GB2438701A

GB2438701A - Flood Barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2438701A
Application number: GB0707290A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Townsend
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-16
Filing date: 2007-04-16
Publication date: 2007-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-16
Also published as: GB2438701B; GB0707290D0

Abstract

A flood barrier for a building comprises a barrier member 1 detachably and rotatably connectable to a structure 20 attachable to a surface near a building aperture to be protected. The barrier comprises a locking arrangement 12 for holding the barrier member 1 in a closed position relative to the structure 20, and a sealing element, preferably a double seal, to render the flood barrier watertight when closed position. The locking arrangement is protected from exposure to water by the sealing element when the barrier member is in the closed position and is therefore durable with regard to rusting. Preferably, flag type hinges allow rotation of the barrier member and facilitate access through and very quick assembly of the barrier. Preferably the barrier member 1 is a door comprising a box-section periphery and a central panel comprising two skins defining a gap filled with solid material. The structure is preferably a U-shaped frame. The barrier or structure may be made of aluminium or UPVC and may be reinforced with internal metal inserts. The barrier may be used immediately adjacent a building aperture or at the end of or at some position along a passage or alley leading to the aperture.

Description

Flood Barrier The present invention relates to a flood barrier for

protecting buildings in areas which are prone to flooding from being flooded at ground level or higher. It provides a barrier which is simple, effective, does not constitute an obstruction to the occupiers of the building, and is durable, especially to rusting.

Flooding of domestic and industrial buildings is a problem which is increasingly relevant in modem times, particularly with the ever-present issue of global warming and rising sea levels. Buildings which are located near coastlines or on low-lying flood plains are particularly at risk during certain parts of the year.

Flood waters from the sea or rivers which have burst their banks can cause extensive damage to a building and its contents. Many items which are damaged by flood are irreparable and must be disposed of and replaced. Aside from the tangible damage which is caused to a building and contents, there is also the distress caused to the owner or occupier of the building, the time, effort and cost of clearing the water and deposits of river sediment from the building and replacing damaged goods, and the prospect of insurance premiums being raised to cover the building against the possibility of it happening again.

Numerous methods of keeping flood water at bay have been used over the years. An older fashioned method of flood protection is the sandbag, which can act as a barrier to water and as a filter for river sediment which inevitably is washed along when a river bursts its banks. However, sandbags are heavy, and require an amount of time and physical effort to install them in the required position. More elderly and physically weaker persons may not be able to do this. The sandbags are even heavier alter use once they have been saturated with water and need to be removed. They require a place for storage when not in use, something which is not available in many properties, and once used, they cannot be used again and must be replaced. Furthermore, they do not provide a completely watertight barrier to flooding entering buildings. Finally, if sandbags are to be used in the prevention of water entering through the windows of $ buildings, a large number of sandbags would be required to be built up to reach up to the window as most window sills would not be able to support a sandbag.

Many other types of flood protection methods have been used. Some involve the installation of permanent barriers, which are an obstruction for the occupier of the building in their normal life. Others involve the use of a barrier which can be slotted into place in a frame in the aperture to be protected, be that a door or a window.

However, when such barriers are in place, they also provide an obstruction for the occupier, as these barriers must be physically removed from their frames in order to allow a person to pass through a doorway being protected, and replaced once the person has passed. Additionally, such barriers may not be entirely watertight.

There are more sophisticated barriers, such as those described in GB 2373532 and GB 2369149. These barriers also have their drawbacks. In GB 2373532, the locking mechanism (a "rising keep") which secures the door to its frame is located on the outside of the frame and is visible in normal use. The frame is a permanent fixture to the building, even if the door is not. This locking mechanism is therefore exposed to and unprotected from the elements all year round. It will be much more likely to rust and degrade in such conditions. When the door is attached to the frame, the handle latch' is also exposed to the elements, and will itself be susceptible to rust.

Furthermore, when the flood waters rise against this barrier, if they rose sufficiently high, they could submerge the locking mechanism, corroding and damaging it even more. The locking mechanism would require replacement more often, and may not secure the door to the frame as effectively in its corroded state, or may seize and become difficult to use. Additionally, the door is not flush with its frame, and protrudes significantly from it, creating more of an obstruction than is necessary.

