Structural damage
In Belgium, the resistance of the soil is evaluated during standard tests, by pushing metal bars into the terrain. “”The more difficult to drive, the more the soil is considered a carrier. “ Three boreholes are often enough to launch the construction. But that says nothing about the nature of the soil.
The houses located in flooding areas in Wallonia are cheaper
And when it comes to clay, the danger is real. This material, sensitive to its water content, has a “plastic” behavior, that is to say that it swells when it rains and that it retracts during the dry period. A phenomenon called “CRILE-BROKING” (RGA). Result: sometimes centimetric soil movements, which cause structural damage to homes. “”The foundations sink on one side, rise on the other, and the houses do not support it “.
The consequences would be cracks in the walls, doors and windows stuck, tiles that rise. And these problems concern all constructions, whatever the material used. “”Even with well -armed foundations, if the ground is hidden on 10 centimeters, that is no longer enough. “
A phenomenon that has become national
If the phenomenon is not new, it has worsens for a few years, with global warming. “We Observe problems today in areas where we couldn’t see 50 years ago, simply because we have drier and warmer periods.“
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Certain regions like Ypres, in West Flanders, known for their Ypésian clay, are historically at risk. “These phenomena have been known there since the 1940s”, Recalls Nicolas Denies. Except that today, cases appear in all the provinces, as noted Buildwise. Even in areas hitherto considered stable. “It would not be used for much to map the areas at risk. What we see today is that even in areas at low risk, there are cases.”
Are all the buildings of buildings housed in the same brand? No, according to the research center. A ten -story building is rarely concerned because its foundations are deeper. But the unified houses are the first victims. “They are not very heavy, and their foundations are often less than a meter deep, where the soil is the most sensitive to variations in humidity.”
A house costs between 400,000 and 500,000 euros. Add 500 or 600 euros to do a slightly further construction floor study before construction is negligible. “
Solutions?
And during this time, what does the regulations say? “”Today, in Belgium, we build on sand or on clay in exactly the same way. There are no practical directives imposed “, Notes Nicolas Denies. A situation that leaves architects and manufacturers without clear framework. “”Standards evoke the risk, but there is nothing compulsory. “ Result ? Certain construction projects are launched without any test checking the sensitivity of the soil to humidity.
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However, tracks exist. “The idea is to avoid the water content of the ground varies too much.“This therefore involves simple measurements, such as avoiding too close plantations, installing a paving around the house, or even placing anti-Ra-Racine barriers if trees are present.”This is called a ‘bustling’: a sidewalk that acts like a horizontal screen and protects the floor around the house against drying. “ These techniques are already known in other countries (in the United Kingdom and in Germany in particular), but little used with us.
And their cost remains derisory compared to potential damage. “”A house costs between 400,000 and 500,000 euros. Add 500 or 600 euros to do a slightly further construction floor study before construction is negligible. “
Some people introduce a disaster file by thinking that these are damage due to drought. But that is not always the case. “
Who pays?
Until now, it is the insurance companies that support the damage via fire insurance. An interpretative law of 2021 (in response to the damage during floods in summer in Wallonia) obliges them. But in fact, reality is more nuanced. “”There is often a discussion between what is considered to be repair and what is improvement. Some insurers refuse to intervene if it is necessary to strengthen or deepen the foundations, believing that it is not repair. ” And the sums at stake are considerable. “”To completely strengthen a foundation, you are easily at 120,000 euros. And you still have to add all the visible damage on the surface. “
“In the event of a new major natural disaster in Belgium, it will be chaos for the insured”
Contacted by FreeASSORALIA, the federation of insurers, justifies these refusals by a simple explanation: “Some people introduce a disaster file by thinking that these are damage due to drought. But that is not always the case. For example, you live along a national road which is very popular, especially by heavy goods vehicles. You might think it’s due to drought. But this is not necessarily the case, because when there is an expertise, we realize that it is more due to the road itself which is very frequented. It creates tremors, and it weakens the walls of the house “explains Nevert Degirmenci, spokesperson for the Federation.
Unlike France, Belgium does not have a help system to prevent or finance the repair of damage. “The state does not want to get involved. He prefers to let insurers manage”lance Nicolas Denies. However, a dialogue was started, especially during a panel organized in 2024 by the Belgian Climate Center. “”ASSURALIA has contacted the authorities, but for the moment, nothing really moves “assure l’expert.
On the assuralia side, we play the security card. Paying all costs apparently does not seem to be a problem. “”Since drought has been integrated into the interpretative law, the law is simply applied, stricto sensu. In other words, if there are damage linked to drought, there will be an intervention, the final point “.
Note that, despite the fact that we do not yet know how to say at present what this phenomenon will cost the short -term insurers, the Federation did not exclude in the past, in our columns, to increase bonuses in the future in order to be able to deal with the repercussions of climate change and ensure this type of damage.
