When constructing any property — may it be a residential or a commercial one — engineers are tasked to take flood risk into account. This is especially crucial if the building or house to be constructed is located in a low-lying or flood-prone area. If you’re in Maidstone and are planning to build a house there, getting help from civil engineers in Maidstone is essential.

This article discusses how engineers can lower your flood risk.

How Engineers Can Help

When you discuss your concerns with experts in civil and structural engineering in Maidstone, one of the basic things they can do is to consider the so-called base flood elevation (BFE). It refers to the height in which floodwater is projected to rise during a "base flood" (or the flood that "has one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year"). Properties should be built above the BFE.

But apart from this structural elevation, other mitigation methods should be employed. The options include:

Interior modification/retrofit measures

Under this measure, engineers can opt to fill the basement (located below BFE) with compacted soil. Flood openings should be installed that will automatically open in case of a flood. On the other hand, the abandoned lowest floor method involves allowing the lowest floor of an at-least two-storey property to be retrofitted with flood openings. Meanwhile, the elevate lowest interior floor technique involves incorporating high ceilings on the lowest interior floor and filling the space below or retrofitting it with flood openings.

Barrier measures

The barriers that experts in structural engineering in Maidstone are floodwalls and levees. Floodwalls (which can or cannot be gated) are combined with sump pumps or any internal storage system that collects and removes floodwater that will go into this area. Levees are a compacted fill with 2:1 or 3:1 slope (with a maximum of six feet above grade). While flood walls have an expected useful life of 50 years, levees can last up to a century.

Dry floodproofing measures

A dry flood proofing system uses waterproof coatings or coverings to seal your home and prevent floodwater from seeping into your property. These protective layers are typically constructed to a maximum of three feet above grade.

Wet floodproofing measures

One of the most popular wet floodproofing measures is installing flood openings in the property’s foundation. Another technique involves elevating building utilities — this is a measure that protects your utilities from getting damaged or losing function whenever flood water hits your area. To further make utilities safe from flood, floodproofing them is also done by engineers. This set of measures also include the use of flood damage-resistant materials like terrazzo tile flooring to minimise flood water damage and make post-flooding cleanup easier and more efficient.

Hire The Right Team of Engineers

If you’re looking for trusted structural and civil engineers in Maidstone, Considine Limited has the right team for you. Though only founded in 2009, they have a combined experience of over 60 years of successfully completing a wide range of flood-safe construction projects. You may contact them at 01622 919918 or email them at [email protected].