Water guide

Flood Planning For Businesses

Rain in Britain is becoming more unpredictable due to climate change, which is increasing the frequency of flooding.

According to the leading flood insurance provider Aviva, nearly one in three commercial properties in the UK is at risk of flooding.

This guide aims to help businesses mitigate the effects of flooding by covering:

Flood risk – Assess how exposed your business is to flooding.
Flood resistance – Learn how to prevent flood water from entering your property.
Flood resilience – Discover ways to reduce the damage caused by flood water.
Flood plan – Create a plan for if your business gets flooded.

How to check flood risk for my business?

Understanding how exposed your property is to flooding is crucial for planning for flood risk. Flood risks can arise from:

Proximity to British rivers
Proximity to reservoirs
Low-lying areas on the coast
Surface water drainage becoming overwhelmed in your town.

The devolved British governments maintain detailed flood risk checkers that estimate the likelihood of your property flooding based on your address:

England – gov.uk
Wales – Natural resources Wales
Scotland – Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Flood risk can be mitigated with resistance or resilience measures covered in this guide, as well as by obtaining a commercial flood insurance policy.

What is flood resistance?

Flood resistance measures are designed to prevent flood water from entering your commercial property.

Here is a list of the most common flood resistance solutions for commercial properties in the UK:

Flood Barriers and Floodgates: Temporary or permanent barriers deployed around the property to prevent water from entering. These include retractable floodgates that can be pulled into place when flooding is imminent.
Air Brick Covers: Covers that can be placed over ventilation bricks to prevent water ingress.
Non-return Valves: Installed in drainage systems, these valves allow water and sewage to flow in one direction only, preventing backflow into the property during flooding.
Waterproof Sealants: Applying waterproof sealants around doors and windows to prevent water ingress.
Flood Doors: Exterior doors designed to provide enhanced resistance to water penetration.
Flood Walls and Levees: Constructing walls or levees around the property can provide a strong defence against rising floodwaters.
Sandbag Storage: Maintaining a designated storage area for sandbags, which can be quickly deployed to block doorways and other openings.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems: While primarily for water conservation, these systems can also help manage surface runoff during heavy rainfall, reducing flood risk.

Protecting every potential water entry point is crucial for effective flood resistance. Neglecting even a single entry point can render your flood resistance measures ineffective, as water will find a way through.

If your business implements flood resistance measures, ensure that these do not exceed one metre in height. This height is considered the maximum safe limit to prevent water from entering without risking structural damage to your building.

What is flood resilience?

Flood resilience is an approach designed to reduce the damage caused by floods once water has entered your property. Effective flood resilience allows for quick water drainage and facilitates easy cleaning, drying, and restoration of the property to normal conditions.

Here is a list of the most common flood resilience solutions for commercial properties in Britain:

Water-Resistant Flooring: Utilising materials such as ceramic tile, concrete, or treated wood, which can withstand submersion and are easier to clean and dry.
Elevated Equipment: Mounting critical systems like gas boilers, electrical panels, servers, and heat pumps above expected flood levels to prevent water damage.
Sump Pumps: Employed to remove water that has accumulated in basements or lower floors of a building.
Raised Electrical Sockets: Elevating electrical installations and sockets to at least 1.5 metres above floor level to prevent water damage during floods.
Foundation Vents: Installing vents that allow water to flow through the foundation, mitigating hydrostatic pressure build-up and structural damage.
Backup Power Solutions: Ensuring the availability of a generator or solar batteries to maintain essential functions such as pumping and lighting during and after a flood.

Creating a flood plan for your business

Creating a flood plan for your business is essential for minimising the impact of a flood and ensuring the safety of your employees. In this section, we’ll cover the key aspects of a commercial flood plan.

Sign up for flood alerts.

Ensure you are signed up for the government’s flood warning updates. You can register for these services here:

England flood warnings – gov.uk
Wales flood warnings – Natural Resources Wales
Scotland flood warnings – Scottish Environment Protection Agency

The flood warning services provide alerts, warnings, and severe flood warnings. Your flood plan should specify actions for each level of alert. Here’s what we recommend:

Flood alert

When the alert initially comes through, closely monitor the weather forecast. Ensure you can access your flood plan and flood resistance products.

