This BRE Digest sets out an overall approach to building in flood-risk areas and the design of flood-resilient buildings, using a range of measures, including elements of resistance, resilience and avoidance. The approach is based on that which has been developed in all parts of the UK in recent years. It will be of relevance to developers, designers, planners, regulators and others who need to take into account managing flood risk to new development.

The Digest is in two parts. This second part covers designing flood-resilient buildings, and sustainable development and flood risk, and describes features and measures that can be used to protect buildings.

The first part gives the background to building in flood-risk areas, and covers legislation, the principles of flood-risk assessment and the issues that define flood performance of buildings. It draws on the growing literature in this field to promote good practice and encourages responsible development that considers flood risk and addresses appropriate design and construction solutions.

Contents

Introduction

Building in flood-risk areas

- Decision making

The design of flood measures

- Avoidance (Site layout and land raising. Landscaping. Drainage. Boundary walls, fencing and local flood prevention measures. Threshold and floor levels)

- Resistance (Structural needs for resistance. Properties of materials needed for resistance. Brickwork and blockwork. Doors. Foundations and floors. Flood protection products. Construction quality. Inspection and maintenance in service)

- Resilience (Voids and cavities. Walls and services. Foundations and floors)

Sustainable development and flood risk

- Conflicting and competing priorities

References

Further reading

A4 12pp, 6 diagrams, 1 photo

Available on or after 27/1/2012.