Florida V-Zone Construction Requirements

Buildings in VE zones must be elevated on open foundations — piles, columns, or piers — that allow flood waters and waves to pass freely beneath the building. Solid foundations (slabs, stem walls, or fill) are not permitted in VE zones. The foundation must be designed for: - The weight of the building (gravity loads) - Wind uplift (which can be very large in VE zones) - Wave loads (which can be significant in VE zones) - Scour (the erosion of soil around the foundation during storm surge) Pineland Engineering designs VE zone foundations throughout coastal Florida.

Enclosures below the BFE in VE zones are strictly limited. The Florida Building Code and FEMA requirements limit the use of the space below the BFE in VE zones to: - Parking - Building access (stairs and elevators) - Storage (with flood-resistant construction and flood vents) Enclosures below the BFE in VE zones must be constructed with breakaway walls — walls designed to break away under flood loads without damaging the foundation or the elevated structure above.