Flood protection apparatus

Abstract

A flood protection barrier for a structure ( 2 ) is disclosed. The barrier ( 22 ) is adapted to overlie at least a portion of the outer skin of the structure ( 27 ) in the region where the structure engages with the ground ( 12 ). The barrier ( 22 ) comprises at least one impermeable sheet ( 58 ) and at least one seal means ( 26, 28 ), in which each impermeable sheet ( 58 ) is flexible, and at least one seal means ( 26, 28 ) is a means adapted to reversibly form a substantially watertight seal between an impermeable sheet ( 58 ) and at least one of the structure ( 2 ), the ground ( 12 ), or an impermeable sheet ( 58 ). The impermeable sheet ( 58 ) is sufficiently flexible to be elastically deformed by the hydrostatic pressure exerted by water ( 14 ) flooding the ground ( 12 ) adjacent to the structure to substantially conform with the contours of the structure's skin overlain by the impermeable barrier ( 22 ).

1 . A flood protection barrier for a structure in which the barrier is adapted to overlie at least a portion of the outer skin of a structure in the region where the structure engages with the ground, in which the barrier comprises at least one impermeable sheet and at least one seal means, in which each impermeable sheet is flexible, and at least one seal means is a means adapted to reversibly form a substantially watertight seal between an impermeable sheet and at least one of the structure, the ground, or an impermeable sheet, and in which the impermeable sheet is sufficiently flexible to be elastically deformed by is the hydrostatic pressure exerted by water flooding the ground adjacent to the structure to substantially conform with the contours of the structure's skin overlain by the impermeable barrier.  
     
     
         2 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 1  in which at least one seal means is adapted to reversibly form a substantially watertight seal between two edges of impermeable sheet.  
     
     
         3 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 1  in which the at least one seal means is adapted to be fixed to the outer skin of the structure.  
     
     
         4 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 1  to  3  in which at least one seal means is adapted to reversibly form a substantially watertight seal between an edge of an impermeable sheet and the outer skin of a building or the ground.  
     
     
         5 . A flood protection barrier according to any preceding claim in which at least one seal means comprises a rigid seal bar defining a channel and a seal portion of the impermeable sheet in which the seal portion is configured to be reversibly fixed in to said channel, said fixing causing a substantially water tight seal to be formed between the seal bar and the impermeable sheet.  
     
     
         6 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 5  in which the channel has a cross section such that the mouth of the channel is dimensionally smaller than at least a portion of the channel.  
     
     
         7 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 6  in which the channel has a cross section that is substantially “C” shaped or oval.  
     
     
         8 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 5  to  7  in which the seal portion of the impermeable sheet is comprised of a gas-tight envelope provided with at least one inflation means in which the envelope is configured and constructed to expand to substantially fill the channel and engage with the walls thereof when inflated.  
     
     
         9 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 8  in which the gas-tight envelope is compartmentalised into two or more independently inflatable compartments.  
     
     
         10 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 5  to  9  in which the seal portion of the impermeable sheet is structurally integral with the sheet.  
     
     
         11 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 5  to  10  in which the seal portion of the Impermeable sheet is constructed independently from said sheet and subsequently and permanently fixed to the sheet.  
     
     
         12 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 5  to  10  in which the seal portion of the impermeable sheet is comprised of a tube within which an inflatable envelope may be located.  
     
     
         13 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 5  to  7  in which at least one wall of the channel is configured to be inflatable and deflatable between inflated and deflated positions, and the seal portion of the impermeable sheet is adapted to be gripped by the walls of the channel.  
     
     
         14 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 13  in which the seal portion of the impermeable sheet is adjacent the edge of the sheet, and said edge is provided with a bead, or a lip.  
     
     
         15 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 2  or  3  in which the at least one seal means is comprised of a watertight zip, in which each impermeable sheet bears one half of a watertight zip on the edge of the sheet to be joined, and said halves are adapted to reversibly inter-engage with each other.  
     
     
         16 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 2  or  3  in which the at least one seal means is comprised of a rigid seal bar bearing on it, two halves of watertight zips, and in which each impermeable sheet bears one half of a watertight zip on the edge of the sheet to be joined each half of a watertight zip.  
     
     
         17 . A flood protection barrier according to any preceding claim in which the barrier further comprises a storage means in which the storage means is constructed and configured to contain the impermeable sheet when not in use and allow the impermeable sheet to be moved between a stored configuration and a deployed configuration.  
     
     
         18 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 17  in which in the storage means is located in the region of the intersection of the structure's skin and the ground, the storage means having a longitudinal extent substantially equal to the longitudinal extent of the face or faces of the structure to be overlain by the barrier.  
     
     
         19 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 18  in which the storage means is sunk into a trench in the ground.  
     
     
         20 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 17  in which the storage means is fixed to the skin of the structure adjacent the ground, and there is a substantially watertight seal between the storage means and the skin.  
     
     
         21 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 17  to  20  in which the storage means is provided with means to substantially prevent water passing through the storage means so as to pass around an edge of the impermeable sheet.  
     
     
         22 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 17  to  21  in which the storage means is comprised of a trough with a lid, and closure of the lid cause the formation of a substantially watertight seal between the lid and the trough, and the impermeable sheet if said sheet is in a deployed position.  
     
     
         23 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 17  to  22  in which the storage means further comprises an axle mounted therein and in which the impermeable sheet may be stored as a roll about the axle.  
     
     
         24 . A flood protection barrier according to any preceding claim in which the barrier is provided with two longitudinally extending seal means adapted to engage with one or two impermeable sheets in a substantially watertight manner, each seal means being fixed to the skin of the structure with a substantially watertight seal between the skin of the structure and the seal means, and the longitudinal axis of the seal means having a substantially vertical orientation.  
     
     
         25 . A flood protection barrier according to any preceding claim in which the impermeable sheet is a laminate comprising at least one layer of an impermeable material, and at least one layer of a strengthening material.  
     
     
         26 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 25  in which the barrier is configured so that, in use, the face of the impermeable sheet remote from the structure is comprised of a layer of strengthening material.  
     
     
         27 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 25  or  26  in which the strengthening material is a woven fabric.  
     
     
         28 . A flood protection barrier according to any preceding claim in which the impermeable sheet is at least partially comprised of one or more of butyl rubber, polyvinyl chloride and latex.  
     
     
         29 . A flood protection barrier according to any preceding claim in which the impermeable sheet includes at least one longitudinally extending strengthening element.  
     
     
         30 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 29  in which each strengthening element is a rigid bar.  
     
     
         31 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 29  or  30  in which each strengthening element is located on or in the impermeable sheet in such a fashion that the strengthening element is substantially horizontal when the impermeable sheet is deployed.  
     
     
         32 . A flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 29  to  31  in which each strengthening element extends between two edges of the impermeable sheet and each end of at least one strengthening element is configured and adapted to engage with a restraining means located adjacent to said edges of the impermeable sheet when deployed.  
     
     
         33 . A flood protection barrier according to  claim 32  in which the restraining means is configured to prevent an end of a strengthening element engaged therein moving in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strengthening element.  
     
     
         34 . A method of protecting a structure from flooding in which a flood protection barrier according to any of  claims 1  to  33  is installed on or around a structure.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34  in which the structure is a domestic dwelling or a commercial premises.