In 2005 Dura Vermeer Business Development BV took the initiative for a project proposal in establishing guidelines for building in wet areas. The idea arose from the observation that water, in existing guidelines, like the Building Act, has not been included as a crucial parameter for the design and construction of buildings.

A consortium, consisting of the Stichting Bouwresearch (the Building Research Foundation), INTRON, Haarlemmermeer City Council, the Scottish Building Research Establishment and Dura Vermeer Business Development (which also functions as secretary), has drawn up a first set of guidelines, aimed at particular stakeholder groups. These guidelines are not only of interest to governments, project developers and builders, but also to insurers who are confronted with the problems of water and construction. The issue here is not just the development of new (technological) expertise, but the focus is, especially, on the governmental and legal aspects, planning permission, issues like safety and insurability and so on. With that the consortium draws its inspiration from international experiences from, for example, countries like Britain, Germany, Canada and Japan.

The results of the project 'Guidelines for building in wet areas' can be found at www.waterbestendigbouwen.nl (Dutch only)

Further information
For further information on this project or Dura Vermeer:
Mariska Mörs
m.mors@duravermeer.nl
+31 (0)23 752 84 11