Flood Surveys

At FPS Environmental your flood surveyor will always be suitably qualified and insured. The process consists of a consultation, site survey, detailed risk assessment, and follow on report.

• Consultation: During the consultation phase, our surveyors will take the time to listen to your first-hand experiences and concerns. We believe that understanding your unique perspective is crucial in assessing the flood risk accurately. By establishing an open line of communication, we can tailor our survey to address your specific considerations and ensure that our approach aligns with your needs.
• Site Survey: The site survey is the heart of our flood assessment process. Our experienced surveyors will conduct a thorough investigation of your property, spending the majority of their time assessing the external elements. Using state-of-the-art technology, such as Leica and Bosch laser measures, integrated with our iPad software, we gather precise measurements and create a detailed model of your property. This includes identifying drainage connectivity where accessible, existing flood mitigation measures, recording aperture dimensions, and mapping potential routes of ingress. By capturing both video and still images, we create a comprehensive plan & record for future reference. The surveyor may also require internal access to record the internal fixtures, such that a detailed review can be prepared with regards to potential flood impact and recoverability options.
• Risk Assessment: our Flood Risk Consultants will also conduct background studies into the risk level for the property. This may include reviewing historic mapping, existing mapping, Section 19 reports, and other available sources. The surveyor may also recommend that river model data is obtained, such that the risk for different return periods is known, allowing a more focused mitigation plan.
• Report & Recommendations: having reviewed and assessed the risk and property, the surveyor will collate a detailed report for your information, detailing the risk, and if necessary, potential risk reduction strategies (along with indicative costs where viable). If it transpires that the property sits above any potential flood level, this will be detailed. The report places you in an informed position to ensure any future mitigation measures proposed are suitable and effective. Video Case Study | What to Look Out For?

Whilst flood mapping provides a useful overview of risk, it should be noted that flood maps are undertaken on a national scale and may not represent the true risk at property level, for instance:

• Surface water flood maps are also unlikely to account for localised drainage connections.
• Flood maps detail the risk to the land, if the property is elevated, the risk may be lower.

As part of the property flood resilience survey, we also conduct a consultation to understand any historic flood occurrences and client concerns. Data on historical floods is highly useful to establish a picture of what contributes to flooding in a catchment or on the coast. Additional information can also be used to build a good understanding of the links between the sources and impacts of flooding.

Where a more detailed risk assessment is required, we obtain Environment Agency, SEPA, or Natural Resources Wales model data to compare with land levels, providing depth indications for different return periods.

At FPS Environmental Ltd, we work with clients both nationally and internationally to assess, reduce and manage flood risk.

We understand the impact flooding can have on homes and businesses and start our process with a consultation to understand the unique concerns of each client. We are passionate about flood defence and work closely with our clients to ensure the solution is not just appropriate for the property but also for the individual or business.

As many as 40% of businesses fail to re-open after a flood, so preparing for future events with a flood survey is highly recommended.

The two terms are often mixed up, and it’s easy to see why, but they mean different things.

Flood Survey

A Flood Survey covers stages 1 and 2 of CIRIA C790, and the confusion arises because the stages are described as a “Risk Assessment, and Survey”. In other words, it involves assessing the risk that may impact the property, alongside a site visit to better understand the building, its construction, drainage arrangements and any concerns the client may have.

The survey is intended to understand how water impacts an existing building, or could impact an existing building, and to start the process of identifying whether there are any practical options available to help mitigate that risk.

Flood Risk Assessment

A Flood Risk Assessment, on the other hand, usually refers to the report prepared for planning applications. It is a supporting document used as part of the planning process and is often accompanied by a Surface Water Drainage Strategy.

The objective is straightforward, but the report must be detailed. It includes a thorough assessment of all potential flood risks affecting the site, and a review of the catchment. The aim of the assessment is to support safe development, and to ensure the proposed development is not exposed to unacceptable flood risk. Alongside this, it should consider the development itself, to make sure it does not increase or impact flood risk elsewhere. The assessment would usually include climate change allowances and other planning requirements to demonstrate that the development complies with planning policy.

At FPS Environmental we undertake both Flood Surveys and Flood Risk Assessments. We complete works from Cumbria to Cornwall and across the country, including Nottingham and London where we have bases. In some instances, the information gathered during a flood survey for a property that has flooded has later been used to inform a Flood Risk Assessment where the site is being redeveloped or extended.

If your requirement is for a Flood Risk Assessment to support a planning application rather than a property flood survey, further information can be found below.

A flood risk survey is arguably the most important aspect of any flood mitigation scheme. Whether the site is commercial or residential, the first stages of development must include assessing and understanding the flood risk.

Where appropriate we will obtain further modelling data to better understand flood risk affecting the site. This can include Environment Agency Product 4 data, which is explained further in our article: Understanding Product 4 data: what it is and why it matters.

