Flood Vent Regulations

Number of Vents

• The FEMA requirements are for 1 square inch of flood vent opening for every square foot of floor space. Un-engineered flood vents are required to literally adhere to this 1 for 1 requirement. Engineered flood vents allow more water to flow through and are more efficient at balancing the pressure on each side of the foundation, therefore the number of square inches required for a given area is adjusted downward. In addition to area requirements, there must also be at least two vents for every enclosed space in the foundation.

Installation Requirements

• The vents must be installed less than 1 foot above either the interior or exterior ground level, whichever is higher. They must be placed so that water can flow freely without impediment in and out of the foundation's enclosure, and as close to corners as practical. Grills and screens installed to prevent entry by animal pests must be corrosion resistant and must not interfere with the free flow of water into and out of the foundation's enclosure.

Structures that Require Vents

• The regulation states that structures below the base flood elevation (BFE) such as basements, crawl spaces, garages are required to have flood vents. FEMA defines the BFE to be the elevation that floodwater is expected to reach during the base flood. The base flood is a flood that has a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded during a given year.

Economic Benefits

• Besides reducing the likelihood of serious foundation damage during a flood, having properly installed flood vents will greatly reduce your insurance premiums. The first is a savings you hope you will never realize, but the second is certain and will repay the cost of the vents fairly quickly.