LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Britain's first wind microclimate guidelines were published on Tuesday out of concerns that wind tunnels could generate enough force to knock over cyclists and pedestrians in the City of London.
The stricter rules for building skyscrapers were published by the Square Mile's governing body, with the aim of putting the safety of cyclists and pedestrians first.
The tougher guidelines will require assessment of wind impacts at the very beginning of design development, with more micro-level tests from 36 wind directions, using separate consultants for computer and physical simulations.
Exposed spots near the Thames, or near schools, parks or hospitals, will require additional checks.
Developers will have to provide more comprehensive safety assessments of how proposed buildings will affect people on street level, with more robust testing of roadways and pavements using detailed scale models in wind tunnels and computer simulations.
The City will also reduce the level of wind conditions considered tolerable under the new rules.
Average speeds of more than 18mph, or more than 8 meters per second, will be reclassified as "uncomfortable" rather than "business walking conditions."
Over the past years, a host of skyscrapers have joined the London skyline, with a particular cluster in the City, including the Leadenhall Building, known locally as the "Cheesegrater", and the "Walkie-Talkie" at 20 Fenchurch Street.
Another 13 skyscrapers, ranging from 78-305 meters tall, are expected by 2026, with six under construction and another seven having received planning consent from the City of London.
In Britain, the dangers of tall buildings creating wind tunnels have been most evident in Leeds, where the Bridgewater Place tower has caused multiple road closures and the death of a pedestrian when a lorry was blown over.
