GB2373282A

GB2373282A - Rigid flood barrier with ties and barbed seals

Info

Publication number: GB2373282A
Application number: GB0106379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Paul Woolcombe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-15
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-18
Also published as: GB0106379D0

Abstract

A flood barrier comprises a rigid barrier member 4 sealed against the wall 2 of a building. It may also be sealed against the ground and is preferably secured to the building and / or the ground by ties 8. Securing devices 9 in the ground and wall may consist of an annular member with an outwardly curved cross-member (figure 6) on to which the ties hook, Tensioning of the ties may be by way of a thread and nut at each end of the tie. Resilient sealing means may be mounted in a rigid support channel (figure 4) and the sealing means may be barbed to create a watertight seal against the barrier member. When not in use, the channel may be protected by a cover (figure 5). The flood barrier may be used for protecting either a door 3 or an air brick (figure 7).

Description

Flood Protection System This invention concerns flood protection systems and more particularly systems for protecting buildings from the ingress of water caused by rising external water levels.

The flooding of buildings by rising external water levels, for example caused by high levels of rainfall, has long been a problem which can lead to extensive damage to the buildings themselves and their decoration, and to furniture and other artefacts within them. The result of such flooding is not only inconvenient to their occupants whilst the buildings and their contents are dried out, but it is usually expensive in terms of both water damage and repairs which have to be made.

Recent changes in weather patterns in various parts of the world have led to increased rainfall and an associated risk of flooding. The result has been that in some places the frequency and severity of flooding of buildings which have previously been flooded from time to time by rising river levels has increased significantly and in others buildings have been flooded for the first time.

According to the present invention there is provided a flood protection device for a building, the device comprising a substantially rigid barrier member having a building wall engaging portion, and sealing means for providing a substantially water tight seal between the barrier member and the wall of the building.

Embodiments of flood protection device in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention for protecting a doorway; Fig. 2 corresponds to Fig. 1 but with the various components of the device moved from their respective positions when in use;

Fig. 3 is a cut away plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig.

1 ; Fig. 4 is a section on line I-I of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5 shows a capping strip for the section shown in Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 shows front and side views of a securing device for securing the embodiment to a wall of the building; and Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention for protecting an airbrick from flooding.

The flood protection flood protection device 1 is shown in Fig.

1 positioned against a wall 2 of a building having an external door 3.

The device 1 consists of a generally"U"shaped rigid and substantially water impervious barrier member 4 which in use is located in a generally"U"shaped rigid channel 5. The barrier member 4 can be formed, for example, from a strong plastics material.

The channel 5 contains a resilient seal 6 which includes barbs 7 which serve to engage the barrier member 4 when the latter is pushed into the channel 5. The channel 5, which in general should be made of a water impervious, essentially rigid material, for example metal, e. g. stainless steel, or a rigid plastics material, is shaped and positioned relative to the wall 2 so that the barbs 7 of the seal 6 form a water tight seal with edge portions of the barrier member 4.

As shown in Figs 1 and 2, the channel 5 is embedded in, and forms a water tight seal with, the wall 2. The channel 5 is also located in the ground, for example embedded in concrete, if necessary with a mastic composition to provide a water tight seal between the channel 5 and the ground.

Ties 8 located between the barrier member 4 and the wall 2 or the ground serve in use to hold the barrier member 4 in position as shown in Figs 1 and 2. Fig. 6 shows to an enlarged scale front and side views of securing devices 9 which are secured both in the wall 2 and in the ground. The devices 9 consist of an essentially annular portion 10 having an outwardly curved cross member 11 on to which the ties 9 hook.

When the ties 8 are in position, they are tightened by a suitable method, for example using a thread and captive nut between hooks at opposite ends of the ties 8.

In use the barrier member 4 is inserted into the channel 5 and pushed down against the barbs 7 until the barrier member 4 is in sealing engagement with the seal 6. The ties 8 are then tightened to hold the barrier member 4 in this position.

If water rises up the barrier member 4, for example due to a river flooding, it is prevented from entering the associated building past the door 3 due to the seal between the barrier member 4 and the seal 6, the latter being in substantially water tight engagement with the wall 2 and the ground.

When not in use, the barrier member 4 is removed from the channel 5 and a sealing member 12 shown in Fig. 5 is pushed into the channel 5 instead. The sealing member 12 serves to prevent foreign matter, for example earth and dirt, from entering the channel 5 as otherwise it may not be possible to insert the barrier member 4 into the channel 5 when the flood protection device is to be used.

As will be appreciated, the barrier member for doorways or airbricks can be in a variety of shapes depending on the geometry of the building and the doorway or airbrick to be protected. For example, the barrier member can be"L"shaped rather than"U"shaped, e. g. when the doorway is in an internal corner of a building.

An airbrick barrier device for preventing flood water from entering a building through an airbrick 23 is shown in Fig. 7.

This device consists of an essentially water impervious rectangular cover 20 and a rectangular sealing ring 21. In use the rectangular cover 20 and the rectangular sealing ring 21 form a water tight seal with each other, for example using a resilient seal 24 in a channel in the sealing ring, and the sealing ring 21 also forms a water tight seal with a suitably profiled portion of the wall 22 of the building surrounding the airbrick 23.

Ties 24 which extend from the rectangular cover 20 are used to secure the cover 20 to securing devices 9, which are positioned on either side of the airbrick 23, and provide a water tight seal between the cover 20 and the sealing ring 21, and between the sealing ring 21 and the profiled portion of the wall 22.

Claims

Claims 1. A flood protection device for a building, the device comprising a substantially rigid barrier member having a building wall engaging portion, and sealing means for providing a substantially water tight seal between the barrier member and the wall of the building.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means additionally provides a seal between the barrier member and the ground.
3. A device according to either of the preceding claims, including tie means for securing the barrier member to the wall of the building.
4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, including tie means for securing the barrier member to the ground.
5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means comprises a substantially rigid support channel with a resilient seal therein.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the resilient seal includes resilient barb portions for engaging the barrier member and providing a substantially water tight seal therewith.
7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, in a form suitable for protecting a door.
8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, in a form suitable for protecting an airbrick.
9. A flood protection device for a building, the device being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.