FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Published last month, The Pitt Review: Learning lessons from the 2007 floods highlighted the potentially disastrous consequences of mass power losses, drinking water shortages, evacuation and a halt to the transport network as a result of flooding.
CIRIA supports this view and the requirement for better guidance to protect the UK’s critical infrastructure. Previous guidance from CIRIA has examined flood resilience and resistance, flood risk management and sustainable drainage with a focus on residential developments.
CIRIA since September 2006 has been developing a new project – Flood resilience and resistance for critical infrastructure – that will collate information on flood resilience and resistance measures currently adopted by UK infrastructure asset owners, identifying and providing guidance on approaches to improve the assessment, planning and adaptation to future flooding risk as well as drawing from overseas experience. This project is due to commence in autumn 2008.
CIRIA will be working closely with the UK’s key infrastructure asset owners, leading academics, suppliers of flood protection solutions, the Environment Agency and other regulators and stakeholders
CIRIA is currently seeking potential funders and partners to be involved in the project. To find out more email ben.kidd@ciria.org; telephone: 020 7549 3300; or visit: www.ciria.org.
ENDS
For further press information contact James Milne, CIRIA, Classic House, 174-180 Old Street, London EC1V 9BP or email: press@ciria.org; tel: 020 7549 3342; web: www.ciria.org
CIRIA has been investigating flood risk management through drainage, development and building design for some time. CIRIA has previously provided guidance together with the Environment Agency on measures to protect the home from flooding, looking at resistance and preparation, producing guidance on the Standards for the repair of buildings following flooding (2005).
In addition, CIRIA managed a consortium for Government (CLG and Defra) and the Environment Agency looking at flood resistant materials. The consortium included HR Wallingford, WRc, Leeds University, and Waterman Burrow Crocker.
Building upon previous work, highlighted above, the consortium actually tested materials and construction approaches for flood resistance and resilience.
The project involved literature review, experiential information and laboratory testing. As well as providing guidance on approaches the consortium also developed recommendations for changing the Building Regulations. Furthermore, linkages between Planning Policy Statement 25 (PPS25) and the guidance produced by the consortium were explicit.
Following this work, the need for guidance on flood resilience and resistance for critical infrastructure was raised and developed in September 2006. To discuss this topic CIRIA is currently developing a project to collate information on flood resilience and resistance measures currently adopted by UK infrastructure asset owners, identifying and providing guidance on approaches to improve their planning and adaptation to future flooding as well as drawing from overseas experience.
A recent workshop held by CIRIA the UK’s key infrastructure asset owners, academics, suppliers of flood protection solutions, the Environment Agency and other regulators and stakeholders discussed the current state of play of the UK’s critical infrastructure stock in resilience and resistance to flooding. It was identified that due to interdependencies, there is a need for greater levels of co-ordination between different asset owners, regulators, local resilience forums and the general public before, during and after flood events.
CIRIA’s project on flood resilience and resistance for critical infrastructure will ascertain the level of expertise and good practice knowledge, in the field of flood risk management for critical infrastructure, both point (e.g. electricity sub-station) and linear (e.g. road). The project will investigate potential impacts of flooding events on critical infrastructure assets, highlight current organisational approaches to flood risk management
CIRIA has also produced a website on flooding www.ciria.org/flooding
CIRIA is a member-owned organisation that works with the construction industry, government and academia to provide performance improvement products and services in the construction and related industries.
It was founded in 1960 and currently engages with around 500 subscribing organisations. Activities include collaborative projects, networking, publishing, workshops, seminars and conferences. About 40 projects are run at any one time, about 100 events are staged every year, and 20 books published per annum.