Reddy Kancharla Explains: How to Deal with Water Damage in High-Rise Buildi

As Reddy Kancharla notes, water damage is one of the most severe threats to any building, but the damage that water can cause to a high-rise building is particularly hazardous. Water can cause structural damage that renders a high-rise uninhabitable, affecting countless people and businesses.

When a high-rise has many residential or commercial residents, these buildings will typically consume much more water than smaller facilities. With that much traffic, water consumption skyrockets. As a result, when you use large amounts of water, Reddy Kancharla warns that the possibility of leaks is enormous.

When water leaks go unnoticed, they cause severe damage requiring extensive repairs. However, Reddy Kancharla argues that most high-rise leaks and water damage are avoidable. If your plumbing and maintenance teams know what to look for, you can address leaks quickly and efficiently.

The best strategy is to avoid problems in the first place.

According to Reddy Kancharla, it is best to train your maintenance and plumbing teams to spot water problems early. Then, establish a consistent maintenance routine for all of the building's plumbing systems. And don't forget to implement policies informing tenants of their responsibilities regarding water management in the building. 

Additionally, high-efficiency appliances will save you money on energy while putting less strain on your plumbing system. Reddy Kancharla recommends considering incorporating them into upgrades or replacements.

Put in place a flood-proofing strategy.

Dry flood-proofing is a process that prevents water from accumulating in a specific area of a building. You can accomplish it through the application of waterproof coatings to floors and walls, as well as the installation of backflow prevention valves. You can also add flood shields to windows and doors.

Reddy Kancharla suggests flood-proofing in underground parking garages and storage areas. Installing floor drains allows water to efficiently exit the space before it causes severe damage.

Finally, integrated flood-proofing combines dry and wet flood-proofing strategies to minimize damage as much as possible. When there's a flood, you can construct waterproof enclosures for appropriate equipment, drains in main underground corridors, and effective sump pump systems to clear entire water areas.