Site Design

Provide and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan that includes the following mitigation strategies:

• Stockpile and protect high-quality site soils to be reused.
• Control the path and velocity of runoff with silt fencing or comparable measures.
• Protect ecologically sensitive areas, such as on-site storm sewer inlets, watercourses, and water bodies, by applying straw bales, silt fencing, silt sacks, rock filters, or comparable measures.
• Provide swales to divert surface water from hillsides.
• Identify and protect healthy trees with a diameter at breast height greater than 5 inches during construction. Install tree-protection fencing outside the critical root zone. Do not preserve invasive species or trees that present a hazard.
• If soil in a sloped area is disturbed during construction, use tiers, erosion blankets (geotextile mats), compost blankets, filter socks and berms, or an equivalent approach to keep soil stabilized. The maximum gradient should be consistent with existing natural conditions in the surrounding area. In hot, arid climates, use lesser gradients on south- and west-facing slopes to improve landscape reestablishment and ongoing viability.

• Create and implement an erosion, sedimentation, and pollutant control plan (commonly referred to as a stormwater pollution prevention plan, or SWPPP) or an erosion and sedimentation control plan (ESC), for all construction activities associated with the project. Create the plan to conform with the EPA’s Construction General Permit or with local erosion- and sedimentation-control standards and codes — whichever is more stringent. Include best management practices and describe how these practices accomplish the following objectives:
  • » Prevent loss of soil during construction from stormwater runoff or wind erosion. Strategies should include protecting topsoil by stockpiling or covering it for reuse.
  • » Reduce the frequency and severity of sediment discharges into storm conveyances, receiving waters, or other public infrastructure components or systems.
  • » Avoid polluting the air with dust or other particulate matter.
  • » Prevent runoff and infiltration of other pollutants from construction sites (e.g., thermal pollution, concrete wash, fuels, solvents, hazardous chemical runoff, high- or low-pH discharges, pavement sealants) and ensure proper disposal of all construction-related materials.
  • » Protect existing soils (prevent compaction; implement mitigation/restoration).
• Protect existing trees and other vegetation, except invasive species, which should be removed if possible. Note that it may be preferable to retain established trees for shading even if they are non-native.
• Before disturbing the site, consult a landscape architect, civil engineer, or state university cooperative extension about the quality of soils on the site. Determine which are suitable for reuse and protect these soils throughout construction.
• Support a net-zero-waste site and minimize downcycling of materials by reusing, recycling, or otherwise diverting construction and demolition materials to avoid disposal in landfills and combustion in incinerators.

Design your property to protect and enhance the local ecosystem by creating a site plan that demonstrates how all disturbed areas will be addressed, including, as applicable, a grading plan and a landscape/planting plan. Ensure the site plan reflects the following, at minimum:

• For all areas disturbed during construction that remain undeveloped, plant, seed, or restore to natural conditions as appropriate for the location.
• For all landscape plantings — including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants — select only species that are native or climate-appropriate (adapted) to the region and are appropriate to the site’s soil and microclimate. Do not introduce any invasive or nonadapted plant species.
• To promote a safe and secure environment, ensure that the expected heights of plants adjacent to pedestrian walkways and seating areas do not obstruct visibility into or out of the corridor.

