Developments in property resistance and resilience

With around three million properties in England affected by severe weather-driven surface water (pluvial) flooding, and the number likely to increase as a result of climate change, it is important that homeowners and businesses are encouraged to take steps to minimise the effects of future flood events. This is where property-level protection and building resilience measures are important. A government guidance document was developed in 2007, based on laboratory and other studies, giving advice on resilient approaches for new buildings. This was adopted by many organisations, particularly to deal with residual flood risks, which cannot always be designed out. Although unsuitable development has been discouraged in areas at high flood risk, with the increased awareness of the need to deal with surface water for existing housing stock, a new, definitive standard was needed. Therefore the British Standards Institution, with the support of Government, has developed a new standard (BS 85500) that updates and extends the earlier guidance document, including retrofitting flood resistance and resilience measures to existing properties. Developments in property-level protection also continue, and a BSI drafting group is being set up to turn the current PAS 1188 into a full Standard. This is due to start in March 2017 and will also link to issues of certification for the installation of flood products, as well as the professional requirements for flood surveys which inform the most appropriate resistance and resilience measures. This presentation outlines the contents and issues associated with both standards