Flood resilience of light timber frame wall envelope system

Flood damage has been the second-highest cost for insurance repairs in New Zealand since 1968. Yet, there is limited research on the performance of timber-framed buildings, which make up 90% of New Zealand homes, after flooding. To address this, a new project is being led by the University of Canterbury, involving collaboration with BRANZ researchers and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The focus will be on the flood resilience of light timber frame wall envelope systems. The research seeks to understand how these buildings perform structurally when wet or dried out, examining the structure and durability of light timber framing bracing walls and the best methods to test them, post-flood. It will provide essential guidance on evaluating the structural and durability performance of flood-impacted timber buildings. By laying the foundation for developing Code-compliant post-flood repair methods, this end guidance will ultimately reduce the financial and emotional stress associated with flood damage. In a second stage, the researchers will develop a design guide for a flood-resistant light timber-framed wall envelope system, ensuring the long-term resilience of New Zealand’s built environment.