Designing for Climate Change: Structural Adjustments for Flood Protection

With climate change in our midst, architects and engineers must consider planning and designing flood protection devices to protect buildings, old or new, against the potentially devastating effects of flood.

Structural adjustments for flood protection are an essential part of floodproofing measures being implemented by the federal government, local city councils and development authorities. Floodproofing pertains to any combination of changes or structural adjustments incorporated into the building design, construction or alterations of existing structures to reduce possible flood damages. The modifications for structural adjustments might range from minor changes to utilities, waterproofing walls, elevating the building above flood levels, and incorporating flood protection devices into the building structure.

Flooding Solutions is an Australian company that specialises in floodproofing measures through continuous product research and development. Flooding Solutions promotes floodproofing as a viable flood protection measure by assisting architects, engineers and property owners in planning and implementing measures for flood protection.

What are the Changes or Structural Adjustments used for Floodproofing?

1. Elevating the Building
Probably the best way to protect any structure from flood waters is to raise it above the flood level. Commonly applied in flood prone areas, this floodproofing approach causes little to no damage at all. Ideal for new construction, allowing the flood waters to flow right through the open space below and around the building.

The walls of the new foundation must have openings for flood waters to pass through under the structure. Otherwise, hydrostatic pressure builds up and will compromise the structural integrity by creating breaks and cracks across the foundation.

2. Flood Barriers
Flood barriers block the flood waters from entering building structures.

Traditionally, flood barriers are visually intrusive. However, technology's development has enabled architects, designers, engineers and manufacturers to integrate barrier aesthetics into functionality without the need to compromise the building's façade.

Flooding Solutions offer an extensive selection of seamless flood protection devices that fit any project specification. Just recently, Flooding Solutions embarked on a large-scale retrofit project in one of the biggest shopping mall chains in Australia.

Flooding Solutions designed, supplied and installed seven self-closing flood barriers and several 24/7 flood doors around the shopping complex. The self-closing flood barriers provide an ideal solution for flash floods, as they automatically activate without the need for human intervention by using the incoming flood waters to self-close and create a seal for building openings. They can also be activated by pushing the button on a control panel or remotely through mobile phone activation.

The 24/7 flood doors provide a standard everyday access door. However, once closed, it gives a watertight sealing capacity that protects the building against the flood.

3. Dry Floodproofing
This approach pertains to sealing the building to ensure that flood waters will not get inside the structure. This method uses plastic sheeting or waterproofing compounds to protect and cover the walls. Structural openings like vents, doors and windows can be covered with temporary or permanent barriers.

However, this technique is not recommended for structures with below grade apertures like basements and underground parking areas because hydrostatic pressure might cause wall collapse.

To maximise reliability of this floodproofing approach, proper maintenance of materials used in dry floodproofing should be done on a regular basis. This is to ensure that waterproofing compounds and temporary flood barriers are still intact and functioning well.

Aside from a broad range of self-closing flood barriers, Flooding Solutions also has a selection of flood windows ideal for basement windows, flood gates and flood planks.

These are just some of the structural adjustments needed to maximise the effectivity and integrity of floodproofing.

Flooding Solutions has the years of experience, knowledge and innovation to design, manufacture and integrate flood protection devices into a building design.

Consult with the experts at Flooding Solutions today.