Flood doors and barriers: what to check (UK)
Look for a BSI Kitemark to BS 851188. Get a survey before you buy. And check whether your insurer offers Build Back Better.
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Kinds of product
| Type | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Flood door | Replaces a door and seals when closed | No reliable UK installed price found; get a survey |
| Door or window barrier | A board you fit across the opening when a warning is issued | No reliable price found |
| Self-closing air brick | Closes air bricks when water rises | No reliable price found |
| Non-return valve | Stops floodwater backing up through drains | No reliable price found |
What to check
- Kitemark. BS 851188 replaced PAS 1188 in October 2019 as the standard behind the BSI Kitemark for flood products. Kitemarked products are independently tested. Ask for the certificate.
- A survey first. The National Flood Forum can advise on property protection and likely costs. Blue Pages lists flood protection products and services.
- Insurance. Flood Re's Build Back Better lets insurers that offer it pay up to £10,000 extra for flood resilience work after a flood claim. Ask your insurer whether your policy includes it.
- Permission. Work that affects how a river flows may need permission first (GOV.UK).
Who it's for
Worth a survey: homes that have flooded before, or are at high risk on the long-term flood risk map.
Start smaller: if your risk is low: sign up for flood warnings and keep a grab bag. See shop for a flood.
How we judged
We compared types of protection, not brands. We found no reliable installed prices, so we don't show any.
No star ratings: we haven't collected reviews, and we don't show anyone else's. No product can promise to keep you safe.
Next
Sources
- GOV.UK: protect your property from flooding (page, read 1 Nov 2026)
- BSI: introducing BS 851188 (search summary, read 1 Nov 2026)
- Flood Re: Build Back Better FAQs (search summary, read 1 Nov 2026)
- National Flood Forum (home page, read 1 Nov 2026)
- Blue Pages (home page, read 1 Nov 2026)
How we review: we read each source on the date shown, say what we did not check, and never show made-up ratings. Found a mistake? We fix it and log it in our corrections log.