REDUCING VULNERABILITY OF BUILDINGS TO FLOOD DAMAGE

Figure 72 Graded sub-floor area to prevent ponding

In flood prone
areas, the
number of
external vents
for ventilation
should be
double that
recommended
by the Building
Ensure there are no
depressions around piers
Code of
to prevent ponding.
Australia to
approximately
Graded sub-floor area with 1 brick per
a minimum fall of 0.5%
towards vents and openings. metre.

levels. These are often created when strip
footings are not backfilled. The sub-floor area
must be filled and levelled to ensure that it is
highest at the centre and drains to the edges.
During floods, hollows can be scoured by fast
flowing water, (Figure 72).
Gardens and built up landscaping mounds may
restrict the free drainage of the sub-floor area.
Careful landscape design is required to ensure
that free drainage around the house is achieved.
5.2.2.2 Sub-Floor Ventilation
Building Code Australia (BCA) stipulates that
7300mm2 per metre should be allowed in all
walls for vents, both external and internal
(approximately half brick per metre). This should
be at least doubled to improve the ventilation in
flood prone conditions.
Clearance between the underside of joists and
the ground needs to be generous in flood affected
areas. The BCA stipulates 350mm. However, this
clearance should be increased to 450mm where
possible in areas likely to be flooded.
It is also important that there are no obstructions
to airflow under the house. Continuous concrete
or brick walls supporting floor bearers or joists
should be avoided, but if used, they should
have significant vents to permit some airflow. If
the underfloor can dry out quickly, the chance
of damage to timber and steel members will be
reduced.
5.2.2.3 Insulation of Floors
If insulation of suspended timber floors is
required, it is recommended that polystyrene
boards, or similar, be installed between the floor
joists and held in place by wire mesh. Alternatives
are reflective foil stapled to the underside of
5
the joists, or polystyrene boards laid under the
flooring, (Figure 73).
Polystyrene boards can be fixed to the underside
of suspended concrete slabs.
All these installations will impact significantly on
the drying times of the floor. After a flood if there
are ventilation problems, consideration should
be given to temporarily removing the insulation
until the floor is thoroughly dried to avoid greater
damage and the increased chance of rotting.
Refer to Section 5.5 for more advice on the use of
insulation in flood prone houses.
5.2.3 Material Selection
The risk of damage to flooring can be reduced by
careful selection of the materials used for both the
supporting members and the flooring itself.
5.2.3.1 General
Timber used in sub-floor structural members
and in flooring should be Class 2 (durable) or
preferably Class 1 (highly durable).

SECTION 5 STRUCTURAL COMPONENT DESIGN 80