• Consult a landscape architect or a local arborist early in the integrative design process to develop your landscaping, open space, and/or shading plans and to identify appropriate locations and plantings for these features.
• Avoid steep slopes and avoid sloping land toward buildings.
• Provide appealing environments along paths of travel with visually interesting landscaping (e.g., a variety of colors, textures, and flowering times).
• Existing invasives should be removed if possible. Note that it may be preferable to retain established trees for shading even if they are non-native. When removing invasive species, be careful that your removal and transfer of invasive plant material limit site disruption and do not compact soil or disperse seed stock. Consult your local cooperative extension office for best practices and plant lists.
• Evaluate the future climate-appropriateness of plantings, particularly long-lived trees. Look beyond your current zone and consider planting species that are appropriate for a zone slightly warmer than your current one (provided they are not invasive species).
• Incorporate plantings to attract and sustain pollinators.
• Promote native, regionally appropriate grass species when possible; they are less resource intensive regarding irrigation, fertilization, and mowing requirements. An appropriate level of mowing or grazing can increase carbon sequestration by native grasses.
• Develop a soil-management plan to identify, protect, and reuse high-quality site soils; identify disturbed soils; and outline a soil-restoration process. Provide adequate horticultural soil volume for new tree plantings. Reference the ANSI A300 standards developed and managed by the Tree Care Industry Association for more details.
• Strive to use minimal and low-toxicity fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides (including pre-emergent), and fungicides.
• Consider implementing site features to mitigate routine wind if on-site prevailing wind direction and average speed are such that outdoor activity and/or resident safety may be impacted. Strategies include fenestrated panels, some fencing types, and/or landscape placement that dissipates energy rather than accelerating wind speed around solid objects, which may create eddies and impede outdoor activity.
• Consider the proximity of plantings to your building regarding fire protection. Reducing or eliminating flammable material in a defined perimeter around your structure can be an effective mitigation technique against fire originating outside the site. Plants have varying levels of flammability; consult your local extension office to identify native plants in your region with low flammability potential. Also review the wildfire mitigation strategies outlined in Criterion 3.11 Resilient Site Design: Wildfire.

Lighting Zone and BUG Rating

• Determine the site’s lighting zone (LZ) per your local jurisdiction or using the IDA/IES Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) 2011 with User’s Guide Table C.
• Choose luminaires with Backlight, Uplight, and Glare (BUG) ratings appropriate for the site’s LZ. BUG ratings are published in manufacturer photometric data.

Uplight Control

• Fixtures shall have Zero Uplight (U0), be “fully shielded,” and/or be shielded above by architectural features, emitting no light above the horizontal plane.
• Fixtures shall have no sag or drop lenses, side light panels, or uplight panels.

Adaptive Controls

• Install photo or motion sensors, integrative PV cells, or astronomic time-clock operation that limit lighting when there is adequate daylight.

Dimming

• All light fixtures shall be dimmable to 10% or less of their full light output to support adaptive controls, support wildlife-friendly lighting, and promote energy savings.

Optimize all exterior lighting fixtures by complying with one of the following [2 points]:

• DarkSky Luminaires Program Version 3.0
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Guidelines

• Design in accordance with DarkSky International’s Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting:
  • » Useful
  • » Targeted
  • » Low-level
  • » Controlled
  • » Warm-colored
• Photometric plans can be used for evaluating exterior light levels and correctly sizing the number of fixtures appropriate to the project.
• Consider outdoor lighting levels that are appropriate to the context of the project. Urban areas typically have existing exterior lighting, so the contribution of artificial light from housing may have less impact on the light levels and ecosystems in the area compared to housing in rural areas. The presence of local animal species with certain sensitivities to light may also impact appropriate light levels.
• Design outdoor lighting to eliminate light trespass (when light from the project site spills onto other properties) and to minimize impact on nocturnal environments.
• BUG ratings are published in manufacturer photometric data per IES TM-15 and will be shown on product cut sheets or illustrated on the project lighting schedule.
• Consider incorporating daylight-responsive lighting control systems.
• Employ warm-toned (3000K and lower) white light sources, amber light sources, or filtered LED light sources.
• Coastal areas along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts are home to at-risk sea turtle populations. Properties in this region must light in accordance with local wildlife lighting ordinances. This is crucial because when turtles hatch, they seek the brightest spot on the horizon, which is generally not the ocean when they emerge. Projects should light in accordance with specific wildlife lighting recommendations and should focus on maximizing downward and motion-sensor security lighting as those are critical elements for eliminating bright spots.

