Strong thunderstorms - preventive building protection
Summer thunderstorms are usually violent and are often accompanied by cloudbursts and hail. The damage potential for buildings is enormous and often underestimated. That is why Gebäudeversicherung Kanton Zürich has launched an information campaign for effective storm protection for buildings.
"Protect your home" is the central message of the information campaign with which the Gebäudeversicherung Kanton Zürich (GVZ) is drawing attention to the dangers of damaging thunderstorms for buildings. The Campaign provides concrete instructions and tips for preventive building protection, but also for the correct behavior in the event of a thunderstorm alarm. The website schuetzen-sie-ihr-haus.ch, which was launched and updated around a year ago, serves as an information platform. In addition to detailed descriptions of the hazard elements and their consequences for buildings, it also contains practical checklists.
Unpredictable loss risk
In unstable weather conditions, a thunderstorm can break out from one hour to the next, possibly unleashing a tremendous destructive force. Rainfall of up to 40 liters of water per square meter, winds and gusts of up to 100 km/h, and hailstones three centimeters or more in diameter can wreak havoc on poorly protected buildings. It is not only the direct damage to roofs and facades that costs money, but also consequential damage such as damage to the interior of the building caused by water penetration. Costs are incurred for cleaning work, expensive repairs have to be carried out and, in the worst case, entire parts of the building have to be extensively renovated or newly constructed. Such damage events are associated with great expense for building owners.
Effective measures
The most effective measures include maintaining the house and regularly checking the roof, facades, window and door seals for weather tightness. Periodic inspection and cleaning of gutters, drains and drainage systems prevent flooding. If a thunderstorm is forecast, blinds should be raised or retracted immediately to prevent hail damage. It is also recommended to secure loose objects in the immediate vicinity of the house and to close outside doors and windows. Effective damage prevention and the timely introduction of suitable protective measures in the event of a thunderstorm alarm also help to preserve the value of the building.
Source: GVZ
