WEBINAR: Floodplain Management Through Building Codes

Overview:

May is National Building Safety Month, and the International Codes (I-Codes) can play a vital role in furthering flood resiliency across all PA communities.  

The International Codes® (I-Codes®), a family of codes developed and maintained by the International Code Council, shares common goals with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): protection of public safety and reduced property damage. The flood provisions in each code in the series (2012 edition and later) either meet or exceed the NFIP requirements for the purpose of NFIP participation. Therefore, communities that participate in the NFIP can rely on the I-Codes to form the basis of their floodplain management practices related to buildings and structures. FEMA considers the two latest published editions of the ICodes to be the minimum standards for hazard resistance, including flood hazards, high winds, and earthquake hazards. The I-Codes, including flood provisions, are continually updated based on best practices and postdisaster investigations, and improve the standards with each edition. The NFIP requirements for buildings and structures have remained largely unchanged since 1971 and no longer meet the minimum industry standards. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore how building codes integrate in floodplain management
2. Learn about the higher standards in building codes
3. Identify the conflicts between the building code and the State Model Ordinance  

Presenter: Bill Bradfield, PA NFIP Program Manager & Josh Lippert, Floodplain Manager (City of Philadelphia)

For questions: flood@pafpm.org 

1 CEU

Duration: 1.5 hours