GROUNDWORKS 67
FUTUREPROOF YOUR FOUNDATIONS
The NHBC’s Richard Smith shares some of the key learnings from its latest report, which looks at how to futureproof foundations against climate change.
T
he NHBC Foundation is committed to providing high quality research and practical guidance to support the house-building industry, with particular focus on the challenges faced by the modern developer. As climate change continues to be of interest across all sectors, the NHBC Foundation identifi ed new homes foundations planning for climate resilience as a key concern for the sector. The Foundation Solutions report uture roofi ng Against limate hange explores the increasingly important issue of foundation design in housebuilding and its application in making new homes more resilient to the effects of extreme weather caused by climate change. The report concentrates on challenges in three important areas:
• highlighting potential risk factors associated with climate change • recognising government policies aimed at promoting an increase in tree/canopy cover within new developments • understanding the carbon footprint of foundation systems and how these can be assessed and reduced.
Building Foundation Solutions – Future
roofi ng Against limate hange provides an overview of what we currently know, including relevant legislation and policy drivers for change, the major risks to building structures and their foundations from climate effects and, of course, how to mitigate them.
UNDERSTANDING THE RISK OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO FOUNDATIONS Foundation planning is a vital aspect of any build and getting this right contributes to the integrity, resilience and longevity of a new home.
In June 2021 the UK Climate Change Committee published a report titled ‘Independent Assessment of UK Climate isk which looked at climate change risks and opportunities in the UK, alongside statutory adaptation advice for the UK government. It concluded, for a 2°C increase by 2100, annual damage from fl ooding for nonresidential properties
FOUNDATION PLANNING IS A VITAL ASPECT OF ANY BUILD AND GETTING THIS RIGHT CONTRIBUTES TO THE INTEGRITY, RESILIENCE AND LONGEVITY OF A NEW HOME
across the UK is expected to increase by 27% by 2050 and 40% by 2080. For a 4°C increase, this rises to 44% and 75% respectively over the same timescales. In addition, risks to building fabric are identifi ed in the same report as one of 20 risks assessed as requiring further investigation at a UK-wide level. The magnitude of the risks to building fabric are categorised as igh defi ned as hundreds of millions of pounds per annum in the s and ery igh defi ned as over bn per annum in the 2080s. These sobering predictions alone should be enough for developers to consider the long-term viability of the homes being built considering climate change and were key factors in the NHBC Foundation identifying foundation design as a signifi cant area of interest.
THE IMPACT OF TREE/CANOPY COVER Tree canopy, which includes the area of leaves, branches and stems of trees, is not
necessarily an immediate consideration when it comes to the design of housing foundations.
Although both newly planted and established trees pose direct and indirect risks to building foundations, trees are often a welcome inclusion in a development for both environmental and aesthetic reasons. Developers should also be considering the wider impact increased canopy cover can have as research suggests even moderate increases in canopy cover within cities can aid adaptation to the adverse effects projected under a changing climate.
Correctly managed trees contribute to the planning, design and organisation of sustainable, resilient landscapes, as they help make developments safer and more attractive. However, the impacts of increasing canopy cover on building foundations need to be considered as canopy cover within new development layouts should be designed to ensure
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