surface elevation, expressed as an elevation above sea level, of the base flood. This is the minimum elevation a community must adopt for building standards.

What is a freeboard requirement?

Freeboard is the elevation of a building’s lowest floor to a height above the minimum base flood elevation (BFE) during the initial construction process. Typical requirements call for an additional 1-3 ft. A number of localities in coastal Virginia already impose freeboard provisions. …

What is the purpose of freeboard?

Freeboard represents the safety margin showing to what depths a ship may be loaded under various service conditions—e.g., the type of cargo, the waters to be navigated, and the season of the year.

How is freeboard of ship calculated?

The following definitions for the purpose of freeboard calculation are detailed in Regulation 3. This is taken as 96% of the total length on a waterline at 85% of the least moulded depth, or, as the length from the fore side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if greater.

Is the minimum height of freeboard for gravity dam?

Minimum freeboard: Minimum freeboard is defined as the difference in elevation between the crest of the dam and the maximum reservoir water surface that would result should the inflow design flood occur and the outlet works and spillway function as planned.

What is the difference between gross freeboard and net freeboard?

Thus net freeboard dry freeboard or flood freeboard” is the vertical distance between the maximum water surface and the top of the dam. “Gross freeboard” or “total freeboard” is the vertical distance between the normal water surface and the top of the dam.

How high is base flood elevation?

Base Flood Elevation (BFE): The elevation of the crest of the base or 1% annual chance flood (also known as the 100-year flood). Coastal high hazard flooding: A condition of flooding subject to high velocity waters, including, but not limited to, hurricane wave wash, or tsunamis.

How do I find my elevation?

Type https://www.google.com/maps into your web browser on a Mac or PC.

  1. Type your location into the search bar on the left side.
  2. Click the “Menu” bar, which is next to the search bar and is represented by the three horizontal lines in the top-left.
  3. Hit “Terrain” to show topography and elevation.

What does a free board mean in construction?

Freeboard Definition – What Does Freeboard Mean in Construction? What is a Freeboard ? In the design of a structure located within the shoreline floodplain or other watershed floodplain, the additional height that the structure is protected from flood waters above the BFE ( base flood elevation ) is called the freeboard.

How is freeboard used to elevate a building?

Freeboard is elevating a building’s lowest floor above predicted flood elevations by a small additional height (generally 1-3 feet above National Flood Insurance Program [NFIP] minimum height requirements). See CZM’s printer friendly Freeboard Fact Sheet (PDF, 753 KB).

What does freeboard mean in a floodplain?

Definition of Freeboard in Construction. In the design of a structure located within the shoreline floodplain or other watershed floodplain, the additional height that the structure is protected from flood waters above the BFE ( base flood elevation ) is called the freeboard.

How tall does a building have to be for freeboard?

Find information on this technique from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) StormSmart Coasts Program. Freeboard is elevating a building’s lowest floor above predicted flood elevations by a small additional height (generally 1-3 feet above National Flood Insurance Program [NFIP] minimum height requirements).