Elevating Buildings

In many jurisdictions, the most common form of floodproofing is to elevate buildings so that living quarters (habitable living space) and storage areas are located above a given flood level. Steps may include:

• Raising the foundation to elevate the entire structure
• Raising the land elevation on which the structure is placed
• Filling a basement.

In BC, a number of municipalities have regulations that require building to a specified flood construction level (FCL) within a designated floodplain or flood hazard area. The FCL level is typically the flood elevation for a specified flood event plus an additional vertical distance (a freeboard) to allow for uncertainties.