Improving Flood Resistance of Buildings
Edward Stewart, RRC
Senior Associate, Gale Associates, Inc.
Severe flooding can endanger life, but even moderate levels of flooding can lead to extensive damages and disruption of building operations. Water source contamination and inhibited access are significant problems, coupled with damages to structures and interior contents. Contaminated water can destroy electrical infrastructure, mechanical systems, etc. Business interruption can last from a few days to over one year. Dues to climate change and revisions to FEMA flood maps in 2016, many buildings not previously categorized as being at risk are now subject to flooding. As a result, insurers are informing their clients of the potential and associates increases in flood insurance coverage if flood mitigation procedures are not enacted. This presentation will discuss how to identify areas of facilities vulnerable to flooding and the options and systems available to protect properties from potentially catastrophic damages to structures, building contents and impacts on building operations. Oftentimes, a hybrid solution must be developed incorporating a variety of systems including barriers, flood gates, deployable flood walls, backflow devices, storage tanks, ejector pumps, upgraded stormwater systems, etc.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the 2016 revisions to the FEMA flood maps.
- Learn how to assess the risk of a building to flooding.
- Learn how to identify the measures needed to controlling the flood risks of the building.
- Learn how to design and implement the flood control measures needed for a building.
Speaker:
Edward Stewart, RRC
Senior Associate, Gale Associates, Inc.
Speaker’s Bio:
Mr. Stewart is a building envelope (window, roof, wall) consulting specialist at Gale. Mr. Stewart coordinates and provides Building envelope Commissioning Services on new construction projects with a focus on Life Science, Health Care and educational facilites. He has extensive experience in conducting failure analysis of many types of roof systems such as single-ply and built-up roofing, asphalt shingles, slate, tile, and metal roofing; and wall systems such as masonry, curtain walls, rain screens, EIFS, and panelized systems. He specializes in the redesign of failed envelope systems including investigation, evaluation and preparation of construction documents and cost estimates.
Mr. Stewart provides field and project engineering expertise relating to vegetated (green) roofs, plaza decks, waterproofing systems, and development of design parameters for new construction and existing assemblies.