Pool equipment in flood zone

Maverick23 · May 9, 2023

I am located in an AE8 flood zone and currently planning an in ground pool build.

City is requiring the following:

pool equipment shall be elevated to or above the design flood elevation (10’ AMSL) or be anchored to prevent floatation and protected to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.

Has anyone constructed their pool in a flood zone, what did you do with your equipment?

I am curious about the second portion of the statement below:

“protected to prevent water from entering or accumulating within the components during conditions of flooding.”

How would one achieve this? Does this require a barrier of some sort or is it simpler than that?

I can elevate the equipment but that seems like it presents its own set of problems.

I appreciate any insight you all can offer.

ajw22 · May 9, 2023

Welcome to TFP.

Lets ask @mas985 about the priming issues of a pump 10’ above the pool.

@TX2OBX built his equipment on a platform but not 10’ above the pool…

Maverick23 · May 10, 2023

Thank you for the reply. Nice clean setup. Some pictures I have seen for elevated pads look rough.

mas985 · May 10, 2023

To me, 10' AMSL means the pump is installed 10' above average mean sea-level which is really immaterial. What is the height from the pool water level to the pump?

Maverick23 · May 10, 2023

Site is AE8 for BFE. So would need to be above that.

I want to add an update to this. I talked to the building services department and they confirmed the pump can be installed at grade provided it is secured and powered on a GFCI circuit. Both easy issues to solve compared to putting a pump in the sky.

proavia · May 10, 2023

If the city requirement is it must be 10' AMSL, you need to determine how high your lot - and specifically the area where you intend to place the equipment - is above mean sea level.

Post some pics of the site and where you are in relation to the ocean.

Maverick23 · May 10, 2023

proavia said:
If the city requirement is it must be 10' AMSL, you need to determine how high your lot - and specifically the area where you intend to place the equipment - is above mean sea level.

Post some pics of the site and where you are in relation to the ocean.

The lot is designated AE8 or BFE of 8 feet. I assume that means 8 feet from the grade of the lot. So by that logic the lot is 2 feet above sea level, IMO.

As I mentioned before, pool equipment can be mounted at grade as long as it’s properly secured and placed on a GFCI circuit. Knowing that now the point about BFE or AMSL has become somewhat mute.

Maverick23 · May 5, 2024

This is an old post but I wanted to finish it out. My home is in an AE8 non coastal flood zone. My county requires an additional 2 feet of freeboard. My home is 8’6” above sea level. My county required all electrical to be no less than 18 inches above the ground level. All pool equipment needed to be secured to the pad that was not elevated. The only item that could not be below freeboard was a heater.

My filter, pump, and SWCG are located on the pad with all electrical feeding them as well as the sub panel mounted roughly 4 feet off the ground with GFCI breakers.

My county allowed 1 outlet to be located at or below flood elevation which I located near the pool at the edge of my property.

The county inspector was really good to work with although they were not extremely knowledgeable on flood zones and requirements. There were several calls into the flood plain Department to clear up some questions but overall a good experience.