THE unprecedented heavy rainfall on April 16, 2024 and the extent of its impact on some parts of the GCC region have demanded analysis and conscious effort towards arriving at strategies and solutions to prevent a repeat or, at the very least, to minimise the damage.

As Saeed Al Abbar, CEO, AESG, puts it, “Building resilience in cities is essential to not only make populations and infrastructure less susceptible to damage and loss but to also make them more agile to the unpredictable nature of climate change impacts. The urgency of climate change demands more than incremental change – it demands a revolution in how we approach infrastructure, where resilience is not just an aspiration; it’s an inherent feature of our infrastructure.

By integrating cutting-edge technology and appropriate sustainable architectural design and engineering considerations, we can develop infrastructure that stands the test of time.”

Such was the magnitude of the event that it calls on policymakers; urban planners; climate adapters; and civil, structural and MEP engineers to work together to provide long-standing solutions that are practical and within cost frameworks.

The Rain Resilience Conference is a coming together of multiple disciplines with an agenda of being able to bolster infrastructure and buildings and, thus, contribute to safe cities and business continuity.

1) Accepting the new normal of greater frequency and intensity of rainfall (flash floods).

2) Acknowledging that existing infrastructure and buildings need to be fortified to withstand the new normal – for example, flood relief and drainage systems are typically based on 50-100 years of historical data; regional government initiatives towards reevaluating the data and incorporating additional risk factors, using exaggerated figures as the new baseline for designing flood relief, plumbing and drainage systems.

3) At the same time, with cost in mind, a need for benchmarking against moderately rainy regions, as opposed to designing according to the Amazon rainforest – profiling parts of the globe that experience occasional flooding and integrating proven design standards in them into regional building practices.

4) A need for creating ‘basis of design’ for extreme weather events. A need to collectively examine the 200 countries around the world and create benchmarking data.

5) Accepting the need for embracing a new Project Development mindset (risk analysis, factoring in multiple possibilities); incorporating a new set of KPIs in New Construction with an idea of building resilience from the get go. ‘Value engineering’ as equated with cost savings, and the inherent risks involved – a need for rational cost-benefit analysis.

6) How to fund a revamp of infrastructure, buildings: Business models from around the world.

7) Horses for courses: Why the same design, construction and installation solutions or approaches cannot be applied across building types or purposes, such as hotels, airports, data centres, industrial areas and shopping malls.

8) The importance of collaboration and communication among all stakeholders to leverage their expertise, and develop integrated solutions that enhance building resilience and promote sustainable development amidst climate change challenges.

9) Stormwater management: Upgrading drainage systems – installing larger capacity pipes, improving surface drainage and integrating better with landscape features.

10) Reliability of pumping systems: Risk factors in relying solely on pumped systems… the consequence of failure of pumps, considering their intermittent use, that they may not have been required to run for 10-12 months; the indispensability of a regular and effective testing and maintenance regime.

11) A preference for gravity discharge; sizing of pumps with a significant safety factor, where necessary.

12) Construction Best Practices in stormwater drainage installations: Supervising towards ensuring the integrity of the pipe works and that the design slopes are achieved.

13) Stormwater management and the role of buildings: Implementing regulations to limit runoff from plots into infrastructure – a crucial aspect in preventing the overwhelming of drainage systems.

14) Stormwater management and the role of buildings: Starting from the design phase of buildings… crucial early decisions and actions, such as topographic analysis. Evaluating elevation and site characteristics and how they significantly influence storm water resilience.

15) Stormwater management and the role of buildings: Implementing sustainable landscaping practices in buildings, such as green roofs and permeable pavements, to help absorb and manage rainwater on-site, reducing runoff and flooding risks.

16) Stormwater management and the role of buildings: Designing site grading to facilitate surface water drainage away from building foundations, incorporating permeable paving materials to reduce runoff, and integrating retention ponds and green infrastructure features to manage rainwater effectively.

17) Stormwater management and the role of buildings: Employing below-ground geo-cellular systems to retain water when the external network’s outflow capacity is limited, allowing for controlled release after the load on the external network decreases.

18) Choosing building materials that are resilient to moisture and water damage, as well as resistant to corrosion and degradation over time.

19) Proper design practices that dictate routing rainwater pipes and other services through common areas, not retail or commercial spaces.

20) Paying attention to layout of stormwater pipework: Pipes commonly fail at joints and elbows, making the elimination of horizontal drainage runs within building interiors a prudent choice.

21) Establishing a ‘Rainwater Flood Relief System’ with pumps that are capable of pumping out water at least 25% – 30% more than the highest rainfall recorded in the region.

22) Building façades: Enhanced waterproofing measures in building envelopes, such as roofs, walls and windows, which can prevent water infiltration during heavy rainfall events.

23) Building façades: Sealing and waterproofing strategies for building envelopes in New Construction projects to prevent leaks during heavy rain. Primary emphasis on protecting the weakest points of the façade, such as joints, system interfaces and thresholds, from overflow risk.

24) Building façades: The importance of diverting water away from the façade and channelling it into specialised primary drainage systems to prevent accumulation.

25) Building façades: In high-risk areas, incorporating multiple lines of defence and proper membrane systems to accommodate movements and construction tolerances.

26) Building façades: Hallmarks of robust waterproofing – thoughtful architectural design, meticulous detailing, appropriate materials selection, knowledgeable installation team and coordinated efforts amongst various disciplines during the design and construction phases. (Training and certification of installers)

27) Building façades: The critical role of façade detailing and commissioning in preventing stormwater ingress during extreme weather conditions.

