Building Attachments in Coastal Areas

The Building Attachments in Coastal Areas online PDH course is a part of the Building Design category of courses. This course provides technical guidance and recommendations on design, construction and maintenance of building attachments such as enclosures and breakaway walls, decks, pools and other attached structures, as well as utilities.

The course outlines requirements and recommendations for enclosures and breakaway walls for their use below the BFE. It includes a diagram of a compliant wall system and examples of systems that have either resulted in increased damages or increased flood insurance premiums. It also lays out NFIP requirements, general guidelines, and recommendations concerning the construction and installation of decks, access stairs and elevators, swimming pools, and accessory buildings under or near coastal residential buildings.

The course includes special considerations that must be made when installing utility equipment, such as fuel, sewage, and water/sewage lines in a coastal home, and presents recommendations for utility protection.

This course is based on FEMA “Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction”, Technical Fact Sheet Series, FEMA P-499.

This course is intended for use by architects, civil  and structural engineers, design and construction professionals, owners, facility managers, students and others interested in learning about building attachments in coastal areas.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

• explain requirements and recommendations for enclosures and breakaway walls below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
• describe National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements and general guidelines for the construction and installation of decks, access stairs and elevators, swimming pools, and accessory buildings under or near coastal buildings
• identify the special considerations that must be made when installing utility equipment in a coastal home