The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) has released "Retrofitting Buildings for Flood Risk," a comprehensive guide for New York City owners of buildings in flood zones.
Part of the city’s response to widespread flooding as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the manual offers retrofitting strategies that will enable home and property owners to reduce the risk of damage and disruption from coastal flooding.
Recent Congressional legislation reforming the National Flood Insurance Program will increase flood insurance premiums for buildings that are not retrofitted, according to a city press release. These increased premiums will directly impact neighborhood stability and housing affordability, especially for working class New Yorkers, the release says.
The manual contains some simple and low-cost actions New Yorkers living in the flood zone can take now to begin to adapt and protect their homes against flooding.
“Incorporating these improvement will help protect our city’s buildings against potential future extreme climatic events,” says Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick D. Chandler. “The Department of Buildings will provide dedicated plan examiners and inspectors to work with and support home and business owners in redesigning their structures to meet the new federally mandated guidelines.”
Related Stories
| Nov 6, 2014
Demountable structural steel could up the ante on sustainability
Demountable structural steel assemblies would be a greener way to make use of steel in the construction industry than recycling.
K-12 Schools | Nov 6, 2014
New Sandy Hook school features could influence security standards
The design of the new Sandy Hook Elementary School on the site of the 2012 Newtown, Conn., school shooting features enhanced security measures—some subtle and others more prominent.
| Nov 6, 2014
OSHA seeking input on electrical standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reviewing electrical standards for the construction industry to make sure proper safeguards are in place as electrical wiring is being installed and maintained.
Smart Buildings | Oct 30, 2014
Energy Department pledges $9 million for energy efficiency improvements on commercial buildings
The U.S. Dept. of Energy will spend $9 million to encourage investments in energy-saving technologies that can be tested and deployed in offices, shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels and other types of commercial buildings.
| Oct 30, 2014
Steel Framing Industry Association’s certification program aims to ensure connector quality
The Steel Framing Industry Association has launched a certification program to ensure that cold-formed steel connectors meet quality guidelines, building codes, and ASTM standards.
| Oct 30, 2014
American Concrete Institute releases reorganized structural concrete code requirements
The reorganized document is organized from an engineer’s perspective. The requirements flow more intuitively and have fewer cross-references for improved logic and flow of information.
| Oct 30, 2014
USGBC pushes back LEED v4 deadline
Extending the deadline gives LEED users additional time to prepare for LEED v4, the latest version of LEED, which features increased rigor and multiple updates.
| Oct 24, 2014
Solar panels could be required on most new construction in San Francisco
A San Francisco city councilor will propose a new regulation that could soon mandate solar panels on most new construction in the city and on many existing apartment buildings.
| Oct 24, 2014
International WELL Building Institute launches green building standard
The International WELL Building Institute has launched the WELL Building Standard Version 1.0, which focuses on enhancing people’s health and well-being through the built environment.
| Oct 24, 2014
Seattle's Bullitt Center influencing codes and public policy on sustainability
The Bullitt Center in Seattle, which some say is the world's most efficient office building is not only influencing how other structures are built, it is contributing to revisions of codes and public policy.