28) Building façades: The crucialness of the choice of drainage pipe and jointing method in the case of façades.

29) Building façades: Corrosion-resistant metals and flexible waterproof membranes for exterior cladding and roofing: The surefire way to significantly prolonging building lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.

30) Building façades: The wisdom in using high-quality HDPE with
electro-fusion joints.

31) Building façades: Incorporating better shading for balconies, improving materials used in exterior areas.

32) Ensuring structural systems are able to withstand the increased hydrological loads and forces from heavy rain, including winddriven rain and potential flooding. (Context: According to the recent Dubai Building Code, roof systems must withstand an intensity of 75mm/hour, though lower intensities are permissible for landscaped and external areas; the April 2024 rainstorm exceeded these minimum standards, unlike some other jurisdictions, which allow lower values.)

33) Overcoming inconvenience during rainstorms and in the aftermath, such as ensuring availability of lighting, alarm systems and communication systems, and of elevators, especially for occupants of high-rises and for the elderly: Implementing standalone emergency power systems/backup systems and cabling provisions, which can facilitate the quick reenergisation of elevators during power outages.

34) Overcoming inconvenience during rainstorms and in the aftermath: Implementing remote monitoring and management systems to track the status and performance of backup power systems in real-time, enabling proactive maintenance and troubleshooting to ensure continuous reliability.

35) Overcoming inconvenience during rainstorms and in the aftermath: The wisdom in having redundant power feeds from multiple utility sources or distributed energy resources, which can significantly enhance reliability and resilience against grid failures or localised outages.

36) Overcoming inconvenience during rainstorms and in the aftermath, such as ensuring availability of elevators, especially for occupants of high-rises and for the elderly: Introduction of external provisions on building facades to accommodate emergency lift capsules for transporting occupants; benchmarking and introducing regulation on this aspect.

37) Safety, safety, safety: Preventing electrocution and other possible perils.

38) Basement car parks and other basement assets: Given the inevitability of basement carparks in most construction projects, regulation for flood-prone areas; mandating podiumlevel parking as a more resilient choice, if basement parking is vulnerable to water damage.

39) Basement car parks and other b asement assets: If basement parking cannot be avoided, a need for proactive measures to prevent external rainwater from infiltrating these spaces – mechanical solutions, such as automated shutters and popup barriers.

40) Basement car parks and other basement assets: The importance of installing heavy-duty pump-out systems.

41) Basement car parks and other basement assets: Why it is important to avoid locating electrical substations and critical electrical panel rooms in the basement. (That way, in the unlikely event of uncontrolled flooding, these crucial services remain unaffected.)

42) Basements: Incorporating sump pump systems in basements and designing emergency drainage paths, essential for mitigating flooding risks during heavy rainfall events.

43) Commissioning practices: The need to establish a new set of data points related to rain resilience.

44) Specialised structures and rain resilience: Museums and the need to protect artifacts from rainwater ingress. Special design considerations, such as the importance of routing all drainage pipework externally, but within the façade, keeping aesthetics in mind. Creating flood ponds that contain excess rainfall within defined areas of the plot.

45) Specialised structures and rain resilience: Evaluating District Cooling schemes for product flaws, workmanship issues or design faults. Improving waterproofing and infiltration defences in District Cooling Plants. Exploring interconnectivity between plants to ensure continuous operation, in the event of plant failure.

46) Specialised developments and rain resilience: The increasing number of waterfront apartments and buildings… a need to reconsider current construction standards and methodologies, particularly regarding waterproofing and foundation design. Raising the ground floor levels in villa communities to prevent water ingress and protecting houses from flooding. (Constructing buildings on elevated foundations or using raised plinths to help minimise the risk of flooding and water infiltration.)

47) Case Study: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – an example of a rain-resilient development that incorporates green roofs, rainwater harvesting and watersensitive landscaping to manage runoff and mitigate flooding.

48) Case Study: Msheireb – Downtown Doha, Qatar – another example of a rain-resilient development that features green infrastructure elements, like green roofs, permeable paving and water-efficient landscaping to enhance resilience against heavy rain events.

49) The essentialness of creating a periodical review of ‘Basis of Design’ at least once every five years, so that regional codes can be the basis for city design and building designs.

50) IAQ and occupant health: Water infiltration during heavy rains through roofs, walls, windows and basements of buildings, leading to interior damage, mould growth and structural decay.

51) Facility Management and rain resilience: Subsequent to an extreme climate event, the urgency that needs to be shown in removing visible water from properties using water pumps and related equipment; simultaneously addressing the moisture that gets absorbed into the building’s structure, which can lead to long-term structural damage and health risks due to mould and bacteria growth.

52) Facility Management and rain resilience: The importance of using dehumidifiers and fans to ensure proper ventilation and drying of buildings, post-flooding. (Poor ventilation can exacerbate moisture problems; buildings need to be thoroughly dried using dehumidifiers and fans to prevent moisture from causing longterm damage.)

53) Facility Management and rain resilience: Taking specific preemptive steps, such as cleaning water drain grills and ensuring proper drainage.

Why attend?

Gain Actionable Insights: Access advanced strategies for addressing IAQ challenges in the built environment.

Network & Collaborate: Connect with regulators, manufacturers, and suppliers to optimise decision-making.

Experience Live Solutions: Participate in live demonstrations and explore innovative exhibits showcasing real-world solutions.