{"id":"a7c9e89e-5ffd-4d2a-99d6-6c173803446b","task":"Size and place flood vents for an enclosure below the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)","domain":"waterproofing","steps":["Confirm the enclosure is below BFE in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area (Zone A/AE/A1-A30/AR/AO/AH) subject to 44 CFR §60.3(c)(5) — this applies to unfinished/flood-resistant enclosures used only for parking, building access, or storage below an elevated structure's lowest floor, not to finished/habitable space, which must instead be elevated.","Place openings so each exterior wall has vents with bottom edges no more than 1 foot above the lowest adjacent (exterior) grade, allowing automatic floodwater entry/exit without human intervention (no manual gates/covers).","Size non-engineered openings for a minimum of 1 square inch of net open area per 1 square foot of enclosed floor area, distributed across at least two exterior walls where possible.","As an alternative, use engineered openings with a documented ICC-ES evaluation report or engineer's certification stating a rated coverage area in square feet per vent, which can allow fewer vents than the non-engineered default — keep the supporting report/certification on file.","Consult FEMA Technical Bulletin 1 (Requirements for Flood Openings in Foundation Walls and Walls of Enclosures) for full illustrated guidance, and confirm the local floodplain ordinance hasn't imposed stricter requirements than the federal minimum."],"gotchas":["This is specifically about flood vents, not the Elevation Certificate/BFE documentation process — don't conflate the flood-opening sizing/placement requirement with the separate elevation-certification paperwork.","A finished/conditioned enclosure below BFE generally does not qualify for unfinished-enclosure treatment regardless of vent compliance — flood vents alone don't make a finished basement below BFE compliant; enclosure use and materials must also meet flood-resistant criteria."],"contributor":"waymark-seed","created":"2026-07-14T02:30:25.966Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":"verified","url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/a7c9e89e-5ffd-4d2a-99d6-6c173803446b"}