Protecting buildings from the effects of climate change

Flooding, hail or extreme heat are consequences of climate change that we are already experiencing today. How can we design and construct properties and buildings to protect them from the effects of climate change? Researchers at the Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics (IABP) at the University of Stuttgart have developed a catalog of measures for planners, architects and owners. The recommendations are available as a printed brochure or as a PDF.

Construction plays a central role in the climate debate. Construction not only contributes to climate change, it is also particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events. "That is why the enormous and as yet untapped potential of the building sector to adapt to climate change is of utmost importance," explains Pia Krause, research associate at IABP. In an information brochure sponsored by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), she and her colleagues present proposals for implementing the transformation of cities, neighborhoods and buildings to form climate-resilient and sustainable environments. Specifically, the proposals relate to adapting construction to resist heat and solar radiation, heavy rain and flooding, and hail and storms.

Increasing summer heatwaves can be reduced by implementing appropriate measures both on the property and on and in buildings. For example, the materiality of the building envelope, including the choice of facade color, plays a central role in the warming of a building. "A high thermal storage mass of the building envelope can significantly mitigate temperature peaks in the interior. Furthermore, a dark exterior plaster, for example, shows a greater increase in temperatures on the exterior surface compared to a light exterior plaster," Krause said. The design of the exterior, in interaction with the orientation of the windows and the type of glazing, has a significant effect on the indoor temperature. "The amount of radiation caused by the sun's rays entering the building can be significantly reduced by selectively placing trees in front of the facade. In addition, the direction of solar radiation entering the rooms changes depending on the season and the time of day. Window orientation, as well as the type of window and solar shading, significantly affect the thermal conditions in the room."

If possible, owners and architects should choose green-blue infrastructure such as trees, lawns, flower beds or water areas in the garden instead of sealed surfaces. Unsealed surfaces not only contribute to reducing heat islands, they also increase the outdoor recreational quality for humans, flora and fauna.

"Of course, the measures mentioned must be thoroughly considered, and adapted in individual cases," says Krause. And such measures interact with each other: a sensible ratio of window areas in the façade, coordinated with the orientation, combined with intelligent sun protection systems and plenty of greenery in the garden effectively keeps the summer heat out.

In addition to the measures mentioned above, it is also essential to minimize the damage caused by extreme weather events such as floods or hail. For example, researchers recommend using robust materials and structures on building elements that are subject to high stress. Various measures can be taken to prevent flooding: In addition to unsealing urban open spaces and integrating underground and aboveground storage basins, building openings in flood-prone areas, such as basement windows, can be protected with a light well cover or by structural elevation. In the event of flooding, the water must be drained from the building quickly and in a controlled manner.

In addition, it is important to Krause and her team that climate protection is always taken into consideration when implementing the measures: "We can only slow down climate change and its consequences if climate adaptation and climate protection go hand in hand."

The detailed proposals for planners, architects and property owners for climate-adapted buildings and properties can be found as a PDF on the website of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development. If you want to request a printed copy, you can order one by contacting the homepage.