Flood surveys should consider the flood risk, construction & drainage, along with client goals, desires and budget. These factors will help formulate any output options which may include reference to improving site drainage, landscaping or property flood resilience. Any mitigation measures recommended must be suitable and effective.

Our qualified Flood Risk Consultants also conduct industry leading and compliant Flood Risk Assessments to support planning applications.

At FPS Environmental we utilise the Source-Pathway-Receptor model to ensure our flood surveys are not just comprehensive but easy to follow.

• Sources are the weather events or conditions that result in flooding (e.g., heavy rainfall, rising sea level, waves, river flows etc).
• Pathways are routes between the source of flood waters and the receptor. These include surface and subsurface flow across the landscape and drainage systems.
• Receptors are the people, industries and built and natural environments that can be impacted by flooding.

We operate inline with the CIRIA C790 Code of Practice, ensuring the delivery of high standards.

In many situations, a Flood Survey provides a clear understanding of how flood risk affects a property and what mitigation measures may be appropriate. A flood survey is primarily focused on the property itself and on Property Flood Resilience (PFR).

However, in certain instances, a broader understanding of the land, the catchment, and the influencing factors is required, particularly on larger sites with extensive land and outbuildings, complex layouts, or large commercial sites.

This is also the case where more complex flood mechanisms cannot be fully explained or mitigated through a property survey alone. This may occur where drainage systems are insufficient or exacerbating risk, or, where flooding may impact multiple properties, or where wider catchment behaviour influences the site.

In these situations a more detailed engineering study may be required to understand the interaction between the property, drainage infrastructure and surrounding land.

This can allow exploration of how to manage risk through measures beyond Property Flood Resilience, and consider the full jigsaw of flood risk management measures. For instance, a Civil Engineering Flood Review – Commercial Site, Leicestershire led to a land redesign and the introduction of a SuDS scheme.

FPS Environmental undertakes these studies through a Flood Investigation & Management Strategy. This is a high-input engineering-led study and review of a site.

Options Development and Design

A Flood Survey identifies the flood risk to and how this interacts with a property, along with the constraints affecting the site. It also shows what practical measures could be viable to help manage the risk through Flood Resistance measures and Flood Recoverability. This is the first step in understanding the property and its context.

Where mitigation is required, the next stage is Options Development & Design.

This involves developing the survey findings into deliverable engineering solutions.

The level of detail we need to go into depends on the property and how complicated the flood risk is. In many cases, the work involves looking at site drainage, identifying where upgrades may be needed, considering sustainable drainage options, or introducing physical measures such as barriers, pumps, or changes to landscaping.

On more complex sites (particularly where something like a flood wall is being considered) we usually need to carry out additional investigation and design work to make sure any proposed measure will perform as intended and won’t create new problems. This can include CCTV Drainage Surveys of the drainage network to understand the pipe locations and to assess whether water could bypass the defences. From there, we can identify and install suitable forms of backflow protection in the right locations.

It may also require structural designs, foundation calculations, or obtaining an Environmental Permit.

Options Development and Design is Stage 3 of the CIRIA C790 Code of Practice, therefore following on directly from a Flood Survey. The process helps ensures the proposals are technically sound, proportionate to the risk, and capable of being implemented on site.

At FPS Environmental we undertake Flood Surveys for a wide range of clients across the UK, from homeowners through to insurers and local authorities.

Homeowners

For homeowners, surveys often follow a flood event or are undertaken to better understand the risk affecting a property and identify practical mitigation options. Historically these surveys were often funded through DEFRA Property Flood Resilience grants, although they are now more commonly commissioned privately due to changes in PFR funding.

Retail and Commercial

For commercial property owners, surveys help businesses understand operational risks, protect assets, and reduce disruption from flooding.

Insurance

We also regularly work with insurers and loss adjusters, particularly where a property has flooded and technical input is needed to understand the flood mechanism and identify suitable resilience measures.

Flood Surveys can also support the UK Government and Flood Re’s Build Back Better initiative, which we were proud to support launch to Parliament. The scheme is intended to help introduce flood resilience measures as part of the repair works following an insurance claim, reducing the damage caused by future floods.

With Flood Re currently due to end in 2039, when the market is expected to transition back to a free market for flood insurance, initiatives such as Build Back Better form an important part of that transition.

Local Authorities and Government

FPS Environmental is also trusted by local authorities and public bodies to undertake property-level flood investigations and resilience surveys. Our team has supported numerous councils, delivering large-scale schemes such as Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Surveys and Post Installation Flood Risk Reports (PIFFRs) for Gloucestershire County Council, or Flood Surveying for Hillingdon Council.

Our work for local authorities also extends to projects such as Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRA) and Section 19 Flood Investigation Reports. An SFRA is one of the few opportunities a Local Authority has to avoid creating future flood risk, rather than managing it after the event.

This breadth of experience means our surveys are informed not only by practical site investigation, but also by a wider understanding of how flood risk is managed across the UK.