Chapter 8 › III.C, III.E–F Historic Preservation; Construction Method; Pre-Existing Site Conditions

Can we change materials or methods, and what about historic buildings and pre-existing problems?

FEMA term

Historic preservation compliance; construction method; pre-existing site conditions

Short answer

Historic facilities can be restored as a code requires even if repair costs more than replacement. Changes in construction method or materials are approved when access, site conditions or tie-ins require them. Pre-existing damage must be fixed at your own cost before FEMA funds the repair.

What FEMA requires

For a facility listed in or eligible for the National Register, costs to meet a code that requires repair in a specific way are eligible even above replacement cost.
State historic building codes usually allow alternatives rather than require specific work, so they rarely meet the code eligibility criteria.
Changes to design or materials must not change capacity or function, and must be reasonable and consistent with your normal practice and legal requirements.
If unrepaired pre-existing conditions would compromise the repair, such as rotting timbers under a damaged bridge deck, FEMA funds the disaster repair only after you repair the pre-existing damage yourself.

Documentation

Historic status documentation, the code requiring specific treatment, and engineering justification for any change in method or materials.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Identify pre-existing problems during scoping and budget for them. FEMA won’t release funds for the disaster repair until they are addressed.

Govstar summarizes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide in plain language and links to the official text. Govstar is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. This is general guidance, not legal advice.