Flood Protection Products from Flooding Solutions

Why Design is the most important step in effective Flood Protection?

When people hear the word design we're often confined to thinking along the lines of the visual aesthetics of a product or development, disregarding its more important purpose, which is to develop functionality based on a requirement or a need. The concept of "Function Follows Form" has been a topic of debate amongst designers, but a more practical thinking could be that the function of a product should not interfere with its form and vice versa. Form and function should go hand in hand.

Bridges were made for ease of passage over rivers and rough terrain. The telephone was designed for communication across distances. Dikes, flood walls, flood barriers and other flood protection devices were all designed to protect buildings from different levels of flood damage. This is why design is the most important step in effective flood protection. What flood protection product should designers and builders use for their projects? How will architects design around the requirements of Development Authorities?

Bad Flood Protection Design costs time, money, property and lives

Prolonged planning because of a design's failure to meet DA requirements is a waste of time. The costs of architects and designers due to revisions, is an added expense to the projects' owners and investors.

Development Authorities require flood proofing of gates, doors, parking lots, basements and other entry ways for a reason. Flood proofing buildings and other establishments mean lessening property damage and costs incurred after a flooding.

Designing for Flood protection is as important as child proofing, fire proofing and designing for disability support. When a flash flood hits, how will the building protect its inhabitants and other people nearby?

How do we recognize a good Flood Protection Design?

Industrial Designer Dieter Rams listed several characteristics of good design that hold true in the context of designing for flood protection.

a. Innovative and Useful
If we compare sandbags that need to be piled on top of each other versus a self-closing flood barrier that could close with a push of a button or through a mobile device, the choice is a no-brainer. Flood protection needs to be responsive and should take less effort from people who should be more worried about keeping themselves safe instead of assembling at the last minute. Flooding Solutions Advisory Group aims to help designers and builders to lessen unnecessary installation time before and during flooding by specifying the latest flood protection technologies as required by development authorities and councils.

b. Long Lasting and environmentally friendly
If you live in a flood prone area, chances are you would need reusable flood protection that is made out of sturdy, resilient and less corrosive material. Flooding Solutions supports the use of Australian Steel for flood barriers and other flood protection products. Steel is known for having a long lifespan which makes it a less wasteful and sustainable material.

c. Unobtrusive and detail focused
The secret to a well-designed flood protection is precision - accurate measurement and installation. It should be able to fit the area in a way that it will be able to withstand strong water pressure. In cases where there is no flooding, the product should be hidden from view and should not get in the way of normal, everyday routines.

Flooding Solutions Advisory Group consults with architects, builders and designers during the initial stages of planning to help them achieve optimum flooding protection measures based on the building's location, flooding history, and requirements specified by councils and development authorities. Contact Flooding Solutions group today. Please visit www.floodingsolutions.com.au for more details.