Make sure that staff on site are aware of the flood alert and understand the steps to take if the warning escalates.

Flood Warning

All equipment must be moved to safety at this stage, and any available flood-resistance tools should be deployed. This includes relocating all vehicles off the premises to a designated safe location.

If possible, begin evacuating staff not essential to the flood plan team, as this will help reduce the number of people on-site should the risk escalate to “severe”.

Severe flood warning

Upon receiving a severe flood warning, evacuate everyone from the premises immediately. Additionally, ensure that all gas, electricity, and water supplies are switched off to prevent further hazards.

Develop a list of important contacts

Compiling all critical contacts into one document is essential to your flood plan. It’s crucial to have these contacts readily available in case of a flood to ensure swift and effective communication.

The details to include are:

Your insurance company – for immediate claims processing and guidance.
Staff personal details – for contacting employees during or after the incident.
Landlord (if applicable) – to coordinate property-related responses and repairs.
Local environment agency flood line and incident hotline – for real-time updates and emergency support.

Important documents, vehicles and equipment

Identifying and securing all vital documents, equipment, and vehicles is crucial as part of your flood preparedness plan. These critical components must be located and stored in a safe and secure area to minimise damage.

Ensure equipment essential for business continuity, such as fridges in a restaurant, is stored in safe areas to keep damage to a minimum.

Vehicles are valuable not only for their worth but also as essential means of escape or transportation. They must be kept safe from floodwaters, accessible, and connected to a safe escape route.

You should consider the following essential documents, equipment and vehicles:

Vehicles: Cars, electric vehicles (EVs), trucks, SUVs, and even boats. Vehicles with higher ground clearance should be prioritised as they can navigate deeper waters. For properties at high risk, boats equipped with oars and life jackets may be necessary for severe situations.
Electronic files/Data: Regularly back up all critical documents and data to an online cloud storage system. The importance of this cannot be overstated, as losing crucial data like contracts, mortgages, and deeds during a flood can be catastrophic.
Equipment: Keep emergency kits, waterproof containers, flashlights, portable radios, drinking water, sanitation supplies, mobile phones, chargers, and life jackets accessible and safe from floodwaters.
Note: Hazardous materials (e.g., from a chemical lab or industrial repository) should be moved to higher ground or protected from floodwaters.

Flood protection

Ensure your flood plan includes the following actions that protect your premises from floodwater entering the property:

Flood Doors: Ensure all door seals are in perfect condition, and all locking mechanisms function smoothly. Schedule maintenance for any faulty flood doors promptly, as a malfunctioning door can undermine the entire flood resistance plan.
Flood Barriers: Inspect the seals for any signs of wear or damage, both within the channels and on the boards themselves. If damaged, arrange for them to be repaired and properly sealed to ensure effectiveness.
Sump & Pump Systems: Verify that the power source to the pump is operational. Ensure the pump is level and upright within the sump. Test this by filling the sump with water to see if it floats and activates the pump. Additionally, check that the discharge pipe is clear of any obstructions.
Non-Return Valves: Check all Non-Return valves for adequacy and signs of wear and tear. Also, inspect any flap gates on the premises to ensure they function correctly.
Water Entry Points: Examine your property for any gaps or vents in the brickwork that might allow water ingress. Double-check that all pipework and cables entering the building are sufficiently sealed and protected.

Learn More About Flooding in the UK

Expand your understanding of flooding in the UK with guides produced by our business water experts:

Dumping Sewage into Rivers: During floods, water companies are permitted to dump untreated sewage into rivers to protect local properties. This measure, while controversial, is sometimes necessary to prevent sewage backflow into homes and businesses.
Fertiliser Pollution in Rivers: Heavy rainfall in Britain can lead to increased runoff from agricultural fields, causing fertiliser to pollute rivers. This runoff includes high levels of nutrients, which can adversely affect water quality and aquatic life.
Business Water Suppliers: Find a business water supplier capable of supporting your business during flooding, water supply interruptions and becoming more water-efficient. Choosing the right supplier can be crucial for business continuity during environmental challenges.