A new standard for flood resistance and resilience of buildings: new build and retrofit

Abstract

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. However, stakeholders will continue to need assistance and advice on how to select appropriate measures. Based on laboratory testing and other desk studies, a guidance document was developed in 2007 giving advice on resilient approaches for new buildings. This was adopted by many organisations, to inform measures that could be used, particularly to deal with residual flood risks, which cannot always be designed out. Since 2009, through the “Statement of Principles” with the insurance industry and the NPPF, unsuitable development has been discouraged in areas at high flood risk. However, with the increased awareness of the need to deal with surface water for existing housing stock, a new standard was needed. Therefore the British Standards Institution has developed a new standard (BS 85500) that updates and extends the guidance document, including retrofitting flood resistance and resilience measures to existing properties. This paper outlines the Standard’s contents and some of the key issues associated with its development.