Is a sump pump required?

[cottager]

If a cottage foundation, with footings and block, is completely filled in with sand and gravel, and a crawl space sits above the existing grade, is a sump pump required?
If so, why?
Thanks

[homebild]

A sump pump is designed to keep rises in the water table from getting above finished floor height in a basement or crawlspace.

Sump pumps are normally only installed where the finished floor of the basement or crawlspace is below the existing outside grade.

If the finished floor of the crawlspace or basement is above the existing grade, no sump pump is required.

However, even with a crawlspace or basement that sits above existing grade, you still need to treat the crawl or basement floor with at the very least a single layer of 6 mil polyethylene sheet plastic sealed at the edges and seams to keep out water vapor from the soil below AND you may still need to treat the floor of the crawl or basement with a minimum of 4″ of concrete to mitigate Radon infiltration (among other things)…

[haclift]

Local codes require sump pumps for all houses in some locations. Typically the location has fertile porous soil which does not restrict water flow (Florida/Ohio). The sump pump is also mounted a specified distance below grade (say 3-5 feet) and will prevent soil surface saturation with water to maintain integrity of the house supports. Soil saturated with water will not support house weight even if above grade.
Two problems which this code can not address:
1. During an electrical blackout the sump pump quits. Perhaps a backup generator should also be required. No code to my knowledge requires a backup generator.
2. During floods, the sump pump gets behind.

The code assumes the electricity will be turned back on and/or the flooding will subside before the foundation sinks. However, check the integrity of the pump as it probably got flooded and no longer functions properly.
The code has good intention but can hardly be properly implemented. I have had some very intelligent people ask why a sump pump is required if the house has no basement. The code should explain how to properly implement the intent of the law for the average Joe.

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