Cascade effect
The cascade effect, (or cascading effect) is when an action or event causes a chain of subsequent unforeseen events, normally negatively, impacting one another. The word might be used with reference to a variety of systems from computer systems to ecological systems where an event in a system has a negative impact on other, related systems or sub-systems. Also referred to as knock-on effects or feedback loops.
In 2018 The World Economic Forum, in recognising the global risks, associated with extreme weather events, natural disasters, and failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes, described these as highly interconnected because they cascade across many different domains. A study released prior to COP 26 talks of climate hazards such as extreme heat, drought and storms that could trigger "cascading impacts" that may be felt around the world within the next decade.
A world where weather patterns impact access housing, food security, health services, economic activity and water supply, where previously perceived as disconnected elements, have now become connected systems cascading and being more significant jointly than separately.
NB In conventional power grids, cascading effects might occur for example when overloaded lines cause a line trip which in turn causes other lines to also trip, resulting in outages. (NESCOR, 2013).
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.