Future–proofing New and Existing Buildings

Flood Resilient Design and Construction Techniques

K a ty H u n te r
B R E S co tla n d
2 8 th A p ril 2 0 1 5

Part of the BRE Trust

Introduction

– W h o a re B R E
– F lo o d R isk in th e U K
– R e tro fittin g F lo o d R e silie n ce
– N e w B u ild F lo o d R e silie n ce
– In su ra n ce M a tte rs
– B R E C e n tre F o r R e silie n ce
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Flood Risk in the UK
Flooding is one of the highest order
risks for the built environment and is
expected to be more frequent
throughout the 21st Century
Flood Risk in the UK
– N o rth e rn Ire la n d : u p to 6 6 ,0 0 0 p ro p e rtie s (7 .5 % )
– S co tla n d : 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 p ro p e rtie s (1 0 % )
– E n g la n d a n d W a le s: 5 .2 m illio n p ro p e rtie s (4 .5 % )
– U K to ta l: a p p ro xim a te ly 5 .5 m illio n

Climate Change
Urbanisation
P lu via l flo o d risk a cco u n ts for one third o f a ll flo o d risk in th e
U K a n d con tro llin g th is risk a lo n e co u ld re q u ire in ve stm e n t o f
£150 million per year.

In su ra n ce cla im s fro m th e 2 0 0 7 su rfa ce w a te r flo o d s (e .g . in

S h e ffie ld , H u ll) o u tn u m b e re d cla im s fo r rive r a n d se a flo o d in g
by 6:1
Retrofitting Resilience
80% of the building stock in 2050
already exists today – how do we
protect these properties from flooding?
A pplying flood resilience technologies

– T yp e s o f flo o d in g
– F lo o d risk m a n a g e m e n t stra te g y (re sista n ce o r re silie n ce )
– D iffe re n t typ e s o f te ch n o lo g ie s
– M a in te n a n ce co n sid e ra tio n s
– In sta lla tio n
SMARTeST – Smart Technologies, Systems and Tools

– T h e a im o f th e S M A R T e S T p ro je ct w a s to im p ro ve th e R o a d to
M a rke t fo r in n o va tive F lo o d R e silie n t (F R e ) te ch n o lo g y. F o u r
ca te g o rie s w e re co n sid e re d :

P e rim e te r Te ch n o lo g ie s A p e rtu re Te ch n o lo g ie s
To p ro te ct a co m m u n ity o r g ro u p P ro d u cts to p ro te ct fro m flo o d in g
o f b u ild in g s fro m flo o d in g . a t a b u ild in g le ve l.

B u ild in g Te ch n o lo g ie s In fra structure Te ch n o lo g ie s

In clu d in g w a te rp roo fin g a n d P ro d u cts to p ro te ct in fra stru ctu re
w a te r re sista n t co a tin g s a n d fro m th e sco u rin g e ffe cts o f flo o d
se a la n ts. w a te r
SMARTeST

– P e rim e te r a n d a p e rtu re te ch n o lo g ie s ca n b e
te m p o ra ry, d e m o u n ta b le o r p e rm a n e n t – a n d ca n b e
a ctiva te d m a n u a lly (th ro u g h h u m a n in te rve n tio n ) o r
a u to m a tica lly, b y b u o ya n cy o r m e ch a n ica l a ctio n .
– S o m e o f th e se te ch n o lo g ie s ca n a lso b e ca lle d
Property Level Protection (P L P ) – w h e n in sta lle d a t
p ro p e rty le ve l.
New Build Flood Resilience
Publications
Home Quality Mark
Research Activity
BRE Digest – Flood-Resilient Building (DG 523)
– Legislation and planning
– F lood-risk assessm ent
– F lood perform ance of buildings
– S tru ctu ra l perform a n ce
– M a te ria l perform a n ce
– Im p a cts o f contam inatio n
– B uilding in flood-risk areas
– D esigning flood-resilient
buildings
– A vo id ance
– R e sista n ce
– R e silie n ce
– S ustainable developm ent and
flood risk.
Home Quality Mark

– T h e H o m e Q u a lity M a rk is a n e w rig o ro u s sta n d a rd fo r n e w h o m e s.

