GB2343907A

GB2343907A - Flood damage prevention systems

Info

Publication number: GB2343907A
Application number: GB9927553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Frederick Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-23
Filing date: 1999-11-23
Publication date: 2000-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-23
Also published as: GB2343907B; GB9825457D0; GB9927553D0

Abstract

A method for preventing flood damage by using a flood barrier to prevent water passing through an opening, such as a door, window or air vent 11, in a structure 10 where the barrier comprises a frame 12 permanently secured in a water tight manner to the structure 10 and a closure member 15 which may have a strengthening surround, a sealing means 17 (22 figure 4) and fasteners, for example toggle clips, (18 figure 2) which engage the frame 12 or structure in a releasable manner.

Description

FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION SYSTEMS Field of the Invention This invention relates to flood damage prevention systems, i. e. to methods and means for preventing damage to houses, shops, offices and other properties as a result of flooding.

When flood warnings are given, householders and other property owners can place sandbags in front of their doorways to prevent the flood water from entering their premises. It is, however, not easy for the elderly or infirm to lift the sandbags into place. The sandbags also look unsightly sitting in a pile by the front door ready for use in an emergency.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and improved means for preventing flood damage.

Summarv of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing flood damage to a property having one or more openings through which flood water could enter the property, the method comprising providing, at the or each opening, a frame permanently secured to the structure of the property in such manner as to prevent the passage of water between the frame and the structure of the property, providing a closure member for the or each opening, which closure member is so formed that it can have sealing engagement with the associated frame so as to prevent the passage of water between the closure member and the frame, and, in the event of a flood warning or emergency, securing the closure member releasably in sealing engagement with the frame.

If the opening is an air vent, the frame will extend completely around the air vent and may comprise, for example, four extruded upvc members secured together to form a framework surrounding and standing proud of the air vent. The closure member will then preferably comprise a sheet or plate of upvc, with a peripheral strengthening surround formed from extruded upvc and carrying gaskets or seals on the side thereof intended to be placed in engagement with the frame.

The closure member will preferably carry releasable fasteners for engagement with co-operating formations on the frame. The releasable fasteners may comprise, for example, bolts which are engaged with threaded apertures in the frame, or toggle clips which are engaged with lugs or like projections on the frame or attached to the structure. In any event, the closure member will be light in weight and, therefore, readily portable while the releasable fasteners will be such that the closure member can be placed securely in position in relatively little time without the need for sophisticated tools.

If the opening is a door opening, the frame may be the existing door frame, depending on its integrity and the method of attachment of the door frame to the surrounding structure, or an auxiliary frame secured to the outside of the door opening and extending across the bottom of the door opening and up the sides of the door opening.

The height of the closure member will be substantially greater than the maximum feared flood depth and may be, for example, 750 mm. or 1 metre in height. The side members of the auxiliary frame, if used, will then be of corresponding height.

The closure member will preferably be in the form of a upvc sheet or plate with a peripheral strengthening surround formed from upvc and will carry sealing gaskets for engagement with the presented surfaces of the door frame or auxiliary frame. The closure member will also preferably carry a sealing member for engagement with the door step of an existing door frame or with the bottom member of an auxiliary frame.

If the closure member is designed for engagement with an existing door frame, the arrangement of the releasable fasteners for securing the closure member in position will preferably be such that the closure member can be secured in place from the inside of the property. The releasable fasteners may thus comprise bolts, which pass through apertures in the door frame and in the surround of the closure member, and wing nuts which can be tightened on to the bolts to fix the closure member in place on the outside of the original door. Assuming that the height of the closure member is, say, 750 mm. or 1 metre, communication between the interior of the building and the outside world can be maintained with the closure member in place, merely by opening the normal door.

If the property is a shop or office, for which it is desirable that closure is effected from outside or if the existing door frame is unsuitable for use as the part to which the closure member is attached, an auxiliary frame will be used and will include, as mentioned above, a bottom member and a pair of upwardly extending side members, each formed of upvc and so attached, and sealed if necessary, to the building structure that there can be no leakage of water between the members of the auxiliary frame and the building structure.

The releasable fasteners for attaching the closure member to the auxiliary frame may comprise, for example, toggle clips which engage with lugs or like projections in the auxiliary frame or bolts which engage with threaded holes in the auxiliary frame. The arrangement will again be such that, on receipt of a flood warning, the closure member can secured promptly and efficiently in position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure member carrying sealing means, and releasable fasteners for securing the closure member to a frame when carrying out the method defined above.

The invention will thus be seen to provide a simple and effective method of means of preventing flood damage to properties. The closure member (s) will be light in weight, and easy to install and maintain-merely requiring checking every few years to inspect the integrity and effectiveness of the sealing gaskets.

The cost of the closure member (s) and frame (if required) will be very much less than the cost of replacing carpets or damaged stock. The substantial inconvenience resulting from flood damage will also be avoided.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows an air vent in a building structure, and a frame attached to the structure and surrounding the air vent, Figure 2 shows a closure member for attachment to the frame, Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a first design of frame and closure member, and Figure 4 is a sectional view showing a second design of frame and closure member.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Reference will first be made to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, which show an outside wall 10 of a building structure and an air vent 11 formed in the outside wall.