Using low-impact development and green infrastructure strategies, design to retain precipitation volume for the following percentile precipitation events:

• 85th percentile precipitation event [6 points]
• 90th percentile precipitation event [8 points]
• 95th percentile precipitation event [10 points]

• Evaluate the discharge volumes and rates to ensure they do not increase the natural rate of erosion in receiving waterways and do not negatively affect a receiving waterway’s ecological flows or natural groundwater replenishment rates and volumes.
• Implement stormwater management strategies to reduce precipitation runoff volumes, peak flows, and pollutant discharges, in accordance with the design storm requirements.
• Design systems for rainwater capture and use, where allowed, to maintain the ecological flows of receiving waters and historical groundwater recharge rates.
• Consider designing the stormwater management system for future conditions; historical events may not be the best predictor for rainfall patterns in the future, which are changing rapidly and resulting in more localized flooding in some areas. NOAA Atlas 15 ( https://water.noaa.gov/about/atlas15) includes future rainfall projections through 2100 to assist in designing stormwater management systems for future conditions.
• Maximize on-site stormwater retention through a combination of low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GI) strategies. Typical approaches include:
  • » Bioretention systems (e.g. rain gardens, bioswales) to filter and absorb runoff
  • » Vegetated swales and filter strips (disconnected downspouts can be directed into these as well)
  • » Roofs (green/blue/blue-green/purple) to capture and evaporate rainfall (green roofs are also a strategy to reduce heat-island effect)
  • » Rainwater capture (e.g., cisterns, rain barrels) to store runoff for irrigation (see also Criterion 3.6 Outdoor Water Use: Alternative Sources)
  • » Permeable pavements and/or pavers
• Improve the water-retention capacity of the soil by increasing organic matter content through the addition of compost or other organic soils, in accordance with the properties of your native soils for the area.
• Consider use of porous, semi-permeable, or permeable materials for areas that traditionally use impermeable materials — including roofs, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and streets. Porous and semi-permeable materials include pervious interlocking concrete paving blocks, concrete grid pavers, perforated brick pavers, porous asphalt, and compacted gravel. Green roofs and planted surfaces in low-foot-traffic areas and along paved area perimeters can also reduce stormwater runoff and provide a measure of treatment.
• Provide a visual reminder that storm sewer inlets connect to area waterways and groundwater storage. Use a plaque, a tile, or a painted or precast message, such as “No Dumping. Drains to [name of water source].”

An efficient irrigation system is installed. Efficient irrigation design shall include the following:

• Comply with all local watering restrictions.
• Establish irrigation zones:
  • » Design irrigation zones to respond to weather considerations (temperatures, precipitation, wind), solar exposure, reflected light and heat from adjacent buildings or hardscape, soil type, topography and slope, and plant material.
  • » Group plantings with similar water needs into “hydrozones.”
  • » Establish irrigation volume and frequency per zone to be appropriate for the climate, soil type, and plants.
  • » Design the irrigation system to target each planting area with no overspray of impervious surfaces or adjacent planted areas.
  • » Prevent runoff of irrigation water from the site.
• Install automated irrigation controllers that respond to weather data or soil moisture. The controllers must be certified to meet WaterSense specifications.

Follow best management practices from the Irrigation Association, which include:

• Use nonpotable rather than potable water sources for exterior watering needs (see Criterion 3.6 Outdoor Water Use: Alternative Sources).
• Design systems to operate within manufacturers’ recommended operating pressure.
• Use matched-precipitation-rate sprinklers (+/– 5%) within a zone.
• Size the zone-control valve such that flow through the valve is within the manufacturer’s stated flow range and pressure loss does not exceed 10% of static pressure.
• Install valves, whether above grade or below grade, in a valve box large enough to access and service. The valve box location should consider the safety and aesthetics of the site as well as the long-term durability of the valve box.
• Install water-wise landscapes with native plants for the applicable region of the project.
• Use drip irrigation for plant beds, shrubs, trees, and narrow landscaped strips, where it is particularly effective due to its high water efficiency and targeted application. Spray irrigation can lose 30% to 50% of water to wind, evaporation, and runoff. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the soil surface or root zone and typically uses 20% to 50% less water than conventional pop-up sprinkler systems.
• Consider installing leak-detection systems for exterior water use; analysis of leaks may help prevent water waste, site damage, and higher utility bills by identifying and addressing system failures such as broken pipes, stuck valves, or malfunctioning emitters.
• Consider engaging a qualified professional to commission a site’s irrigation controllers. They will ensure the system is properly programmed and calibrated to respond to site-specific conditions by preventing over- and under-watering to maintain healthy landscapes.