– It p ro vid e s co n su m e rs w ith th e to o ls to m a ke a n in fo rm e d ch o ice w h e n
b u yin g o r re n tin g a n e w h o m e .
– E n a b le s h o u se b u ild e rs to d iffe re n tia te th e ir p ro d u cts a n d to a rticu la te th e
b e n e fits o f n e w h o m e s.

Encouraging design
decisions that will make
your home more resilient
to environmental damage,
flood and wear and tear.
 Flood Resilient Property – Construction
– T raditional brick and block m asonry cavity w alls, tim ber first floor and roof. C oncrete
slab and foundations – pile foundations w here problem atic soil conditions exist.

– T he house is designed to resist w ater up to 600m m in depth after w hich w ater is

allow ed to enter into the property to reduce pressure on the structure.

– A utom atic opening w indow panels (flood inlets) are triggered by localised sensors to
allow a controlled inundation of flood w ater into the property.

– F lood resistant doors autom atically protect against w ater entry.

– Internal w alls are w ater resilient, using m aterials w hich w ill allow fast recovery:
concrete block partitions, lim e plaster or m agnesium oxide board as finishing – skirting
is sealed w ith an internal cavity m em brane.
W a ll to F lo o r Ju n ctio n (O p tio n A )
A prim ary and a secondary layer of w aterproofing w as
designed:
– W ater tanking below slab to resist w ater pressure (prim ary
layer)
– C avity drainage for w ater collection after flood (secondary
layer)

W a ll to F lo o r Ju n ctio n (O p tio n B )
W aterproof concrete utilised – again a prim ary and
secondary layer of w aterproofing w as designed:
– C oncrete slab and w all w ith w ater resistant additive
(prim ary layer)
– C avity drainage for w ater collection / rem oval follow ing a
flood (secondary layer)
– F ull cavity insulation (closed cell / w aterproof)
 Flood Resilient Property – Services

– A M echanical V entilation H eat R ecovery (M V H R ) system is installed in addition to

natural ventilation – this w ill aid drying out after a flood.

– A ll service entry points are sealed (or raised w here possible / practical), plus all
electrics and appliances are raised above the design flood level.

– K itchen units below flood level are of w aterproof m aterial (plastic or stainless steel
hardw are). K itchen unit doors and draw ers are sealed.
 Flood Resilient Property – Drainage and Water Services
Sewerage

– S ew age system has a non-return valve

– D rainage pipes are sealed through the “flood proof layer”

– Inspection cham bers are fitted w ith anti-lift lid

– D rainage pipes are covered and locked in concrete to resist low er ground w ater
pressure and prevent dam age

Post-flood drainage

– C hannels, pipes and drains are built into the floor

– D rain connections into m an hole are fitted w ith non-return valve and anti-lift lid

– P ipes are fitted w ith non-return valves to avoid back-flow of sew age
 Flood Resilient Property – Flood Warning and Sensors

– A series of w ater sensors are located outside the property and on entry points, linked
to an internal rem ote alarm .

– E m ergency rescue locations are designated at ground and first floor levels.

– A utom ation is essential to allow the various technologies to w ork in synergy and
provide early w arning, em ergency contact and autom atic safety m easures.

– E xternal door sensors and internal ground level sensor advises of the presence of
w ater.

– A ll sensors are connected to a m ain sounder to give acoustic and visual w arning

– P otential to connect the m ain sounder to an autom ated call system / em ergency
authorities