Four upvc frame members 12 are secured to the wall 10 so as to form a framework surrounding the air vent 11. The frame members 12 have inclined end portions so that mitred joints are formed at the four corners of the framework. A layer of a sealant material 13 (see Figures 3 and 4) is interposed between each frame member 12 and the wall 10 so as to prevent the passage of flood water between the frame members 12 and the wall 10. Fixings 14 are also attached to the wall 10, one on each side of the air vent 11.

A closure member 15 for attachment to the framework formed by frame members 12 is shown in Figure 2 and includes a flat sheet or plate of upvc and four reinforcement members 16, also of upvc, attached to the flat sheet or plate along the edges of the closure member 15. The reinforcement members 16 also have inclined end portions, so that mitred joints are formed at the four comers of the closure member 15. Sealing gaskets 17 are attached to, and are coextensive with, the reinforcement members 16. Two toggle clips 18 are attached to the opposite side of the closure member 15, and are designed for engagement with the fixings 14 attached to the wall 10.

The frame members 12 shown in Figure 3 are of box section, but could equally well be of solid rectangular cross-section. The reinforcement members 16 are in the form of flat strips and the arrangement is thus such that, when the closure member 15 is placed over the air vent 11, the sealing gaskets 17, carried by the closure member 15 on the side thereof directed towards the wall 10, will engage the presented surfaces of the frame members 12.

Once the closure member 15 has been placed in the required position, the toggle clips 18 are engaged with the fixings 14, the mode of action of the toggle clips 18 being such as to urge the closure member 15 towards the wall 10 and thereby press the gaskets 17 into sealing engagement with the frame members 12.

The closure member 15 will normally be stored inside the property having the air vent 11. When, however, there is very heavy rain or a warning of the possibility of a flood, the closure member 15 will be taken from storage and fitted over the air vent 11. The closure member 15 is light in weight, particularly as compared to sand bags, and can be secured in position by operation of the toggle clips 18. No tools are accordingly required for placing the closure member 15 in its"emergency"position preventing the entry of flood water into the property. After the risk of flooding has passed, the closure member 15 is removed and placed back in store. All that is then visible is the framework around the air vent 11 and the fixings 14, i. e. there is nothing unsightly which will adversely affect the appearance of the building.

In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 4, the upvc frame members 20 around the air vent 11 are of angle section and include a limb projecting outwardly of the wall 10. The upvc reinforcement members 21 attached to the flat plate or sheet of the closure member 15 are of channel-section and sealing gaskets 22 are contained within the channel sections.

When, therefore, there is a risk of flooding, the closure member 15 will be taken from store and placed in position such that the outwardly projecting limbs of the frame members 20 fit between the side walls of the channel-section reinforcement members 21.

When the toggle clips 18 are engaged with the fixings 14 are are operated, the closure member 15 will be urged towards the wall 10 and the outwardly projecting limbs of the frame members 20 will be urged into sealing engagement with the gaskets 22. A water-tight enclosure is thus defined over the air vent 11.

Although the invention has been described in detail above as applied to the entry of flood water into a property through an event, it will be appreciated that a similar arrangement can be used for preventing the entry of flood water into a property via a door opening. If suitable, the lower part of the original door frame will be used. If not, an auxiliary frame will be attached to the building structure adjacent the door opening. Fixings similar to the fixings 14 will be permanently attached to the building structure on either side of the door frame and a closure member carrying toggle clips will then be fixed releasably in position, for as long as the emergency conditions apply.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method of preventing flood damage to a property having one or more openings through which flood water could enter the property, the method comprising providing, at the or each opening, a frame permanently secured to the structure of the property in such manner as to prevent the passage of water between the frame and the structure of the property, providing a closure member for the or each opening, which closure member is so formed that it can have sealing engagement with the associated frame so as to prevent the passage of water between the closure member and the frame, and, in the event of a flood warning or emergency, securing the closure member releasably in sealing engagement with the frame.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the opening is an air vent and the frame extends completely around the air vent.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the frame comprises four extruded upvc members secured together to form a framework surrounding and standing proud of the air vent.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which the closure member comprises a sheet or plate of upvc, with a peripheral strengthening surround formed from upvc and carrying gaskets or seals on the side thereof intended to be placed in engagement with the frame.

5. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, in which the closure member carries releasable fasteners for engagement with cooperating formations on the frame or attached to the structure.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, in which the releasable fasteners are toggle clips.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the opening is a door opening and the frame is the existing door frame.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the opening is a door opening and the frame is an auxiliary frame secured to the outside of the door opening and extending across the bottom of the door opening and up the sides of the door opening.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which the closure member is in the form of a upvc sheet or plate with a peripheral surround formed from upvc.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, in which the closure member carries sealing means for engagement with the presented surfaces of the door frame or auxiliary frame.

11. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, in which toggle clips are mounted on the closure member.

12. A method of preventing flood damage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A closure member carrying sealing means, and releasable fasteners for securing the closure member to a frame when carrying out the method claimed in any one of the preceding claims.