The foundations for futureproofing against climate change in house building

The report demonstrates how the impact of climate change is expected to lead to an increase in damages experienced by domestic properties. It also considers the following key questions with responses informed by the findings of literature research and industry consultation:

• What are the known and anticipated impacts on buildings of climate change?

The NHBC Foundation’s latest report, Building Foundation Solutions – Future Proofing Against Climate Change, is available to download now. This new report focuses on the increasingly important issue of foundation design and its application in making new homes more resilient to the effects of extreme weather events caused by climate change.

This report has been produced to support developers facing comprehensive changes in foundation planning in light of climate consideration. As well as highlighting potential risk factors associated with climate change, it explores how these can impact foundations and how engineers can work to mitigate these risks. The report also recognises government policies aimed at promoting an increase in tree/canopy cover within new developments and the implications of this for foundation design. Importantly it examines the carbon footprint of foundation systems too and how these can be assessed and consequently reduced.

“House builders understand, now more than ever, the importance of climate change in design and development”, commented Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Research & Technical Competency at NHBC Foundation. “This really does start from the very beginning of a project, from the foundations up. Building

Foundation Solutions – Future Proofing Against Climate Change gives its readers a clear overview of this important subject and equips house builders with the knowledge to confidently navigate foundation design in a climate-conscious age.”

This wide ranging report also looks at both the known and anticipated impacts of climate change on foundation systems and the implications for their design and construction in the future. To help illustrate the issues and solutions covered, case studies are included throughout. The range of low carbon foundation solutions currently available are considered along with the interactions between low carbon design, construction solutions and climate change resilience.

The Building Foundation Solutions report was prepared in partnership with RSK, one of the UK’s leading geosciences consultancies and a leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions.

• How can house builders design and build more resilient foundations to protect against changing weather patterns?

• As we approach net zero how can house builders minimise the significant component of carbon emissions that foundations represent?

RSK Director of Engineering and Environmental Consultancy, Peter Witherington, said: “The report recommends that, since it will take some time for further research to justify changes to the NHBC Standards and Building Regulations, developers should consider increasing minimum foundation depths now to increase climate resilience rather than waiting for changes in standards to take place. This clearly needs to be balanced against net zero considerations and the need to reduce embodied carbon associated with construction. The report, therefore, provides guidance on alternative low carbon foundation options which could adopted.”

It also provides an overview of what is currently known, including relevant legislation and policy drivers for change, the main risks to building structures and their foundations from climate effects and how to mitigate them.

Building Foundation Solutions – Future Proofing Against Climate Change is available to download here.

IT'S THE PERFECT TIME FOR EXTERNAL REPAIRS AND SNAGGING

The original and still the best, Magicman supply on-site sustainable repair and refurbishment technicians who deliver on time, every time. Fully certified with every commercial accreditation. Comprehensively insured, monitored and audited. Available nationwide. Is it any wonder that over 300 companies and organisations trust and rely on us?

Increasing environmental responsibilities and sustainability targets are driving the construction industries ongoing needs for cost effective, easy to use solutions for dealing with wastewater onsite. Sites need quick replies, concise information, simple transactions and deliveries without hassle. For the past 9 years Kelly Tanks has enjoyed providing all of these whilst building a large customer base, expanding their team and facilities, and responding to customer demand with innovative new products year on year.

KEY BENEFITS YOU CAN EXPECT FROM KELLY TANKS EQUIPMENT:

• Designed to meet the rigours of the construction industry

• Fast and Simple to Set up

• Small Footprint equipment available

• Units can be linked to handle range of flows, pumps sizes & particle characteristics

Mark, Kelly and team KT provide a selection of Water Treatment and Concrete Washout Solutions for hire or purchase. Their popularity and proven track record is a result of providing the kit you need, in the manner you want, at a price you’re happy with. Match this with their eager to please attitudes and above and beyond aftercare and its easy to see why their customers keep returning.

Concrete Washout

Various concrete washout solutions, to allow concrete trucks and equipment to be washed off safely onsite, including closed loop washwater recycling, washwater filtration sacks, pH correction, robust washout trays and skip washouts.

Water Treatment

Self contained units or full systems to separate and treat wastewater and Water Quality Monitoring Systems including Settlement

& lamella Tanks, flocculation and pH adjustment dosing, pH/TSS/ Turbidity remote monitoring, auto de-sludging.

Hydrodemolition

Water Treatment Solutions for high alkaline hydrodemolition waste, used to retain solids and automatically correct pH.

Drumblaster

Automated daily prevention for concrete drum build-up. Using recycled or fresh water the highly efficient electric driven pump combined with the water jets at the tip of the boom remove the days build up before it hardens. DrumBlaster Build-up Control Technology incorporates an extendable boom with a rotating head allowing the mixer drum to remain stationary.

Bespoke Systems

Tailor made solutions to suit all applications. Whether an idea or

• Easy to Maintain and Monitor equipment

• Reduce off-site disposal costs

• Reduce risk of pollution

• Easy to use equipment a full plan, we can accommodate. We can also tweak our existing products and/or have them sprayed in your corporate colours.

Water Management

Complete onsite Water Management. Consultancy, Testing, Supply, Install and Maintenance.

Kelly Tanks take pride in the quality of their products and have a classy approach to customer service making them a real pleasure to deal with. If you weren’t able to experience their hospitality for yourself at Hillhead this year, you can catch them again at the Contamination Expo, Birmingham NEC in September. If you need anything in the meantime give them a call on 01889 508944, email info@kellytanks.co.uk or check out their website www.kellytanks.co.uk.