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NFIP TECHNICAL BULLETIN 1 MARCH 2020
faster rates of rise and fall, building designers must increase the specified total net area of engineered
openings when site-specific data or analyses of anticipated flood conditions indicate that more rapid
rates of rise and fall are likely.
9.3.2 Documentation of Engineered Openings for Compliance
Engineered openings should be accepted by local
officials when the designs are certified and the
certifications are submitted as part of permit
applications. Acceptable documentation of certification
are the certification reports (i.e., ICC-ES Evaluation
Reports or equivalent reports from other product
certification organizations) and individual certifications
for specific buildings (see Section 9.3.4).
Copies of the certifications must be kept in the
community’s permanent permit files. Community
retention of these documents is important not only
to demonstrate compliance but also in the event that
future building owners do not receive copies of the
certifications when they buy buildings. Owners must
submit certifications with applications for NFIP flood
insurance policies.
9.3.3 Engineered Openings with Certification Reports
The ICC-ES and other product certification organizations develop criteria for acceptance of a variety of
building products, construction methods, and materials. Each organization issues certification reports
after technical evaluation of documentation that is submitted by manufacturers. Documentation typically
includes technical design reports, certifications,
and testing results to demonstrate performance and
compliance with codes and standards. Certification
reports provide evidence that products comply with
specific building codes and standards. Designers,
builders, and local officials who rely on these reports
must determine whether the reports identify the editions
of the building codes and ASCE 24 that are applicable
to individual projects. If applicable editions of the codes
and standard are not identified, the certification report
should not be used.
Documentation submitted by manufacturers to obtain
an ICC-ES Evaluation Report or equivalent certification
report for engineered openings must be supported
by certifications describing the performance of the
openings and the name, title, address, type of license,
license number, the state in which the license was issued,
and the signature and seal of the certifying registered
I-CODES REQUIRE
DESIGN STATEMENTS
The IBC and IRC require that construction
documents submitted for building
permits include design statements by
registered design professionals when
applicants propose using engineered
openings. ICC-ES Evaluation Reports and
equivalent certication reports satisfy this
requirement.
Individual certications prepared for
specic buildings also satisfy the
requirement for design statements.
SITE-SPECIFIC APPLICABILITY
OF ENGINEERED OPENINGS
When an engineered opening product
with a certication report issued by
ICC-ES or an equivalent product
certication organization is specied in
construction documents, the engineer,
architect, or builder should determine
whether the product, given its limitations
and conditions of use, is appropriate
for the conditions of ooding at the site,
especially the rate of rise and fall of
oodwater. Designers should consult
with local ofcials regarding observations
of past rates of rise and fall during
conditions of ooding.