What is the recommended plinth height?

At least 0.3 m above the Design Flood Level (DFL) for the area (Clause 5.3.1).

What are the main strategies for flood resistance?

Key strategies include elevation (raising the building), use of stilts, flood barriers (dry-proofing), and allowing water to pass through (wet-proofing) (Clause 5).

Can I have large openings on the ground floor in a flood-prone area?

No, openings below the DFL should be minimized and not exceed 0.6 m in height to maintain wall integrity against water pressure (Clause 7.4.2).

IS 16474

: 2016

Flood Resistant Construction - Guidelines for Non-engineered Buildings

CurrentSpecializedGuidelinesStructural Engineering · Disaster Resilience and Retrofitting

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This standard provides guidelines for planning, designing, and constructing non-engineered buildings to resist flood damage. It covers site selection, architectural features, structural components, and material choices to enhance the resilience of homes and small buildings in flood-prone areas.

Provides guidelines for flood resistant construction practices for non-engineered buildings.

Quick Reference Values

Recommended minimum plinth height above DFL0.3 m

High intensity flood definition (velocity)> 2 m/s

High intensity flood definition (depth)> 2 m

Maximum recommended height of opening in wall below DFL0.6 m

Low intensity flood definition (velocity)< 1 m/s

Practical Notes

The concept of Design Flood Level (DFL) is central; all protective measures, especially plinth height, are determined relative to the DFL.

The code emphasizes a 'sacrificial ground floor' or 'wet-proofing' approach for high-risk zones, allowing water to pass through while protecting the upper floors.

Focus on robust connections between foundation, walls, and roof is critical to prevent catastrophic failure from hydrodynamic forces and buoyancy.