UK Flood Risk Evaluations And Safety Of Residential Buildings

Government policies in the UK do not encourage the construction of residences in areas with a substantial risk of flooding. However, wherever development is necessary for such zones, the national flood risk management policy mandates that such developments need to be safe, without increasing the flood risk elsewhere and wherever possible, to be able to reduce the flood risk overall through regular flood risk assessments.

Custom-Built Structures For Resilience

It is essential that modern buildings in these zones are designed suitably to deal with floodwaters and reduce the time for re-occupation after a flooding incident. Time to reoccupy properties is a major concern after as it can have a deep impact on the livelihoods and the health of those concerned.

Role Of Developers And Designers

Developers and a principal designer play a crucial role in improving the resilience of new houses in residual or low flood risk regions using appropriate materials and construction details. These methodologies are best applied for zones where the likelihood of flooding is lower or areas where flood risk assessments have been carried out. It can also be done in areas where relief measures have been put in place. The public partnership will also be useful as it will help control officers, planners, and loss adjusters in assessing the risk encountered by these zones.

Construction Methods And Flood-Resistant Design 

Data from area surveys, technical evidence, laboratory tests, and industry knowledge, help a principal designer to ascertain the best alternative or design scheme for flood management. This can be done at a construction site by gathering knowledge from basic flood parameters such as depth, frequency and duration which would normally be determined in a flood risk evaluation at the development stage. These measures can help make residential structures more sustainable, especially in flood-prone areas.