• Rainwater can be harvested from impervious surfaces, such as roofs, and carried via gutters and downspouts to rain barrels or cisterns. Rainwater that has not been treated to potable standards is not suitable for human consumption.
• For any alternative water source not treated to potable standards, proper signage should be displayed on the structure to caution users that the water source is nonpotable.

1. Pick-up/drop-off

• Locate a designated on-site pick-up/drop-off area for residents that is either along an on-site driveway or curb or at the edge of an adjacent public street AND
• Include a smooth, universally accessible sidewalk or path from the pick-up/drop-off area to the building entry and to the public street, along with exterior signage indicating the location and designated use of the pick-up/drop-off area. These paths must include curb ramps at any crossings and entries and must provide ADA-compliant turning radii at landings AND
• Create an interior or exterior waiting area that includes seating and lighting at the building entrance. If the area is outdoors, provide cover to protect people from the elements.

2. Curbless street

3. Crossed paths

In all places where walking/rolling paths or sidewalks cross vehicular driveways, service access, or loading zones, complete all of the following:

• Provide signage indicating that vehicles should yield to people walking or rolling AND
• Where bike lanes cross pedestrian paths, provide a pavement marking and/or a sign indicating that cyclists must yield to pedestrians AND
• Use pavement markings to indicate a mixing zone at the edge of a) any intersection between a driveway and a sidewalk or bike path and b) any intersection between a bike lane and a pedestrian path AND
• At intersections between sidewalks, paths, and driveways or streets, review the design for clear sight distances and visibility triangles. Within a sight triangle, any object at a height above the elevation of the adjacent roadways that would obstruct a driver’s view (such as landscaping or utility boxes) should be removed or lowered.

4. Roadway

5. Roadway-adjacent sidewalk

6. Hazard-adjacent play space

• Projects that anticipate high use of a sidewalk or path leading to a pickup/drop-off area should consider a minimum 8-foot width for the walkway. Consider creating a minimum 5-foot separation (e.g., a planted area or other buffer) from roads or streets as well as a minimum 2-foot separation from any driveways or parking areas (to reduce the risk of “dooring” injuries). At locations with frequent pick-ups/drop-offs or other waiting areas, provide shade and other weather protection in “furnishing zones” to support comfort and well-being. A furnishing zone is an area set aside for relevant amenities, such as benches, that is clear of the pedestrian circulation zone. These can be created under building canopies or awnings or by using independent shade structures within the streetscape, such as bus-stop shelters. Consider adding a tactile warning strip to separate furnishing zones from circulation zones.
• Create logical circulation patterns and navigability throughout the project site and with adjacent context in mind, with particular focus on the paths from dwelling units to pickup/drop-off areas, transit, and any frequently used areas. Identify any designated commercial or transit loading spaces along the curb adjacent to the property as well as any pedestrian, walking, rolling, and vehicular circulation paths from the building to loading, pickup/drop-off, or parking areas, both on the site and on the edge of the site where adjacent to a street or roadway. Add signage and/or demarcate with visual and tactile cues.
• Support time-based, flexible curb management to accommodate new mobility options, deliveries, freight, and emergency access where appropriate alongside accessible pick-up/drop-off for residential buildings, businesses, and community services.
• Consider providing a library of shared mobility equipment on the ground floor that serves people of all ages and abilities, such as powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters, adaptive cycling and trikes, strollers, and grocery carts.
• Along sidewalks or paths, consider including continuous pathways, signage, art, lighting, and multisensory features to promote navigability. Include shading to support outdoor thermal comfort.
• Where possible in mixing zones, include medians to separate conflicting traffic. To encourage careful driving, consider including roundabouts at intersections or bicycle-friendly speed reducers, such as raised intersections or speed tables.

