Disaster Risk Reduction
TO O L S
F O R
M A I N S T R E A M I N G
D I S A S T E R
R I S K
R E D U C T I O N
Construction Design, Building
Standards and Site Selection
G u i d a n c e N o t e 12
Tools for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction is a series of 14 guidance notes for use by development organisations in adapting programming, project appraisal and evaluation tools to mainstream disaster risk reduction into their development work in hazard-prone countries. The series is also of relevance to stakeholders involved in climate change adaptation.
This guidance note focuses on construction design, building standards and site selection, and their role in the mitigation of risk due to natural hazards. The note provides general guidance for design professionals and funding organisations involved in development projects concerning the construction of new infrastructure, strengthening intervention on existing infrastructure and post-disaster reconstruction. It provides guidance for analysing the potential threat posed by poor construction and inappropriate land use in hazard-prone areas. Only formal constructions (mainly buildings) are considered and some guidance is given on designing structural intervention (construction or strengthening) plans to help mitigate risk from natural hazards to vulnerable people, their livelihoods and the local economy. No specific technical solutions for the latter are proposed as each location and hazard requires a solution tailored to local needs and resources. However, references for further reading on technical issues are provided. Hazard risk mitigation infrastructure is not covered by this guidance note.
1. Introduction
A significant part of development assistance is spent on the construction of infrastructure in developing countries.
However, these investments and associated development gains can be lost in seconds in the event of a natural hazard event (see Box 1). The majority of human and direct economic losses from a natural hazard event
F O R
M A I N S T R E A M I N G
D I S A S T E R
R I S K
R E D U C T I O N
Construction Design, Building
Standards and Site Selection
G u i d a n c e N o t e 12
Tools for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction is a series of 14 guidance notes for use by development organisations in adapting programming, project appraisal and evaluation tools to mainstream disaster risk reduction into their development work in hazard-prone countries. The series is also of relevance to stakeholders involved in climate change adaptation.
This guidance note focuses on construction design, building standards and site selection, and their role in the mitigation of risk due to natural hazards. The note provides general guidance for design professionals and funding organisations involved in development projects concerning the construction of new infrastructure, strengthening intervention on existing infrastructure and post-disaster reconstruction. It provides guidance for analysing the potential threat posed by poor construction and inappropriate land use in hazard-prone areas. Only formal constructions (mainly buildings) are considered and some guidance is given on designing structural intervention (construction or strengthening) plans to help mitigate risk from natural hazards to vulnerable people, their livelihoods and the local economy. No specific technical solutions for the latter are proposed as each location and hazard requires a solution tailored to local needs and resources. However, references for further reading on technical issues are provided. Hazard risk mitigation infrastructure is not covered by this guidance note.
1. Introduction
A significant part of development assistance is spent on the construction of infrastructure in developing countries.
However, these investments and associated development gains can be lost in seconds in the event of a natural hazard event (see Box 1). The majority of human and direct economic losses from a natural hazard event