Flood Resilience
Recent reports indicate that over 6 million homes are at risk of flooding, according to a climate projection study by the Environmental Agency. This number could rise to 8 million, equating to 1 in 4 properties by the year 2050.
In England, approximately 6.3 million properties are located in flood-risk areas, threatened by rivers, the sea, and surface water. Notably, 4.6 million of these properties are vulnerable specifically to surface water flooding, which occurs when extreme rainfall overwhelms drainage systems, leading to hazardous flash floods. This represents a substantial 43% increase compared to previous assessments by the Environment Agency.
The study highlights that 2.4 million properties are at risk from river and sea flooding. Alarmingly, modeling predicts an 88% increase in properties facing the highest risk level, defined as having a greater than one in 30 chance of flooding in any given year.
While flooding cannot be completely prevented, proactive planning and modifications to properties can help mitigate potential damage.
Flood Aftermath
In response to this issue, In 2017 Dragonboard was part of the BRE Flood Resilient Repair House project. This initiative aims to showcase alternative, resilient materials that are less susceptible to damage from subsequent flooding. Funded by the BRE Trust and the global insurance company AXA, along with contributions from various partners, the project was developed in light of recent flooding in the UK that resulted in extensive property damage, with repair costs ranging from £30,000 to £100,000 per home.
The project’s objective is to demonstrate that by using resilient materials and products, homes can recover swiftly and incur minimal damage, allowing residents to return to normalcy more quickly and efficiently.
Dragonboard was selected as the wall board for its water-resistant and breathable properties, enabling it to dry after moisture exposure without promoting the growth of mold, mildew, or other fungi. To assess its effectiveness, an Old Victorian house was deliberately flooded to test it’s performance.
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