Introduction
The building under consideration is located in the town of Bel Air, Maryland, at 501 Footpath Court, Bel Air, MD, 21014. The structure is a single-family residential building built in 1979 (Zillow, 2023). The nature of the building’s occupancy helps categorize it under Risk Category II of the American Society of Civil Engineers Code 7 (ASCE-7). Category II can be assigned to the building, as it does not pose a threat to human life in the event of failure and cannot be classified as an essential facility (Engineering Express, 2022).
The geographical coordinates of the location are 39.51695° N, 76.35513° W. (Google Maps, 2023). The satellite image of the area, as shown in Figure 1, reveals that the house is situated in a suburban setting with several neighboring residential properties.
Building Characteristics
The property is located on a spacious plot with a large backyard. According to the listing on Zillow (2023), the overall lot area is 0.57 acres or approximately 2,500 square feet. The building features two stories, comprising four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a basement. Additionally, the property features two fireplaces, two garages, and six parking spaces, including two covered areas (Zillow, 2023). The exterior of the house is comprised of brick, glass, and aluminum siding, with concrete and steel serving as the primary structural components.
A preliminary review of the building code showcases that the primary hazards for residential construction include wind, flood, and snow (IRC, 2015). Meanwhile, the 2015 IBC for residential structures identifies seismic activities, wind, and rain as potential threats. Table 1 expands on the design criteria that incorporate the climatic and geographic factors pertinent to the area.
Table 1. Climactic and geographic design criteria.
Property Flood Zone Information
The building is located in a geographic area that is well protected from flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicates that the construction lies in FEMA FIRM Flood Zone X or Zone X500, the safest area from flooding, which is located outside the 0.2% annual chance floodplain. The FIRMette for the project location depicts the exact positioning within this flood zone (FEMA, 2023). The property is situated in an area of minimal flood hazard and is unlikely to experience any flood damage due to its elevation or existing flood control systems.
The ground and base flood elevations in the town of Bel Air considerably contribute to low flood hazard. Thus, the average ground elevation in the area is approximated at 103m, with a minimum of 52m and a maximum of 140m (Topographic maps, 2023). The Base Flood Elevation for this site is 100 feet above sea level, resulting in a Design Flood Elevation of 103 feet when a 3-foot freeboard is accounted for. The relevant State Hazard Mitigation Plan for this project is the Maryland State Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023 (Maryland Department of Emergency Management, 2023). Overall, the building’s geographical characteristics help ensure its protection from flooding.
Conclusion
In summary, the house under consideration is durable and located in a mild climatic and geographical area. The choice of construction materials is consistent with the requirements of the location and contributes to the unified aesthetic of the surrounding residential properties. The location of the site provides protection against flooding. In addition, the building and the lot it is positioned on are quite spacious and can serve a large family.
References
Engineering Express. (2022). ASCE risk categories explained.
FEMA. (2023). FEMA flood map service center: Search by address.
Google Maps. (2023). 39°32’20.0″N 76°20’53.9″W.
IRC. (2015). 2015 International residential code.
Maryland Department of Emergency Management. (2023). Hazard mitigation.
Topographic maps. (2023). Bel air topographic map, elevation, terrain.
Zillow. (2023). 501 Footpath Ct, Bel Air, MD 21014.