Designing in 500 year flood plane

[mtu1972]

Looking for some advice.

Been doing this for a long time but a new industrial client has us doing preliminary design for an addition to one of their existing plants. The area is in a flood plane and we were told to design to the 500 year flood.

I've found the flood data, etc. The client's PM states that we (our firm) should know what to do. My only previous experience was as an in-house engineer where our environmental group took care of all the permits etc. Our only engineering concerns were

- keeping the MCC and electrical rooms above the elevation
- making provisions for containment of fuels and lubricants during and after the flood

My thinking is that this client and/or this facility should already have proceedures in place that could be shared with us. It feels that this is a test to see if we are qualified for this project.

What else do I need to be concerned with?

- bouyancy of tanks and other vessels?
- trying to keep flood waters out? while maintaining vehicle and pedestrian access?
- anything else?

Thanks in advance for any insight you may have -

Gary C.

gjc

 

[DaveAtkins]

Newer versions of ASCE 7 and the IBC have guidance for determining flood loads. But I haven't actually performed a design yet.

DaveAtkins