PRESENTATION

ON SAFE CONSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES

Natural hazards: an overview

The main types of natural hazard that can pose serious risks to the built environment are:

floods earthquakes tsunamis landslides volcanoes fires storms, and toxic environments

Natural hazards: floods

Floods can occur: following sudden rainfall or snowmelt when rivers break their banks as a result of surges in sea level as a result of rising ground water

Building design options include raising the building on plinth relocating the building locally to higher ground raising the building on stilts building strong columns and roof, but sacrificial walls that are washed out in floods clear openings on opposite sides of the building parallel to the likely direction of water flood, such as under raised floors strong corners and foundations to resist scouring, beams barriers to divert flows and debris

Support traditional risk management techniques where possible as this can help identify safer areas that are less likely to suffer from flooding.

Natural hazards : earthquakes

Earthquake resistant settlement planning should ensure that: settlements are not located on alluvial plains, unstable soils, reclaimed land, unstable or steep slopes buildings are spaced to avoid multiple collapse

Earthquake resistant building design should be appropriate to: geographic location economic group traditional construction

Design components may include: a series of 3 ring beams per floor through stones joining front and rear faces of rubble masonry columns able to take tension and compression regular buttresses and dividing walls continuous structural linkage between all building elements fatigue stress is taken into account and effects monitored square or rectilinear plans are used where possible

Natural hazards : tsunami

A tsunami is a large wave, or series of waves usually caused by: an earthquake volcanic eruptions underwater explosions or landslides

In tsunami prone areas site selection should ensure that transitional settlements are located on high ground away from the sea. The impact of tsunami on settlements and populations can be mitigated through: relocation of communities at risk identification of high ground for evacuation identification of escape routes reinforcement of flood defence systems including through natural barriers such as reef, mangroves and sandbanks provision of Early Warning Systems

Natural hazards: landslides

The term landslide includes rock slides, rock falls, tree slides, mud slides, debris flows, and avalanches Past landslides should be assessed, including through consultation with local communities Landslides tend to occur on steep slopes or where land is undercut by water One indication of previous landslides is vegetation at a different level of growth from surrounding areas Factors which can increase the risk of landslides: deforestation overgrazing bend of river: risks of water undercutting land, heavy rainfall less danger of Foundation design can mitigate against the effect of landslides Where possible settlements should not be located in areas prone to Landslides. Properly draining a site can also prevent landslides
landslides damaging the settlement causing landslide

landslide risk to settlement

Natural hazards: volcanoes

Volcanoes produce various types of hazard: hot ash and dust mud and lava flows fires floods landslides rock slides avalanches poisonous gases tsunami ballistics (rocks thrown into the air)

Settlements should not be located near volcanoes or lava flows Settlement planning should include escape routes and contingency plans Building design should ensure that large openings face away from the volcano roof design allows for ash loading

Natural hazards: storms

Storm damage can be lessened by influencing the flow of wind through the site, for example: using wind barriers, such as trees and topography may help to protect vulnerable shelters the layout of buildings will effect how wind flows through the settlement the positioning of windows and openings in buildings can be used to provide shelter as well as natural ventilation

Building design and retrofitting are measures that may include: reducing overhangs, eves and gables improving the strength of joints through the use of brackets and cross bracing introducing cross bracing and ties especially for wall plates and rafters improving the fixing of roofing materials introducing storm shutters for windows and openings

Natural hazards: fire

The risk of fire is particularly high in dry areas where forest fires or wildfires are common. Also in cold or temperate climates where cooking and heating stoves are used inside shelters. Where possible methods for mitigating risks from fire include: fire alarms and fire doors which should open in the direction of the escape planning settlements to include fire breaks providing water points and fire beaters for fire fighting ensuring adequate fire escapes from buildings and fire drills ensuring fire escapes are marked, clear and accessible

the maximum travel distance to a fire escape should not be more than 18m from any part of the building

distance between buildings should be twice their height

Natural hazards: toxic environments

Local knowledge is critical for understanding toxic threats and sources of dangerous pollution Toxic hazards may include: contamination of surface or ground water - arsenic - chemical fertilisers or pesticides - sewage carbon monoxide and particulates emitted by vehicles, generators or stoves asbestos, this should be removed and its use avoided in reconstruction salt deposits from sea water flooding human or animal bodies abandoned lead mines depleted uranium weapons

Bibliography
Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons (Global Protection Cluster Working Group, 2007)

Women, girls, boys and men (IASC 2006)

Transitional Settlement: Displaced Populations (Corsellis and Vitale, 2005)

Transitional settlement and reconstruction after natural disasters (United Nations, 2008)