New Code of Practice for the Recovery of Flood Damaged Buildings Launched

Building preservation trade body The Property Care Association (PCA) has developed a new code of practice for flood damaged buildings.

The move comes after research from the PCA revealed a gap in technical information available to property professionals on the subject.

Available for free download from the PCA’s website, the new document is designed to assist companies and agencies involved in all aspects of flood restoration and the recovery of flood affected buildings.

The guide covers a broad subject area, including information on reducing future flooding, drying out a building, examples of failures where reinstatements are not carefully considered – and details on making a building more flood resilient.

Steve Hodgson, deputy director of the PCA, said: “After looking carefully at the range of technical documents that currently provide guidance to flood recovery practitioners, we found that although a great deal has been written about the drying process, little exists that gives advice and information about the job of putting what was or is a wet building back together.

“The new code highlights the importance of understanding the building. It considers the need for thorough investigation at the earliest possible opportunity, and the importance of identifying pre-existing defects.

“It also looks in general terms at the drying process, concentrating on the importance of monitoring and understanding what is going on within the structure at this critical time.

“Information is provided too on the techniques and materials that can be utilised in the reconstruction phase of the recovery project – and consideration given to the processes that reduce the likelihood of future problems.

“Finally, some of the failures that are encountered when reinstatements are undertaken without proper consideration are featured – and the means by which the building can be made resilient to future flooding.”

Noted for its training and technical expertise, the PCA represents the UK’s below ground waterproofing, damp control, timber preservation, structural repair and flood restoration sectors.

It has recently introduced a CPD on flood restoration and created a dedicated microsite within its website on the subject at www.property-care.org/flooding where the new code of practice can be accessed.