In GB 2369149, two different barriers are described. The first one is a permanent barrier which is wedged into place in a doorway. It does not possess a hinge or similar mechanism which enables it to rotate and open, so it presents an obstruction to the occupiers of the building when they want to exit and enter through this doorway, a problem detailed above with regard to other barriers. It also does not possess any locking mechanism to secure it in place. Instead it relies on the ends of the barrier's strengthening ribs being firmly held by wedges which are tightly situated between the edge of the barrier and the edge of the aperture to be protected. It can therefore only be used immediately next to the aperture. When this barrier is not required, it is removed in its entirety. Its removal and subsequent reinstallation would not be able to be carried out in a matter of a handful of seconds.

The second barrier described by GB 2369149 is also a barrier which is not intended to be opened. Clip mechanisms are provided, two on each side of the barrier, to fix it firmly to the frame of a door. It is therefore not roltably connected to its frame in normal use. As above, it provides an obstruction. Also, when the barrier is not required, the clip mechanisms must all be unscrewed, and vice versa to reinstall the barrier, which will take some time. Like the previous barrier, it is not a self-contained unit, and requires external strengthening ribs to support it, which are unsightly. The clips are also visible in normal use and therefore unprotected from the elements.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a flood barrier which is simple, effective, is easily removable for periods of the year where the risk of flood is minimal, is durable against the elements, and overcomes the problems described above.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a flood barrier for the prevention of flooding in a building comprising: a structure adapted to be attached to a surface near a building aperture to be protected; a barrier member detachably and rotatably connectable to the structure, said barrier member comprising a locking arrangement for holding the barrier member in a closed position relative to the structure; and a sealing element to render the flood barrier watertight when the barrier member is in the closed position; wherein the locking arrangement is protected from exposure to water by the sealing element when the barrier member is in the closed position.

Preferably, the locking arrangement comprises a plurality of bolts, most preferably 2 or 4, which can engage with corresponding openings in the structure to secure the barrier member to the structure.

The sealing element preferably comprises a double seal, one on the barrier member and one on the structure. This provides even more security against water leaking through the barrier and into a building, and protects the locking arrangement from the water so that corrosion of the arrangement is not a problem.

The barrier member is preferably made at least partially from a material in box section form. More preferably, the barrier member is a door or gate-type structure which comprises a periphery made from a material in box section form and a central panel.

The central panel preferably comprises at least two layers of materials which may be immediately adjacent to each other or may be separated by a gap which may be anything from about I to about 40 mm, preferably about 28 mm. The gap is preferably filled with a solid material to help reinforce the barrier member, such as styrofoam or another foam material which solidifies, or it could have a honeycomb'-type centre created by cardboard or wood between the layers. Preferably, the gap is filled with styrofoam .

The panel may be made of any waterproof material, but is preferably made from plastic or UPVC, plastic or UPVC backed wood, plywood face with a plastic laminate sheet on both sides, glass-reinforced plastic, aluminium, or any other ridged material which is waterproof.

The barrier member is preferably detachably and rotatably connected to the structure by a hinge mechanism. This ensures that that is quick and simple to mount the barrier member on the structure and equally quick to reconnect them, and that the barrier member can be opened and closed in a similar manner to a door or gate. More preferably, the hinge mechanism is a flag hinge.

The structure is preferably a U-frame structure. The barrier member and structure can be made from any durable material, but they are preferably made from aluminium or * 5 UPVC. Either or both of the barrier member and structure can be reinforced by aluminium and/or steel if desired. This reinforcement is situated within the barrier member and/or structure, and is not visible in normal use.

The present invention also ensisages a method of preventing flood waters from entering a building comprising using a flood barrier as described above, comprising providing a structure adapted to be attached to a surface near a building aperture to be protected, attaching the structure to the surface, providing a barrier member detachably and rotatably connectable to the structure, said barrier member comprising a locking arrangement for holding the barrier member in a closed position relative to the structure, attaching the barrier member to the structure, and moving the barrier member into the closed position relative to the structure.

