29th Jan: PLP testing

Members of our revived St Denys Flood Action Group have been testing the Property level Protection measures installed around 10 years ago under the Belsize Project and finding problems with protection of the houses tested. This follows the record high tide of April 2024. Initially I was complacent because I thought the defences for my house, installed under the CCATCH project as a PLP demonstration had been reasonably well done.  However as more faults came to light I thought it would make sense to get my PLP tested.  At the same time I arranged for testing the adjoining house no. 82.

I had previously done a thorough check in 2016 but since I found that the self-closing airbricks seemed well protected, since then I’ve only checked that the sump pump was still working and fitted the door barriers on when storm surges were forecast, more to make sure that they still looked OK rather than because my house was at risk.

Nigel and myself tested all the airbricks for both houses using the “vegetable rack” coffer dam which Nigel has devised.  My sump pump worked OK but the one for 82 needed the RCD on the consumer unit switching on, it must have previously been triggered.  It then worked OK.

Mark redid the low level pointing for both houses where it needed fixing.  This included a hole which would have allowed water to get behind the door barrier of no. 82.  The flap valve on the outlet from my toilet was sticking but worked OK once the grit had been washed off it.

The front door barriers for both houses kept the water out when tested with a water jet from my hose.  However my back door barrier leaked at the mortar joints between the bricks and needs remedial work.