Flood Defences For Your Business

Copyright (c) 2012 Floodsense

About 40% of businesses never reopen after a flood because only a small amount of water can cause many thousands of dollars of damage. Flood insurance is the most effective way of protecting your business from devastating financial losses. There are also numerous physical measures you can take to provide flood defences for your business.

The first step in protecting your business from flooding is determining whether it is currently at risk. If you are unsure, contact your local floodplain manager, city engineer, planning or zoning administrator, or building official. They will know if you are in a flood plain, and can instruct you on the best ways to safeguard your business from flooding.

There are a variety of steps you can take to protect your business from flooding. They can range from installing protective devices to inspecting and maintaining your buildings. Many of these actions will require the assistance of qualified maintenance staff or contractors who are licensed to work in your locality.

Dry floodproofing is one method of protecting a building and its property from flood damage by effectively sealing the building to prevent the entry of water. It involves a variety of techniques like: applying a membrane or waterproof material to the outside walls of buildings, putting waterproof shielding over doors and other openings, anchoring the building to prevent flotation, and installing a sump pump.

An automatically-activated sump pump will help keep water from building up in lower parts of the building. It functions as a large floor drain, keeping water from getting deep. The sump pump represents your first line of defense versus flooding of lower areas like basements. Keep in mind that it could potentially fail, so a backup system is advised. Some pump systems include added security features like an alarm that is triggered when needed.

Your dry floodproofing height should not be over 3 feet because the pressure generated by deeper water can make walls collapse or buckle. Make sure a structural engineer checks the strength of your walls before employing dry floodproofing for protection against larger flood depths.

Dry floodproofing is best for buildings on slabs with solid or concrete walls. These materials are much easier to seal, stronger than traditional construction materials, and provide more resistance to floods.

When dry floodproofing a damaged building, some certifications may be required. To get the certification, your building must be floodproofed to a 1 foot height above Base Flood Elevation. Contact your building official or local floodplain manager for more detailed information.


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For 15 Years Kevin Williams has restored flood damaged properties ranging in size from domestic dwellings to commercial factories.In 2010 He set up Floodsense offering his expertise in Flood Prevention Techniques, Systems and Services.For free E-book, further info on Flood Defences, and professional advice on flood prevention from a leading UK flood protection company, visit http://www.floodsense.co.uk


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