The apparatus of the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying Figures.

Figure 1. This shows a view of the barrier member of the flood barrier of the invention.

Figure 2. This shows a view of the structure of the flood barrier of the invention, Figure 3. This shows a view of a reinforcing insert for use in the barrier member of the flood barrier.

Figure 4. This shows a view of a reinforcing insert for use in the structure of the flood barrier.

The flood barrier comprises a door I as the barrier member (Figure 1) and a frame 20 as the structure (Figure 2).

The door I comprises a box section extrusion 2 around its periphery, which may be made from aluminium or UPVC and can be reinforced with aluminium and/or steel inserts 34 (Figure 3). The door 1 also has a central panel 4 which comprises two aluminium or UPVC sheets with a gap between them which can be up to about 40 mm, but is usually about 28 mm. This gap is filled with styrofoam . The panel 4 is held in place by bead strips 18. The door I possesses two or more flag-type hinges which are in two parts 6 and 24. One part 6 is fixed to the door. The door 1 has an opening handle 8 which activates a multi-bolt locking system 12. These bolts engage with corresponding retainers 26 in the frame 20 to secure the door I to the frame 20 and keep the flood barrier watertight. The door I also has a continuous seal 14 around the inside of the door 1. This seals against the outer edge of the frame 20, and may be made of rubber or another sealant material. For aesthetics, the door has a finishing strip 16 on its top edge.

The frame 20 is a U-shaped frame and has a base and two vertical sides. It is preferably made from extruded aluminium or UPVC box section and, in a similar manner to the door 1, and is reinforced with aluminiwn and/or steel inserts 42 (Figure 4).

The frame 20 has a continuous strip seal 22 at the rear of the box section which is generally made of rubber or another sealant material. On one side of the frame are two or more flag-type hinges 24 which correspond with the flag-type hinges 6 on the door.

When mounting the door I on the frame 20, the flag-type hinges 6 are simply slotted onto the flag-type hinges 24. When a person wants to remove the door, the flag-type hinges 6 and 24 are simply separated and the door is lifted off the frame. This mounting and de-mounting of the door is very quick and is complete in a couple of seconds. The door is also light in weight and can therefore be removed by physically weaker persons, and because of its narrow design, it can be stored away unobtrusively without requiring much space.

The flag-type hinges 6 and 24 can be fitted to the left or right hand side of the door 1 as required. Similarly, the multi-bolt locking system can be fitted to either side of the door The frame has a number of multi-bolt locking system retainers 26 which engage with the bolts 12 in the door 1. On top of each vertical side are finisher pads 28 to seal the extruded box section ends. The frame 20 can be secured to a wall, doorframe or other surface at 30 at the front of the frame, or at 32 if fixed to a wall.

The flood barrier becomes extremely strong and watertight when the door 1 and handle 8 are in the closed position. This creates a two seal system at the from of the door at 14 and at the rear of the frame at 22, which makes the barrier much more watertight than a single seal. During times of flooding when the water level is higher than normal and is being kept out of a building by the flood barrier of the invention, the pressure being exerted on the door is greater than under normal circumstances due to the weight of the volume of water. With the design of this flood barrier, the greater the pressure being exerted on the front of the door 1, the tighter the seals 14 and 22 are and the more watertight the flood barrier becomes.

During times of the year when the risk of flooding is less prominent, the door 1 can be easily removed from the frame 20 and stored away separately until it is required.

Because of the design and the materials used, the door 1 is extremely durable and easy to keep clean. The frame 20 would usually remain in place at all times.

Figures 3 and 4 depict the aluminium or steel inserts 34 and 42 which are used to reinforce the door I and the frame 20, respectively. In Figure 3, features 36, 38 and 40 correspond to the seal, multi-bolt locking system and bead strips 14, 12 and 18, respectively, and in Figure 4, features 44 and 46 correspond to the seal and multi-bolt locking system retainers 22 and 26, respectively.

