Edenside Barn - Cumbria's flood resilience demonstration project

20 July 2018

Overview

The Project

Edenside Barn is a real-life demonstration property in the Cumbria Flood Resilient Showcase. The idea behind the Flood Resilient Showcase Project was to use products and materials that will try to keep water out of properties prone to flooding.

In a flooding event that is less severe, those products (all of which have been tested to a high specification) are expected to reduce water ingress. It is acknowledged that when flooding is severe, these products may well be overtopped. The showcase highlights what can be done to manage the residual risk.

The Flood Resilient Showcase Project sought to adapt properties by using differing interventions to reduce the amount of damage that flood water can cause when it enters a property. This approach will enable the property owners to get back in sooner. At the core of the Flood Resilient Showcase Project is the real-life demonstration of flood installation measures at three properties in Cumbria led by Mary Dhonau, Chief Executive of the Know Your Flood Risk Campaign.

Edenside Barn is a private dwelling/barn conversion, located on idyllic farmland close to the banks of the river Eden, in the picturesque Eden Valley, Cumbria. The River Eden flows through the Eden District of Cumbria, on its way to the Solway Firth.

The North Pennines is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At almost 770 square miles (2,000 km2) it is the second largest of the 49 AONBs in the United Kingdom. Edenside Barn has periodically suffered with flooding when the river Eden has bursts its banks. Following the devastation of storm Desmond in 2015/2016. Edenside Barn was flooded, leaving it uninhabitable and the owners having to seek alternative accommodation.

Mary Dhonau and Adler and Allen, in conjunction with Aquobex, were project managers in this resilience showcase project. Aquobex Flood Management Solutions were appointed as consultants on the flood resilient design and to advise on the inclusion of their products in the design. Following successful collaboration with Mary Dhonau on flood resilience projects and Aquobex, Delta Membrane Systems Limited were asked to design a robust, resilient and recoverable solution incorporating their products on this project.

Methodology

This project required a resilient and recoverable solution. We expect this property to experience future flooding events. Delta’s design allowed for water exclusion and water entry. Our design incorporates guidance given in BS 85500:2015 Flood Resilience in Buildings which plans for both water exclusion and water entry. Delta Registered Installer’s Peter Cox Limited, volunteered their time to install Delta products on this project. Delta’s design sought to provide continuity of the internal system to the external flood barriers to create a water tight seal to the property.

Prior to application at Edenside Barn, Delta’s water-based Epoxy was tested at Aquobex’s testing facilities. Aquobex operates a premier test facility dedicated to PAS1188-1 and FM2510 (testing of flood protection products). It is equipped to produce the necessary conditions for static water testing, current testing and with wave-makers suitable to deliver the JONSWAP wave formations specified in the standard. Aquobex’s testing facilities are utilised by BSI and the BRE for flood product testing.

The structure itself consisted of solid stone walls and concrete floor slab. The Base substrate to this property was a good quality concrete floor with minimal risk of flood ingress. The block walls and floor slab were tested for any potential leak paths. The interfaces between the wall and floor needed to offer a watertight seal to stop ingress between the slab and the wall.

The internal faces of the stone walls were coated using Polyeurea, with 2 coats of Delta’s water-based Epoxy. Delta’s water-based Epoxy worked in conjunction with the ployeurea to provide both a barrier to water entry and a none absorbent finish. Koster Polysil TG 500 was applied throughout as a salt inhibitor and surface hardening treatment.

Summary

Through joined up thinking and the use of combined systems this property can be insured and is now recoverable to both flood water exclusion and water entry.

Products

• Koster KB Flex
• Koster Repair Mortar Plus
• Koster FSH Joint sealant
• Delta Epoxy
• Koster Polysil TG 500

See Delta Membrane Systems Company Profile