Launch of a flood resilient home by BRE

BRE have created a prototype for a resilient house which has all the practical measures in order to prevent water from entering the property caused by a flood.

They’ve done this to show the most effective ways to protect homes from the devastation caused by such weather events.Launch of a flood resilient home by BRE

Features include:

  • flood resistant doors and windows
  • water resilient walls and insulation
  • a resilient kitchen with moveable kitchen units
  • floor and wall membranes to channel water towards floor drains
  • an automatic sump pump that stops water rising through the floor and disperses any water that should get in
  • one way valves fitted to the toilets and sinks to prevent flooding via sewers

Furthermore, different types of water resilient insulation have been incorporated into the design of the house, including cavity wall insulation, thermal boards and PUR spray foam. They’ve also thought about the placement of electric sockets, home appliances, as well as considering which areas need to be sealed off in the event that water was to flood the property.

In their campaign, BRE have also decided to announce a new certification scheme and training courses which is aimed at property flood resilience surveyors. This will mean that they’ll have a better knowledge of how to deal with any resilient repairs.

Floods Minister, Therese Coffey, said "BRE’s house shows how innovations in the construction industry can help people dramatically reduce the financial and emotional impacts of a flood. We are investing a record £2.5 billion to better protect 300,000 properties from floods by 2021. But, if the worst happens, property resilience measures play a crucial role in limiting flood damage, so home and business owners can get back on their feet as quickly as possible."