The new flood technology senses when flooding is near and lifts homes to avoid damage when water levels rise
The Flood Adaptive Platform has been developed to prevent flood damage in homes(Image credit: Flood Technology Group)
As flood risks continue to threaten homes across the UK, an innovative solution has been developed that could help homes avoid water damage altogether.
The Flood Adaptive Platform is said to offer protection for people and property during flood events and could open the possibility for more homes to be built in flood-prone areas.
We explore how the system works, how it creates flood proof homes and what kind of homes the technology can be applied to.
What is the Flood Adaptive Platform?
The Flood Adaptive Platform is a mechanical jack system that automatically elevates buildings above rising floodwaters.
Developed over twelve years and rigorously tested with the University of Liverpool and HR Wallingford, this technology has been successfully applied to modular buildings and mobile homes, with potential to safeguard a wide range of infrastructures.
Unlike traditional flood protection methods, which focus on resisting water entry or minimising damage after flooding, the Flood Adaptive Platform offers a different solution by aiming to avoid water damage altogether.
How is the Flood Adaptive Platform applied to buildings?
A scissor lift is used to raise the homes to prevent flooding(Image credit: Flood Technology Group)
This technology uses a sensor-activated, mechanical jack system that automatically elevates buildings above rising water.
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When floodwaters begin to rise, sensors detect the impending threat and trigger the platform's jacking mechanism. This system then elevates the entire structure above the water level, keeping the building and its contents securely above the floodwaters until the danger has passed.
Once the water recedes, the platform lowers the building back to its original position. The Flood Technology Group claim this ensures that properties and their contents remain safe throughout a flood event.
The technology can be built into new homes or retrofitted to existing ones, but currently, it is only compatible with certain types of homes.
Can it be applied to permanent homes?
The Flood Technology Group has applied the system to modular, prefabricated and permanent buildings.
They used the technology on a low carbon, steel-framed house called the Hadley FloodSAFE Houseand they claim lodges have also been retrofitted with the technology to combat flooding.
For other types of homes, however, they say they are still exploring how the Flood Adaptive Platform technology can be retrofitted to most other buildings and infrastructure to enable them to rise above current and future flood levels.
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