The benefit gained by the locking arrangement being protected from exposure to water by the sealing element when the barrier is in the closed position is that it is never exposed to the flood waters for any length of time. This means that there is not a problem with the locking arrangement rusting and becoming damaged. This is not the case with known flood barriers and their locking arrangements, discussed above, as their locking arrangements are situated where they will be exposed to and unprotected from the elements and therefore susceptible to rusting, seizure and malfunction, especially where the locking arrangement is not so protected and is located where it could potentially be submerged by rising flood waters.

The flood barrier door does not provide an obstruction to the occupier of the building, as it can remain in place as long as the risk of flood is there and a person can simply open and close the door as if it were a conventional door thanks to the hinge mechanism. Nothing needs to be lifted and put back in place, nor do people have to step over it as they would an immovable barrier. Additionally, during days when the door is in place and there is no imminent risk of flood, the door can be left in its open position or simply removed and stored away.

The flood barrier door of the invention is a self-contained unit, which allows it to be installed in a doorway or window to be protected, or, if desired, it can be also fixed anywhere else the owner considers that it would provide a suitable barrier. It is also flush fitting with its frame so that it does not stand significantly proud from the frame and provide an obstruction. It is also pleasant to look at, as it has a smooth surface with no external features such as strengthening ribs, and can be painted to match the building, if desired.

By near a building aperture to be protected, it is meant that the flood barrier may be employed either immediately adjacent a building aperture to be protected, or alternatively it may be employed at a distance of up to several metres from the building aperture to be protected if the structure of the building so allows. An advantage of the design of the flood barrier of the invention is that the barrier does not have to be immediately adjacent a building aperture to be effective. For example, if a building aperture to be protected, such as a doorway, is situated at the end of a narrow passage or alleyway, the flood barrier could be employed at a position somewhere along the passage or alleyway while still providing good protection from flooding as the structure could be attached to both walls of the passage or alleyway. It is therefore possible to put a substantial flood barrier in place without the need for close proximity to the building aperture to be protected.

The invention may also have the further benefit that insurance premiums could be reduced for buildings which are equipped which such a flood barrier as the risk of future flood damage would be significantly diminished.

Claims

Claims I. A flood barrier for the prevention of flooding in a building,

comprising: a structure adapted to be attached to a surface near a building aperture to be protected; a barrier member detachably and rotatably connectable to the structure, said barrier member comprising a locking arrangement for holding the barrier member in a closed position relative to the structure; and a sealing element to render the flood barrier watertight when the barrier member is in the closed position; wherein the locking arrangement is protected from exposure to water by the sealing element when the barrier member is in the closed position.

2. The flood barrier according to claim I, wherein the locking arrangement comprises a plurality of bolts which can engage with openings in the structure.

3. The flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier member is detachably and rotatably connected to the structure by a hinge mechanism.

4. The flood barrier according to claim 3, wherein the hinge mechanism is a flag hinge.

5. The flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing element comprises a double seal.

6. The flood barrier according to claim 5, wherein the sealing element comprises a seal on the barrier member and a seal on the structure.

7. The flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier member is made at least partially from a material in box section form.

8. The flood barrier according to any of claims i-i, wherein the barrier member is a door.

9. The flood barrier according to claim 8, wherein the door comprises a periphery made from material in box section form and a central panel.

10. The flood barrier according to claim 9, wherein the central panel comprises at least two layers of materials.

11. The flood barrier according to claim 10, wherein the at least two layers of materials are separated by a gap.

12. The flood barrier according to claim 11, wherein the gap is filled with a solid material.

13. The flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier member and/or structure is/are made from aluminium or UPVC.

14. The flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the barrier member and/or structure is/are reinforced internally by metal inserts.

15. The flood barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure is a U-frame structure.

16. A method of preventing flood waters from entering a building using a flood barrier according to any of claims 1-15, comprising: providing a structure adapted to be attached to a surface near a building aperture to be protected; attaching the structure to the surface; providing a barrier member detachably and rotatably connectable to the structure, said barrier member comprising a locking arrangement for holding the barrier member in a closed position relative to the structure; -11 attaching the barrier member to the structure; and moving the barrier member into the closed position relative to the structure.

17. A flood barrier substantially as herein described and illustrated in the drawings.