– F lood E m ergency K it to be stored on first floor

Insurance Matters
Statement of Principles
Flood Re
Property Flood Resilience Database
(PFR-d)
Statement of Principles – Government and insurance
industry flood agreement
– A n a g re e m e n t b e tw e e n th e A B I a n d th e G o ve rn m e n t: In su re rs
co m m itte d to o ffe r in su ra n ce to m a n y p re vio u sly flo o d e d o r a t-risk
cu sto m e rs in th e U K .
– In e a ch co u n try in th e U K , th e n a tio n a l b o d y w ith re sp o n sib ility fo r
flo o d in g ca rrie s o u t flo o d risk a sse ssm e n ts w h ich in su re rs u se to
d e te rm in e h o w th e S ta te m e n t o f P rin cip le s is e n fo rce d .
– T h e a g re e m e n t g u a ra n te e s th a t in su re rs w ill:
– renew existing custom ers’ hom e insurance if their property is not
considered to be at significant risk of flooding
– renew the hom e insurance of existing custom ers w hose properties are
considered to be at significant risk of flooding, as long as there are
G overnm ent or agency led plans to reduce the flood risk in the area w ithin
five years
– continue cover for the new ow ners of a previously flooded or at-risk
property if the original custom er decides to sell.
Flood Re

– F lo o d R e w ill b e ru n a n d fin a n ce d b y in su re rs a s a not-for-profit fu n d

w h ich w ill co ve r th e co st o f flo o d cla im s fro m h ig h risk h o m e s.

– In su re rs w ill p a ss th e flo o d risk e le m e n t fro m h ig h risk h o u se h o ld s to

th e fu n d . P re m iu m s fo r th e flo o d risk w ill b e ca lcu la te d b a se d o n
co u n cil ta x b a n d in g .

– F lo o d R e w o u ld ch a rg e m e m b e r firm s a n a n n u a l fe e o f
£ 1 8 0 m illio n .T h is e q u a te s to a le vy o f £ 1 0 .5 0 o n a n n u a l h o u se h o ld
p re m iu m s a n d re p re se nts th e e stim a te d le ve l o f cro ss-sub sid y th a t
a lre a d y e xists b e tw e e n lo w e r a n d h ig h e r flo o d risk p re m iu m s.
Flood Insurance and Resilience

– O fte n h o u se h o ld e rs, lo ca l a u th o ritie s o r G o ve rn m e n t ta ke ste p s to

im p ro ve th e re silie n ce o f p ro p e rtie s, th ro u g h co n stru ctio n w o rk o r th e
in sta lla tio n o f p ro p e rty le ve l p ro te ctio n (P L P ).

– T h e in su ra n ce in d u stry is cu rre n tly n o t a b le to ta ke in to a cco u n t th is

in ve stm e n t a s th e y h a ve n o d a ta to re fe r to in o rd e r to a sse ss th e
re d u ce d risk.

– A n e cd o ta l e vid e n ce su g g e sts th a t so m e h o u se h o ld e rs w h o h a ve
p re vio u sly b e e n flo o d e d , o r w h o a re a t risk o f flo o d in g h a ve ta ke n
m e a su re s to p ro te ct th e ir h o m e s a n d ye t still ca n n o t in su re th e ir
h o m e s a ffo rd a b ly.
Property Flood Resilience Database

– P ro je ct p a rtn e rs B R E , A X A In su ra n ce a n d L e xis-N e xis a re cu rre n tly

u n d e rta kin g re se a rch th a t a d d re sse s th is d ifficu lty in a cce ssin g
in fo rm a tio n o n im p ro ve m e n ts to b u ild in g s w h ich h a ve b e e n ta ke n to
m a n a g e flo o d risk.

– T h e P ro p e rty F lo o d R e silie n ce D a ta b a se (P F R -d ) p ro je ct is fu n d e d b y
In n o va te U K a n d w ill re su lt in th e m e a n s to in fo rm in su re rs o f p ro p e rty
le ve l re silie n ce m e a su re s.

– T h e p ro je ct h a s d e ve lo p e d a d a ta b a se w h e re flo o d re silie n ce
m e a su re s u n d e rta ke n b y h o u se h o ld e rs, lo ca l a u th o ritie s o r
G o ve rn m e n t ca n b e lo g g e d .

– A fra m e w o rk fo r th e d a ta b a se to b e lin ke d to in su re rs o th e r d a ta se ts
(e .g . flo o d risk) h a s b e e n cre a te d .
Property Flood Resilience Database

T h e D a ta b a se h a s b e e n d e ve lo p e d th ro u g h :

– A n in itia l re vie w o f th e typ e s o f d a ta th a t a re cu rre n tly co lle cte d in

b u ild in g le ve l flo o d risk a sse ssm e n ts a n d su rve ys

– D e ve lo p m e n t o f a ‘m a trix’ o f in fo rm a tio n w e fe e l is n e ce ssa ry a cro ss

resistance, resilience a n d community fa cto rs

– E a ch fa cto r h a s a se rie s o f su b -fa cto rs, w h ich a re ra n ke d

d e p e n d in g o n th e a u to m a tio n , m a te ria ls u se d , ce rtifica tio n a n d
te stin g p ro ce d u res.

