Into the flood zone
How mandatory flood protection systems are evolving for commercial buildings
A
s the destructive impact from super storms and daily flooding due to climate change become an inevitable commonality, new technologies must arise and evolve
to protect commercial buildings.
A new dormitory at Arizona State University was in a flood zone due to the threat of flash floods in the desert. Savannah Trims designed and manufactured flood doors with flood glass designed to withstand 5-foot water levels on one side of the building and 7-feet on the other. These doors have been installed on ground level to protect lobbies and retail storefronts.
In addition, FEMA, the Army Corp of Engineers and the National Flood Insurance Program are continually revising flood zones and requiring mandatory flood protection systems to be installed in new commercial buildings and those undergoing a 50%-plus renovation. South Florida-based Savannah Trims is on the frontlines of the flood battle, developing defensive systems which include flood gates, flood doors, flood barriers, and the latest innovation, flood glass. The latter (Flood Glass) has the advantage of always being on station, requiring no deployment or storage and is becoming the clear go-to solution. We sat down with former US Army Combat Engineer Gene Kennedy, president of Savannah Trims, to get insights on some common questions regarding these products and the mandatory standards now in place.
As storms and flooding become more common, what are cities doing to respond?
There’s no question that rising seas and more frequent flooding are putting cities at risk. In many cases, the installation of flood protection systems have been voluntary. However, in recent years, governmental agencies have implemented mandatory flood protection standards for new and renovated buildings.
How are these new standards determined?
In recent years, the Army Corp of Engineers, FEMA, American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Flood Insurance Program have implemented standards for the construction and renovation of commercial buildings. These organizations regularly update flood maps that reflect expanding flood zones. They must implement flood protections, which include flood doors, barriers,
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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 6, 2022
