Building damage classification and recording scheme for subsidence and landslide mapping

Building damage due to subsidence and landslips within Great Britain is considerable. The degree of damage depends on the position of the building, the size of the unstable land area and the amount of movement. Recording building damage permits the delineation of areas of unstable land and the degree of damage gives an indication of the severity of the problem. This technical report reviews the schemes that have been used in numerous situations for recoding damage due to subsidence, landslips and earthquake damage. It compares the classifications and proposes a unified scheme that is the foundation of building damage recording in BGS. Seven categories are proposed ranging from 1, which is barely perceptible through 5, which is very severe with considerable damage to 7, which is total collapse.