Flooding is becoming a regular event due to global warming, rising sea levels & building on the flood plain. We need to be prepared for these dramatic events when they impact on historic buildings. Understanding the effect of water on historic structure & traditional building materials is essential in reducing the loss of heritage assets. We can learn much from other areas of Europe where historic settlements are subject to flood events on a regular pattern.

Flooding & water damage from defective plumbing, poor rainwater disposal, leaking drains & firefighting activities can all have long term consequences for historic fabric.

Identifying points of weakness in water management systems is essential as poor maintenance regimes & sometimes original design defects can reduce dramatically the life of historic structures & materials.

The consequences of water penetration to masonry & timber & the effects of condensation will be looked at in some detail.