Whatever ones view on the causes of climate change, the extremes we now often witness do put added stresses on a structure and particularly below ground.

Most new structures- before ground is even broken – will have had a soil report conducted on the site. This will inform a structural waterproofing specialist about the immediate geology, soil condition and type of ground.

In addition, a structural waterproofing surveyor will also look at the report to see if any contaminants are present in the soil or things like Radon gas. Contaminated ground often exists on brown field sites, this needs consideration to stop any potential leaking of contaminants into a structure.

But moving on to the challenge of climate change and assessing a structures waterproofing needs is getting more complex when one has to take into consideration things like levels of rainfall and the ground the structure sits in and its location.

With unpredictable weather, a structural waterproofing strategy must take account of increased water levels and the loading on a structure. We can build and waterproof for today, but what will the future hold in terms of climate and weather?

Considerations must be given to areas like storm drain capacity, surface water levels both now and in the future? Its part of building in capacity to handle events that we may not have yet witnessed in a particular location, but where we can identify increased risk, we design for increased risk.

What is the surrounding ground likely to do if saturated at any point, how will the structure react? Will the soil type mean perched water – where water sits trapped in areas underground when fed by rain & surface water – could this become an issue at a later date if rainfall levels increase and therefore results in more potential stress on the structure below ground.

Planning a waterproofing strategy whilst allowing for possible extreme climate events later is now a critical part of structural waterproofing thinking, along with other aspects of the structures design and construction.