New 'Flood Adaptive Platform' automatically lifts homes to save them from flooding

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?

This technology uses a sensor-activated, mechanical jack system that automatically elevates buildings above rising water.

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 House and 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.