How to Keep Your Commercial Building's Foundation Flood-Free
Posted by Access Doors and Panels on 7th Dec 2022
Flooding is a big concern to everyone all over the world. Flooding starts when rain continues to fall for several hours, when heavy rain falls even in a short time, or when an overflowing river is nearby.
Not everything is safe from flooding; even commercial buildings can be subject to flooding. You must have the correct type of foundation and the proper preventive measures for this kind of natural disaster, especially commercial buildings built near a flood zone.
Importance of Building Foundations
The strength of a building relies on its foundation. In construction, the contractors must first focus on a well-grounded foundation for the establishment, showing the structure's resilience and durability. A well-built foundation can make the building strong and durable, but actual flooding will be the one to decide.
Types of Foundation for Flood Zones
It would help if you first determined foundation types for flood zone before making your commercial building. The Pier and Beam Foundation and the Pile Foundation are the best foundations for flood zones.
The Pier and beam foundation is installed with a reinforced concrete footing and will be underground. This way, it will anchor the whole foundation of the building in the ground where it is situated. Then the piers are constructed and attached to the footing. The docks come from the land, and the support beams will connect to the joists under your building's flooring.
The pier and beam foundation changes your building to a high-rise one, which is the most constructive way to prevent flood damage. This type of building foundation is adequate but, at the same time, costly.
On the other hand, using the pile foundation is almost the same as the pier and beam foundation but with simpler infrastructure. The building can also rise only one or two feet from the ground. The pile foundation is also practical, like the pier and beam foundation but costs less.
Preparing for the Flood
Now that you have installed the best type of foundation for your commercial building, you must also take steps to prepare your commercial building in the event of an actual flood. Take necessary measures to prevent or at least mitigate the damage that the flooding might cause.
Here are some tips to prepare for actual flooding:
- Inspect for cracks and holes on your building's exterior walls along with the foundation and close them.
- Move electronic equipment away from areas where flood water will come in.
- Secure hard copies and soft copies of essential documents related to your commercial building
- Install a floodtight floor hatch or a watertight floor hatch to prevent water from coming down to your hidden utility areas under the building.
- Keep your gutter, downpipes, and drains clean and free from clogs.
Doing extra steps for extra protection won't hurt, so here are another steps to handle flooding on your commercial building that you also must read.
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