Multi-Hazard Resilient Retrofits Database

Terms & Conditions

Using and citing the database

This database and its content is the intellectual property of Partners for Action, University of Waterloo, and is subject to protection under the Copyright Act. Sheets may be downloaded for personal reference only and must not be re-distributed or used for commercial purposes. Appropriate citation standards must be followed when referring to any materials derived from this database.

Suggested citation: Partners for Action. (2024). Multi-Hazard Resilient Retrofits Database. Retrieved from www.climateresilientretrofits.ca 

Disclaimer

Although the information provided in this database references experts who have worked directly with these risk reduction solutions, it is important to note that this database is provided for general information purposes only. It is not a replacement for following the advice of a contractor or a retrofit expert, especially one who can be on-site and assess the unique conditions of a property or the specific product or materials you choose. The exact products or strategies needed for each solution and the hazard conditions your property faces may also differ over time. The exact steps to follow or authorities you may need to reach out to may also vary.  


When planning for a climate-resilient home retrofit, consider both conditions at time of installation and expected conditions for your property in the future. Look up your local hazard susceptibility and exposure maps (e.g., on HealthyPlan.City;  FloodSmartCanada.ca) and learn more about how rainfall, temperatures, sea levels and other variables are changing for your area at ClimateData.ca. Additional resources can be found at ClimateReadyCanada.ca and ClimateInsight.ca. 


This database provides a collection of solutions and related building standards and guidelines. However, the instructions do not replace the details found in the codes, by-laws, and technical guides mentioned. For additional details and up-to-date information, please see the resources referenced in this database. If unsure of how to proceed with a retrofit project, it is best to enlist the services of a licensed and insured professional. 


Partners for Action and each of their respective partners, affiliates, successors, agents, directors, officers, employees and contractors assume no responsibility or liability for: 

  • any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage that any person may sustain as a result of the information in, or anything done in or omitted to be done in reliance on, this database; 
  • any personal injury or bodily injury, including death, and any loss or damage whatsoever, whether caused by hazards or otherwise to insured or uninsured structures and/or property, that any person may sustain as a result of the information in, or anything done in or omitted to be done in reliance on this database; 
  • the failure of retrofits due to environmental changes, material defects or installation errors; and, 
  • any failure to comply with local or national laws, codes or standards. 


The guidance provided in this database is current to its publication date. Future users should take care to verify whether there may have been changes or amendments subsequent to the publication date.  


Users of this database are solely responsible for meeting all legal and regulatory requirements. This database serves as a general guide and is not a substitute for professional or legal advice. 

This comprehensive database of multi-hazard resilient retrofits displays adaptation measures (retrofits of existing buildings and things to include in new builds) for climate conditions and events of concern in Canada (floods/extreme precipitation, heat, wildfire, wind, and snow/ice). Information about each measure has been categorized into fields such as the ‘adaptation objective,’ the ‘problem’ the hazard poses to the building, and the type of measure (physical or action-oriented). The database also provides a “rating” to each measure for the attributes of relative cost, time and effort required, expertise needed, degree of invasiveness, which measures conflict or work well together, and which measures increase energy efficiency and/or decrease greenhouse gas emissions for climate mitigation.

Homeowners and contractors can use this tool to become familiar with the impacts of climate change on buildings and make informed decisions about how buildings can withstand those impacts. Homeowners and contractors can search and filter by area of a home they are interested in and/or by which hazard(s) they want to protect against and learn about how those measures help and which conflict with or go well together.

In 2023, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) in Nova Scotia engaged Partners for Action at the University of Waterloo to conduct research on resilient retrofits for HRM-specific natural hazards, which was carried out from January to July 2023. We acknowledge the support of HRM in providing input and support to define the research objectives and methodologies that informed the creation of an initial database. Through this work, we explored what building features can withstand floods, extreme precipitation, extreme winds, extreme heat, wildfires, drought, and snow and ice.

As part of this project, our research team developed a framework for thinking about the following:

  • Resilient retrofits: The implementation of measures so that residential, commercial, and municipal buildings can withstand anticipated natural hazard events that are worsening with climate change.
  • Initiatives that enable and encourage the adoption of resilient retrofits, such as programs, policies, financial incentives, and educational resources.
  • Databases of the above were produced, guidance documents were drafted, and results were shared in a Climate Caucus webinar.

Since then, Partners for Action has validated and further developed the database originally produced for Halifax Regional Municipality – that of residential climate resilient measures for single-family homes and multi-residential units (such as condominiums, apartments, and townhomes) – in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada.

Funding for this work was provided by the National Research Council of Canada's Climate Resilient Built Environment Initiative, in support of delivering the Government of Canada's Adaptation Action Plan, and towards achieving commitments under the National Adaptation Strategy. Under this Initiative, a theme on Resilient Residential Retrofit was launched in April 2023. This theme is focused on developing national guidelines, tools, and technologies to enhance the climate resilience of existing residential buildings (all types of buildings where people live) against climate change and extreme weather through retrofitting.

Partners for Action (P4A) extends immense gratitude to Alexander Hayes from National Research Council Canada (NRC) for his vital contributions as a collaborator and advisor throughout the development of this database, and for his extensive review of the sheets. P4A would also like to thank Marzieh Riahinezhad from NRC for the funding through the Resilient Residential Retrofit theme under the Climate Resilient Built Environment Initiative (CRBE) at NRC and her support in the development of the database.

P4A also thanks Louis Poirier from National Research Council Canada for his helpful feedback and review of early drafts of the database.

Partners for Action thanks the following subject matter experts for their invaluable role in reviewing the content of hazard-specific database sheets:

  • Flood, Wildfire, and Extreme Heat – Cheryl Evans, who is the Principal Consultant of Climate Ready Together, and served as the Director, Flood and Wildfire Resilience at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation from 2016-2024.
  • Ice & Snow – Stefanie Coleman, who is the Sustainable and Resilient Housing Industry Lead for Natural Resources Canada’s Local Energy Efficiency Partnership (LEEP) program, and a PhD student at the University of Waterloo.
  • Extreme Wind – Sarah A. Stevenson, PhD, P.Eng., who is a Technical Specialist with the Canadian Wood Council.

Our resilient retrofits database is designed to be user-friendly and informative, helping you find the resources you need to protect your home. Start by selecting the specific hazard you’re interested in—flooding, extreme heat, extreme wind, ice/snow or wildfires. Each section includes detailed retrofitting options, maintenance tips, and best practices tailored to your needs. Alternatively, you could also select which area of the house you would be interested in making climate-proof—roof, foundation, interior elements, or fixtures—and explore retrofitting options for that particular area of the house.

Pay attention to the retrofit ratings for different attributes and considerations that highlight the most critical actions to undertake during installation. Use the accompanying images to visualize the retrofitting processes and ensure you’re following best practices.

References for this database can be found in our Resource Library.

This legend is intended to help you navigate the Multi-Hazard Resilient Retrofits database. The document outlines the different features and search filters available.

This audiovisual guide is intended to introduce users to the various database features. In the video, we demonstrate how to navigate and filter the database.

Begin your journey towards a safer, more resilient home today!

Climate Resilient Retrofits is a project of Partners for Action (P4A), a research initiative in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, with founding funding from the Co-operators Group Ltd. and Farm Mutual Re. Climate Resilient Retrofits has been generously supported by our partners and funders at Halifax Regional Municipality, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Clean Foundation.


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