Replica house flooded
by 196,000 gallons of water to test
flood protection products
A cutting-edge simulator that recreates
the devastating effects of a flood has been
created to test products designed to defend
homes, businesses and people from flooding.
The new test facility in Oxfordshire has
been developed by the Environment Agency
and HR Wallingford to test flood defence
products against a new industry standard.
It features a replica living room inside
a massive tank, about half the size of a
football pitch.
During the simulation, the replica building
is fitted with the flood products and the
tank is then flooded with thousands of gallons
of water to simulate a severe flood. If
successful, the products will be awarded
the BSI Kitemark, giving householders, organisations
and businesses greater confidence in the
flood products they use to protect their
property.
Robert Runcie, the Environment Agency’s
Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management,
said:
“The new testing facility and industry standard
will help those at risk make informed choices
and have confidence in the flood products
they buy, as well as encouraging new product
development.”
“The Environment Agency is working hard
across the country to reduce the risk of
flooding and has already completed 106 new
defences since summer 2007, however one
in six homes in England and Wales are already
at risk of flooding – and this number is
likely to increase due to the effects of
climate change. We want to encourage individuals
and businesses to help themselves by making
their property more resistant to flooding.”
“
Defra’s £5m property-level flood protection
grant scheme helps those in high flood-risk
areas that do not benefit from community-level
defences, enabling them to purchase flood
protection products for individual houses,
such as those being tested in the new centre.The
Environment Agency is urging the local authorities
receiving this grant money to ensure that
the products they purchase to protect people
and property are tested and bear the BSI
Kitemark.
The opening of this new facility supports
the introduction of a new industry standard
(PAS 1188) and will help ensure that new
products entering the market are robust
and reliable. This will result in a wider
range of options for consumers in the future.
David Ford, Executive Director, Healthcare
and Testing Services, BSI said:
“The new facility and Kitemark scheme will
directly benefit consumers affected by flooding.
They will now be able to help protect their
homes or businesses by choosing products
which have been rigorously and consistently
tested to the requirements of an industry
standard, PAS 1188. Manufacturers will have
the benefit of being able to show that their
flood defence product offers a high level
of protection, and will be able to display
the Kitemark, a recognised symbol of trust.”
Andy Tagg, Floods Group Manager, HR Wallingford,
said:
“HR Wallingford is very pleased to continue
our co-operation with the Environment Agency
and BSI by hosting the new flood product
test centre in our extensive hydraulic laboratory
at Wallingford. To streamline the test procedures,
HR Wallingford have designed two state-of-the-art
test rigs that will be used to test flood
protection products for the BSI Kitemark.”
ENDS
Media enquiries: 020
7863 8710 or outside normal office hours
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Notes to Editors
Free flood warning
service
The Environment Agency’s free service provides
flood warnings direct to homes at risk of
sea or river flooding by telephone, mobile,
email, SMS text message, fax or pager. As
well as signing up for warnings, you can
get simple advice on what to do before,
during and after a flood. Call 0845 988
1188 to find out if you are at risk. Information
on what to do before, during and after a
flood can be found at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31624.aspx
Blue Pages Guide
This is an independent directory of flood
protection products and services. It has
been put together by the National Flood
Forum to advise and inform the public about
what’s available to help protect your homes
or businesses against flooding. You can
access the directory by going to http://www.bluepages.org.uk/
About BSI
BSI is a global independent business services
organization that inspires confidence and
delivers assurance to over 80,000 customers
with standards-based solutions. Originating
as the world’s first national standards
body, BSI has over 2,300 staff operating
in over 120 countries through more than
50 global offices. BSI’s key offerings are:
The development and sale of private, national
and international standards and supporting
information that promote and share best
practice.
Second and third-party management systems
assessment and certification in all critical
areas of management disciplines
Testing and certification of services and
products for Kitemark and CE marking to
UK, European and International standards.
BSI is a Notified Body for 15 New Approach
EU Directives
Certification of high-risk, complex medical
devices
Performance management software solutions
Training services in support of standards
implementation and business best practice.
For further information please visit www.bsigroup.com
