INDUSTRY NEWS 13
devastating impact that flooding can have, and urge people to keep themselves safe and to adapt their homes so that they are able to recover as quickly as possible.” Different types of water resilient
insulation have been used in the house, including injected cavity wall insulation, thermal board and PUR spray foam. Other practical issues have also been addressed, such as how to improve floor insulation, where to place electric sockets and home appliances, and how to seal off areas where water could enter the property. The project has been funded by the
BRE Trust and partners AXA Insurance, British Damage Management Association, Cunningham Lindsey, Defra, Natural Cement Distribution, and Property Care Association. BRE has also announced a new
BRE’s flood resilient home makes TV debut
A flood-resilient prototype home has been launched by the BRE to show the most effective ways to protect homes against flood damage and limit disruption. The ‘Resilient House,’ which was
featured on the BBC’s Countryfile is intended to show how practical measures can be installed in a home to prevent flood water entering a property. The solutions include flood resistant doors and windows, water resilient walls and insulation, a resilient kitchen with moveable kitchen units, floor and wall membranes to channel water towards floor drains, an automatic sump pump that stops water rising through the floor and disperses water quickly if it gets in, and one-way valves fitted to the toilets and sinks to prevent flooding via sewers. The Countryfile team were taken around
the home by Dr Peter Bonfield, chief executive of the BRE, and Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency. With the help of the local fire service, the team attempted to flood the house from the outside, before allowing the water into the house to see how quickly it flooded. John O’Brien, BRE Construction
Innovation expert, stated that the practical applications of resilience were the most important aspects of the project. He said: “The BRE wanted to reflect these values in practical demo homes, the homes includ- ing both measures of resilience, and measures to get water out of a home.” John
added: “It’s about healthy, happy homes.” According to the BRE, making properties
more resilient to flooding can be hugely beneficial to individuals, families and businesses. The innovative measures displayed in the house not only help prevent flood water entering a building, but also aid rapid recovery after any flooding, reducing the costs of repairs and helping people to get back on their feet quickly and easily. Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the
Environment Agency, stressed that property protection is an “invaluable” defence when flooding occurs. She said: “There’s no doubt that it’s more cost-effective to make your home or business as resilient as possible, rather than pay for the damage afterwards. I know the
certification scheme and training courses aimed at property flood resilience surveyors, that will provide them with a framework for achieving resilient repairs to homes and other types of property.
NHBC under fire from CRL
Structural insurace CRL has welcomed a Guardian story which raised questions about the independence and credibility of the NHBC. Responding to the article, ‘New homes
warranty firm pays millions to leading homebuilders,’ Steve Mansour, CEO of CRL, said: “We have found the sector to be a very closed market due to the dominance of NHBC, who work closely with so many of the big developers.” He continued: “We are concerned by
the revelations in the Guardian article about the way the NHBC structures its relationships with developers, as it raises many questions about the independence and credibility of the warranties provided.” “At the same time,” Steve added, “we
welcome many of the recommendations outlined in the ‘More homes, fewer complaints’ report, put together by the All- Party Parliamentary Group on new build properties, in particular, the introduction of an independent ombudsman to oversee complaints about new homes. “Greater competition in this sector, with
a wider range of warranty specialists operating, can only be a good thing for the consumer, ultimately giving the owner of a new build home increased confidence in the validity of their warranty.”
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