Innovation

Flood’s Away

Gary Leathem, director of R.S.J.R. Innovations and national award-winning development company Boconnell properties in Northern Ireland has designed and developed a unique doorway flood barrier to totally replace the antiquated sandbag. Recent pre-production testing carried out at HR Wallingford England left the viability of this product in little doubt as, over an eight hour stringent testing period, carried out in approximately one million litres of water, at depths of up to 900mm, including varying wave patterns, leakage was non-existent and during that period a paltry 0.02ml was recorded as a result of a slight splash over. This invention has the potential to save money, homes and livelihoods and excitement is mounting as the device comes closer to being marketed and sold.

Fast Acting

The viability of this breakthrough is further enhanced given that this is a permanently fitted device allowing it to be specified by building regulators as part of their criteria and can actually be deployed in less than 30 seconds. Believe it or not, an estimated six to ten million homes in the uk are estimated to be a risk from the various types of flooding including coastal and flash flooding and the average annual insurance payout as a result of flood damage has now passed the one billion pounds mark and indeed this year’s payout is thought to be closer to two billion pounds.

Easy Fitted

The pending patent, which was overseen by renowned IP specialist John Hanna of Hanna IP, is structured around a unique continuous permanent seal fitted in a lightweight structure which can be formed in aluminium or PVC and indeed can be either attached to or can form an integral part of the actual doorframe.

This device is yet to be branded as advanced negotiations are taking place with several leading national and international door manufacturers and naming rights are an integral part of those negotiations.

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