Cover at least 70% of usable roof area with one or more strategies:

• Vegetated roof
• Roofing materials with a minimum three-year-aged solar reflectance index (SRI) meeting the requirements of Table 3.8 and certified by a third party such as the Cool Roof Rating Council
• Photovoltaic (PV) panels

For at least 50% of ground-level paved areas:

• Provide shading through vegetation, tree canopy (assuming a 10-year canopy width), and/or shade structures

• Use light-colored, high-albedo materials with an initial minimum solar reflectance of 0.33 and/or an open-grid pavement system

• Limit paved areas on the site to those needed to meet code and regulatory requirements, to provide equitable access to both indoor and outdoor spaces, and for applicable recreation spaces (e.g., a basketball court).
• Where hard surfaces are needed, in addition to selecting high-albedo materials, use permeable pavers wherever technically and economically feasible. Permeable pavers allow for stormwater infiltration and can contribute toward meeting Criterion 3.4 Surface Stormwater Management.
• Consider cool-pavement technologies for asphalt, such as asphalt emulsion seal coats, acrylic coatings, asphalt rejuvenators with added titanium dioxide, or emerging technologies to achieve a solar reflectance (SR) of 0.33 to 0.4 (the typical SR of asphalt is 0.1).
• Combine shade with splash pads for enhanced cooling, especially for children.
• Employ shade canopies in parking areas to cover both asphalt and cars.
• Leverage other criteria in Category 3 to provide multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits on the site. Several landscaping strategies encouraged in Criterion 3.2 Site Design for Ecosystem Services and low-impact-development techniques from Criterion 3.4 Surface Stormwater Management can also reduce the risk of heat islands.
• Plan outdoor paths and respite areas to take advantage of large shade trees, protecting them (including their root zones) during construction.
• Consider wildfire risk when siting tree canopy to help maintain defensible space. See Criterion 3.11 Resilient Site Design: Wildfire.
• Consider local air quality, stormwater runoff patterns, and your location’s Tree Equity Score when selecting heat-island-mitigation strategies.
• Design buildings with exterior walls that have high thermal mass to help regulate temperature swings, and use deep overhangs and windows set back for shading. Orient buildings to minimize broad roof and wall exposure to the south and southwest.

Obtain one of the following FORTIFIED designations, as applicable, for your building type. Both new construction and retrofit projects are eligible for this designation.

• FORTIFIED Multifamily or Home (single-family) Roof™ [8 points]
• FORTIFIED Multifamily or Home (single-family) Silver™ [10 points]
• FORTIFIED Multifamily or Home (single-family) Gold™ [12 points]
• One of the certifications above AND FORTIFIED Multifamily or Home (single-family) Hail Supplement [4 points]

• Openings — Shutters
• Roof Deck & Underlayment
• High-Wind Roof Covering
• Continuous Load Path
• Garage Doors
• Wall System
• Soffit
• Pressurization Design
• Chimney
• Roof-mounted Equipment (includes solar arrays)

• Earning a FORTIFIED designation has provided a pathway to reduced insurance premiums in some states. See IBHS incentive sheets by state for more information.
• IBHS highly recommends completing the Hail Supplement for FORTIFIED Multifamily and FORTIFIED Home for properties in high-risk regions for hailstorms.
• For FORTIFIED Multifamily, start the designation process by applying on the program website. When completing the online application, IBHS recommends submitting architectural, structural, and electrical drawings. All other documentation will be requested later in the process.
• For FORTIFIED Home, start the designation by hiring a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator and certified FORTIFIED contractor, which can be found through the FORTIFIED Directory.

Design the project in compliance with ASCE/SEI 24-24 A Standard for Flood-Resistant Design and Construction and ASCE/SEI 7-22 Supplement 2, including the following steps:

• Determine the site’s base flood elevation (BFE) and design flood elevation (DFE) using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or a community flood elevation ordinance, whichever is more conservative.
• Use the Louisiana State University Ag Center’s ASCE Elevation Calculation Tool to determine the minimum required elevation in accordance with ASCE/SEI 24-24.
• Elevate the lowest floor of all buildings to at least DFE+freeboard, as required by ASCE/SEI 24-24, for the occupancy category.

Incorporate each of the following resilient construction strategies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Designing for Natural Hazards” series, Volume 2: Water:

• Wall Assembly one-pager: Implement at least two guidance items.
• Utilities & Mechanical Equipment one-pager: Implement at least two guidance items.
• Freeboard Elevation one-pager: Implement at least one guidance item.
• Connectors & Fasteners one-pager: Implement all guidance items.

