Flood barrier and method of flood protection

Abstract

This invention relates to a flood barrier and method of flood protection. According to the invention there is provided a flood barrier comprising a plurality of pillars adapted to be secured adjacent to a doorway of a building. Each pillar has a first sealing member for its bottom surface, and a second sealing member for its longitudinal surface. The pillars can be separable, or they can be interconnected to form a unitary structure by a flexible and resilient securing beam.

1 . A flood barrier comprising a plurality of pillars adapted to be secured adjacent to a doorway of a building, each pillar having a first sealing member for its bottom surface, and a second sealing member for its longitudinal surface. 
     
     
         2 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which the second sealing member of one pillar engages an adjacent pillar in the assembled flood barrier. 
     
     
         3 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which the pillars are separable and are secured together in use by at least one releasable securing strap. 
     
     
         4 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which the pillars are substantially permanently interconnected together and comprise a unitary structure. 
     
     
         5 . A flood barrier according to  claim 4  in which the pillars are interconnected by at least one securing beam. 
     
     
         6 . A flood barrier according to  claim 5  in which the securing beam(s) also provide reinforcement for the pillars. 
     
     
         7 . A flood barrier according to  claim 5  in which the at least one securing beam passes through each of the pillars. 
     
     
         8 . A flood barrier according to  claim 7  in which the at least one securing beam spans all of the pillars except the pillars at the ends of the flood barrier. 
     
     
         9 . A flood harder according to  claim 8  in which one or both of the pillars at the ends of the flood barrier have a tensile member which is connected to the end of the securing beam. 
     
     
         10 . A flood barrier according to  claim 9  in which the tensile member is under tension and compresses the second sealing members. 
     
     
         11 . A flood barrier according to  claim 4  in which the securing beam is flexible and resilient. 
     
     
         12 . A flood barrier according to  claim 4  having a removable positioning beam which is engageable with at least two of the pillars. 
     
     
         13 . A flood barrier according to  claim 12  in which the removable positioning beam is engageable with all of the pillars of the flood barrier. 
     
     
         14 . A flood barrier according to  claim 12  having two removable positioning beams, one of the removable positions beams engaging the top surfaces of the pillars and the other of the removable positioning beams engaging the bottom surfaces of the pillars. 
     
     
         15 . A flood barrier according to  claim 12  in which the positioning beam is substantially linear and is adapted to increase the length of the flood barrier. 
     
     
         16 . A flood barrier according to  claim 4  in which a continuous first sealing member is provided for a number of pillars. 
     
     
         17 . A flood barrier according to  claim 16  in which the continuous first sealing member is fitted to the bottom of said number of pillars. 
     
     
         18 . A flood barrier according to  claim 14  in which a continuous first sealing member is fitted to the other of the removable positioning beams. 
     
     
         19 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which the pillars at the ends of the flood barrier are adapted for securement to a wall of the building. 
     
     
         20 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which the pillars are at least partly hollow and have an opening to permit the ingress of water. 
     
     
         21 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which the second sealing member is adhered to the pillar. 
     
     
         22 . A flood barrier according to  claim 1  in which there are two separate second sealing members for each pillar. 
     
     
         23 . A method of flood protection comprising the steps of:
 {a} providing a flood barrier comprising a plurality of pillars, each pillar having a first sealing member for its bottom surface, and a second sealing member for its longitudinal surface;   {b} locating the pillars adjacent to a doorway of a building, with the pillars being aligned substantially vertically, with the first sealing members engaging the ground, and with a second sealing member lying between each pair of adjacent pillars;   {c} securing the pillars to the building.