Use the navigation buttons or enter criteria into the search box below to explore the News Archives. Note the earliest News Archive dates back to 13th September 2013.
We recently installed a number of large flood windows at a new-build property adjacent to the Thames.
20 windows up to 2.2metres by 1.6metres are required. Stainless steel framing and toughened safety glass with a self cleaning coating has been used.The framing allows for easy replacement of these flood-proof windows.
Flood Control International recently installed a 3metre high demountable flood barrier system for a transformer compound at a Biomass Plant.
The system will allow access for works to the transformers when required, but will ensure the compound is floodproofed at all other times. The project also involved the installation of a number of flood doors and sliding floodgates to critical areas.
FCI recently installed two lengths of glass floodwall for the Environment Agency at Littlehampton on the South Coast. The glass flood barrier was chosen partly due to its aesthetics, as well as cost and reliability. The design uses slimline stainless steel framing and laminated toughened glass that was designed specifically for the location. A high grade stainless steel was selected for the framing due to the requirement for a long design life in a maritime environment, and a self-cleaning coating was specified to reduce maintenance to the absolute minimum.
As the barrier was also to be used as edge protection, a handrail was fitted to the top of the barrier up to the statutory height required.
FCI recently installed a 6m x 2.5m automatic sliding floodgate Uskmouth Power Station, as well as another automatic swing gate. The gates are linked to the electric fence control system, and operate on a dead level threshold. This design ensures that the opening is clear for vehicle access.
The gate is expected to operate up to 60 times per day, and so speed and ease of operation, for such a large gate, was paramount.
FCI recently installed a sliding floodgate at Southend on Sea. The 4.5m wide 2.8m high floodgate operates automatically when floodwater is detected or by push button, and slides across the opening to seal on all four faces. Using our innovative sealing technology, the gate does not need a track to run in, making the operation and maintenance simple. The project overcame a number of technical difficulties of installing a floodgate on the ‘dry’ side of the supporting wall, with ceiling height being the same as the opening height that needed to be fully sealed.
Flood Control International has recently completed a major scheme in Hong Kong. The project involved a number of lengths of barrier and floodgates to protect the traditional ‘stilt-village’ of Tai O. Working with the designers from the outset, the storage for sections of demountable barrier was designed into the adjacent seats and planters.
Flood Control International has just installed the UK’s first Roller Shutter Flood Door. This patented flood door operates automatically when floodwater is detected, or also by push button, so can provide security whenever closed. The roller shutter flood doors are available in widths and heights of over 6metres and are ideal for entrances that require flood protection and security.
FCI have been awarded the contract to replace and refurbish over 70 flood gates and flood barriers for the Environment Agency at King’s Lynn. The original gates were installed 25years ago, and were used successfully last December when a tidal surge tested the gates to 100mm from their top- saving 80% of the town from flooding. Following detailed surveys and proposals, FCI will refurbish the gates for a further 25years use where practical, and provide new floodgates and barriers where it is most beneficial.
Flood Control International has successfully secured the floodgate contracts for both phases of the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme. Nine floodgates in total are required, as well as sections of demountable flood barrier. The designs vary from sliding floodgates that usually reside inside a masonry clad floodwall, to double lift-hinged gates that secure an opening 8m wide and 1.5m high. All of the gates utilise lightweight aluminium panels and stainless steel parts to give longevity and the ability for one person operation at all times. The floodgate works are expected to be undertaken from this summer through to Spring 2015.
A number of manually-installed chemical containment barriers were installed at a chemical storage facility. The lightweight barriers are designed to contain chemical spills and be easily installed or removed by a single person. Where it was thought that there may be a tripping hazard, due to the low height of the barriers, and handrail ‘goalpost’ was added to ensure personnel would not try to walk across the barrier without seeing it.
Flood Control International is now UK distributor for the Portable Cylinder Flood Barrier system, manufactured by Aquariwa in Germany.
This innovative and patented system provides a mobile, quickly erected flood defence. Unlike traditional systems, it requires minimal manpower and material, and can be mobilised and erected in a short period of time, without the need for tools and equipment. No technical skills are required, enabling the system to be easily assembled by untrained volunteers. Once the flood has passed, the system is quick and easy to disassemble and remove.
Flood Control International recently sponsored and exhibited at the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Flooding 2014 Conference in London.
The conference was attended by over 150 members of the civil engineering fraternity and covered subjects including the response to the floods earlier this year, property protection as well as looking to the security of future funding for flood protection schemes.
Demountable Flood Barriers now protect the entrance to the Emergency Dept at NYU Hospital.
The barriers are fully removable and bespoke trims cover the fixed end channels so that little evidence of the 8′ high flood protection measures is visible.
FCI have just been awarded the contract for new automatic sliding and swing floodgates at Uskmouth Power Station.
The gates are up to 6m wide and 2.5m high and are linked to the site’s access control system for operation. Inflating seals mean that the gates can operate reliably over a level threshold – so there are no issues with access over, or debris build up. Installation works are programmed for this summer to tie in with the reinforced concrete walling works.