• Conduct floodproofing, including perimeter floodproofing (e.g., barriers or shields), of lower floors.
• Design and install all building electrical and mechanical systems in such a way that, in the case of a flood, their operation will not be grossly affected.
• Locate all of the following above the design flood elevation (DFE):
  • » At least one exit door AND
  • » All central space-heating and water-heating equipment AND
  • » The service disconnect, which must be at a readily accessible location above the DFE
• On plan sets, identify water entry points in basements and at foundation walls. Demarcate all penetrations, wall assemblies, doors, and other openings to ensure that future renovations do not compromise the integrity of floodproof construction.

• Include all applicable inspection and maintenance information in the materials developed per Criterion 8.1 Building Operations & Maintenance Manual and Plan.
• Include flood-emergency operation plans in the materials developed per Criterion 8.2 Emergency Management Manual.

Note: This criterion references three home ignition zones, defined by their proximity to each building on the site:

• Zone 0, immediate: 0 to 5 feet from each building
• Zone 1, intermediate: 5 to 30 feet from each building
• Zone 2, extended: 30 to 100 feet from each building

Implement all of the following strategies [9 points]:

• Defensible space: Within Zone 0, create a noncombustible zone by removing and prohibiting vegetation, combustible fencing, or any other flammable item. Consider utilizing noncombustible landscaping materials such as gravel, concrete, or pavers.
• Roof assembly: Install a Class A fire-rated roof. Roofs are highly vulnerable to embers; Class A materials such as metal, clay tiles, and asphalt shingles with fire-resistant coatings help protect against ignition from flying embers.
• Eaves and soffits: Use noncombustible materials and construct closed eaves and soffits to prevent hot gases and embers from getting under the roofing deck and entering the structure.
• Windows: Install dual- or triple-pane windows and/or tempered glass windows. Multi-pane windows with at least one tempered-glass pane are less likely to break from radiant heat. Intact windows help protect the interior of a building from embers and flames.

For additional points, also implement each of these strategies [3 points]:

• Defensible space: Within Zone 1, manage vegetation to reduce the fuel source for wildfire. Use only fire-resistant landscaping and space shrubs out from one another. Regularly trim trees and remove dead plants.
• Defensible space: Within Zone 2, manage vegetation to reduce fuel loads by mowing grass to a low height and creating both horizontal and vertical spacing between trees and shrubs.
• Vents: Cover all vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh to prevent embers from entering attics or crawl spaces.
• Siding and cladding: Use ignition-resistant siding and cladding materials, such as fiber cement, stucco, brick, or steel.
• Decks and balconies: Build all decks and balconies with noncombustible materials, such as treated lumber, fire-rated composites, or concrete. Enclose the under-deck area with metal screening.

• To understand the risks in the project’s jurisdiction, utilize the U.S. Forest Service website https://wildfirerisk.org. It shows maps of the risk to homes, risk-reduction zones, wildfire likelihood, and vulnerable populations in the area. You can use this to have context for your property’s wildfire risk prior to consulting with the local fire department to determine whether the property is in the wildland–urban interface (WUI).
• Consult with the local fire department regarding specific guidance for vegetation clearance and strategies for operation and maintenance of the defensible zone. In addition, consult the nearest cooperative extension office to identify native plants in the region with low flammability potential.
• Refer to NFPA 1140 Chapter 25, IWUI code Chapter 5, and/or local codes for detailed guidance above and beyond these criterion requirements.
• Use noncombustible driveways, walkways, and hardscaped outdoor areas as firebreaks.
• Consider installing exterior sprinkler systems on the roof or perimeter to wet the building’s exterior during an event, which can reduce the likelihood that embers or radiant heat will ignite the site or buildings.
• Follow wildfire management practices in the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Standards for Mitigation 2023 or a local equivalent, which has recommendations for housing design within the WUI, vegetation management, debris disposal, and fire safety for equipment.
• Refer to the Insurance Institute for Home & Business Safety (IBHS) “Wildfire Prepared Home” standard for single-family detached homes for best practices. Consider certification to this standard if available for the project location.