Countryfile presenter John Craven explores HR Wallingford's flood protection products test facility

HR Wallingford is approved by the British Standards Institution (BSI) as the national laboratory for certification of flood protection products under their Kitemark scheme. The test centre, run with support from the Envrionment Agency, can also be used to develop and refine product designs.

HR Wallingford (supported by the Environment Agency) set up test facilities for various flood protection products in accordance with BSI's PAS 1188. Testing is available for all parts of the PAS1188 (2009), including:

  • property protection products
  • temporary defences
  • demountable defences
  • property skirt systems

In order to assess the effectiveness of these products during a flood, our facilities are used to independently test products in simulated flood conditions. As well as standing water, a product’s performance can be investigated under wave and current loads.