The Royal William Yard was built between 1826 and 1835 as victualling depot to keep the Royal Navy stocked with food, drink and weapons. It is Grade I listed and extends to about 16 acres. As part of its original design, a tunnel was made in the south east retaining wall to allow for loading and unloading in Firestone Bay when there was an ebb tide or north-west weather. The tunnel was blocked at some point, but was opened again as the Royal William Yard started to be rejuvenated.
The area’s changing weather patterns forced the owners, Urban Splash, to invest in flood barriers to prevent seawater flooding during high tides and storms. In 2012 Flood Control International fitted demountable aluminium and steel flood barriers that could be erected and removed easily.
The severe storms of early 2014 brought a sea swell that was perfectly aligned to give maximum wave impact on the flood barriers. These extraordinary weather conditions showed that the 1.5 metre high flood barriers were effective in keeping the waves from breaching the tunnel entrance.
Flood Control International has recently been appointed as UK and Ireland distributor of the Self Closing Flood Barrier.
These barriers float up vertically in time of flood and are designed by Van den Noort Innovations BV of Holland.
Tim Collingwood, MD, stated that these passive flood barriers complement perfectly the range of barriers and gates already supplied by Flood Control International, ensuring that the best flood protection solution for each client can be proposed.
Flood Control International’s own Managing Director, Tim Collingwood, has given several interviews today to both regional and national BBC radio and TV stations. He has been invited to speak as an authority in the Flood Protection Industry. With so much attention having been given to the domestic flooding misery that has befallen the UK, business leaders and the media are starting to recognise the plight of businesses and industry battling against flooding to not just stay dry, but also to stay financially afloat.
Tim has been able to relay the message that there ARE solutions available to prevent future flood damage for business premises. Whereas the forces of nature cannot be controlled or accurately predicted, their damaging consequences can be mitigated by investing in bespoke engineered flood defences. The financial investment represents just a fraction of the potential cost of damage.
A Flood Control ‘Lift Hinged Floodgate’ saved a Berkshire business from flooding last week. Russel Humphries from Milton Sandford Wines sent us photos of the floodgate ‘in the thick of things, working at its best’. We sent Russel a bottle of Bolinger as a thank-you, as we always do when we receive a photo of our flood gates and flood barriers in action – even though he’s already got a few in his warehouse we reckon! (The green floodgate’s at the far end of the flooded car park).
In a case of good preparedness, residents in Barbourne, Worcester installed a number of flood barriers back in 2008. These barriers have successfully been brought into operation, protecting the properties from the misery of flooding, as well as from marauding swans. Flood Control International’s demountable flood barriers have been protecting properties since 1997. They are simple to use, able to span 3metres or longer with removable posts and and far more effective than sandbag walls in preventing water ingress.
FCI recently installed sliding floodgates and flood doors for the Ridham Biomass Plant in North Kent. The 8 openings each have designed the optimum flood protection solution – sliding floodgates where ther is insufficient swing area for doors, fire/ flood doors where regular untrained access, and emergency escape doors are required and aluminium demountable flood barriers where large openings need flood protection to 2.1metres high
FCI recently handed over the Flood Protection works to Anglian Water for their Marham WTW river intake. The scheme comprised rendering and sealing wall surfaces to the protected buildings as well as installing aluminium demountable flood barriers to doors and around the controls equipment. FCI ‘designed down’ the original proposed scheme to provide the client with a more cost effective flood protection solution than that originally proposed.
FCI have recently been awarded the contract to supply aluminium demountable flood barriers to a fire station in New York. Continuous runs of freestanding 5foot high flood barriers were designed to protect the building which is steel frames with only profiled cladding to the walls. The flood barriers were specifically designed to fit to the sloped sidewalk and to minimise disruption to fire truck access by matching the barrier spans to the roller shutter door openings.
Flood Control International recently hosted a meeting with Taiwan’s Accredit Commercial Company to discuss the distribution of their patented Roller Shutter Flood Doors. The design combines the practicality and security of a roller shutter door with the functions of an automatic flood barrier. The doors are tested and certified for security, flood protection and for over 10,000 cycles of usage by Germany’s TuV organisation. Widths of up to 9metres and heights up to 7metres are possible using these roller shutter flood doors.
Following on from the floods over Christmas and the New Year, it’s worth considering flood risk and the perception of flood risk. Attached is a photograph of properties at Bradford on Avon that suffered badly from flooding over the Christmas Period. The properties are nowhere near a river, and the flooding is all due to rainwater and saturated ground. A YouGov survey published in 2010 identifies the gaps in perception of flood risk:
1 in 4 properties are at risk of flooding, although 83% of homeowners don’t think they are at risk of flooding.
68% of homes have no flood protection measures to minimise flood risk
95% of homes have contents insurance, although 45% don’t know if this covers flood risk
43% of homeowners haven’t investigated the flood risk to their home.
With flooding on the increase, and the Environment Agency Flood Maps now covering stormwater flooding as well as flooding from rivers and the sea, the ability to protect properties against flooding by flood gates and flood barriers should ensure more properties are properly flood protected.
Flood Control International designs, supplies and installs the widest range of flood prevention solutions in the world, together with a full spectrum of associated professional services. We are proud to operate international subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Australia and India, as well as through distributors throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia.
