Distribution of driving rain in Ireland

Abstract

1. Introduction The climate of Ireland is changing. Consequently, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage funded this project to update ‘climate maps and data to support building design standards in Ireland’. The motive of this research was to produce driving rain intensity indices according to I.S. EN ISO 15927-3:2009 (ISO, 2009) and based on data from the latest climate normal 1991 – 2020 for use in building design to enhance resilience in support of climate change adaptation in Ireland. The driving rain intensity indices produced are the airfield annual index, map airfield index, airfield spell index and map spell index according to six classes of exposure: very sheltered, sheltered, moderate, severe, very severe and extreme. It should be noted that these classes were chosen for illustrative purposes for this report and are not part of the I.S. EN ISO 15927-3:2009. Users of the gridded data underpinning these maps may vary the range and descriptions of these classes to meet their needs. The outputs of this research will benefit a wide range of stakeholders currently collaborating with Met Éireann, such as the National Standards Authority of Ireland, ARUP and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This report will also inform policy in delivering key national infrastructure such as housing and building renovation.