– S ite su rve ys – to co n firm th e n e ce ssa ry fa cto rs fo r th e m a trix a n d

e sta b lish a sta n d a rd ise d p ro ce d u re fo r su rve yors to fo llo w .
BRE Centre for Resilience
BRE Centre for Resilience
U sin g know ledge and research the centre w ill
deliver im provem ents for the resilience
cap acity of the built environm ent.

w w w.bre.co.uk
BRE Centre For Resilience

What we do:
– C o n d u ct re se a rch in to n e w m itig a tio n a n d a d a p tio n m e th o d s
– C re a te n e w sta n d a rd s fo r d e sig n , p la n n in g a n d p ro d u cts
– T e st, trial, d e m o n stra te a n d ce rtify a n e w tra n ch e o f in n o va tio n s
– D e ve lo p n e w tra in in g p ro g ra m m e s fo r th e se cto r
– C o m m u nica te a n d d isse m in a te kn o w le d g e
Aims & objectives
– P lu g th e kn o w le d g e g a p s o n b u ilt e n viro n m e n t re silie n ce
– U se th e d a ta g e n e ra te d to cre a te a n e w g e n e ra tio n o f b u ilt e n vironm e n t rela te d
sta n d a rd s, p ro d u cts a n d to o ls th a t p ro m o te re silie n ce
– B u ild a b e tte r w o rld in p a rtn e rsh ip w ith ch a n g e m a kin g o rg a n isatio n s
– D e ve lo p U K se cto r kn o w le d g e a n d in n o va tio n o n a ch ie vin g re silie n ce that can b e
e xp o rte d a ro u n d th e w o rld
Resilient Built Environment Research Programme
– Flood resilient homes – repair standards. A p ro je ct to d e ve lo p
a p p ro p ria te sta n d a rds fo r flo o d re silie n t re p a irs, a n d te ch n ica l g u id a n ce
to h e lp co n tra ctors d e live r co st-e ffe ctive m e a su re s.
– Wind loading on buildings. M o re th a n 9 0 % o f b u ild in g w in d d a m a g e
o ccu rs a t w in d sp e e d s b e lo w th e b a sic d e sig n w in d p re ssu re – th is
p ro je ct w ill a d d re ss th is se rio u s p e rfo rm a n ce g a p .
– Tackling overheating in urban dwellings. T h is p ro je ct w ill p ro vid e
vita l g u id a n ce a n d in fo rm a tio n b a se d o n h a rd scie n tific d a ta , in clu d in g
a d e ta ile d re vie w o f th e p o te n tia l risk o f fla ts to o ve rh e a t.
– Resilience to natural disasters. B u ild s o n th e su cce ssfu l B R E T ru st
a n d IF R C (In te rn a tio n a l F e d e ra tio n o f R e d C ro ss a n d R e d C re sce nt
S o cie tie s) fu n d e d w o rk to d e ve lo p th e Q S A N D T o o l fo r p o st d isa ste r
re co n stru ctio n /re de ve lo p m e n t p ro je cts.
– Community resilience. T h is w ill b e a p re cu rsor to a w id e r p ro je ct
w h ich a im s to d e ve lo p a to o l fo r a sse ssin g a n d m a n a g in g re silie n ce a t
co m m u n ity le ve l.
White Paper

– D e ta ils th e e xte n t o f flo o d

risk in th e U K
– F lo o d re silie n ce a n d
in su ra n ce
– F lo o d re silie n t p la n n in g a n d
co n stru ctio n
– C o m m u n ity flo o d re silie n ce

– 6 co n clu sio n s a n d
re co m m e n d a tio n s
Thank you for listening

K a ty H u n te r
B R E S co tla n d
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