CARO FLOOD DEFENCE BARRIER
A demountable flood defence barrier is a temporary, reusable flood protection system that is installed before a flood event to prevent water ingress and removed afterwards for storage. Caro Flood Defence demountable barriers are manufactured in-house at our production facility in Kent. Caro Flood Defence is the first and only UK company to hold third-party approval to BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021, the British Standard for demountable flood barriers.
UK Made. Independently Approved. Proven in the Field.
Caro Flood Defence has been designing and manufacturing flood protection systems in the UK since 2001. Every barrier system leaves our Kent production facility made to order, quality assured to ISO 9001:2015, and built to a standard that no other UK manufacturer has achieved.
We are the first and only UK company to receive third-party approval to BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021 for demountable flood defence barriers. Our WaterDoor and WaterWall configurations are also approved for use on the Environment Agency's Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Framework, making them a trusted specification for residential, commercial and public-sector projects across the UK.
Why Choose Caro Flood Defence?
First and only UK-approved to BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021. Our WaterDoor and WaterWall configurations are independently tested and KIWA certified (Certificate KA-25-1001) to the British Standard for demountable barriers.
Environment Agency PFR Framework approved. WaterDoor and WaterWall configurations are approved for use on the Environment Agency's Property Flood Resilience Framework.
In-house UK manufacturing. Every component is manufactured at our Kent facility. Aluminium extrusions, stainless steel fixings and all system parts are produced and quality-checked under one roof.
Made to order with bespoke sizing. Every Caro Flood Defence system is made to the dimensions of your specific opening.
Barrier heights from 200mm to 1200mm as standard. Additional heights and configurations are available on request.
Three configurations to suit every application. WaterDoor, WaterWall and WaterTight provide solutions for residential, commercial and industrial requirements.
Quality assured to ISO 9001:2015. Every barrier is manufactured under our certified quality management system.
Net Zero Carbon manufacturing. Our production facility operates to Net Zero Carbon standards, recognised with the Future Net Zero Platinum accreditation.
Caro Flood Defence continues to develop its range of flood resilience products, currently covering WaterDoor, WaterWall, WaterTight and the newly launched Caro VentDry™, providing protection across the most common points of flood entry.
FLOOD DEFENCE BARRIER CONFIGURATIONS
For doorways and individual openings up to 1500mm wide. Suitable for residential, public sector and light commercial applications. Deployed by one adult.
For wide openings and unlimited perimeter protection using demountable posts at 1500mm intervals. Residential, commercial, industrial and public sector applications.
Technical Specification
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Quality standard | ISO 9001:2015 |
| Materials | Aluminium extrusions with stainless steel fixings |
| Panel heights | Individual panels are 200mm or 300mm high, stacked to achieve barrier heights from 200mm to 1200mm as standard. Additional heights and configurations available on request. |
| Leakage performance |
British Standard states it should not be greater than 500ml/h/m (WaterDoor and WaterWall configurations, in accordance with BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021). Caro Flood Defence Barrier official test results (2025) achieved: |
| Suitable for | Residential and commercial properties including homes, schools, hospitals and public buildings |
| Flood types covered | Surface water, river (fluvial), tidal, runoff and sewer flooding |
| Fixing surfaces | Brickwork, render, hardwood, concrete, stone and steel structures |
| Design life | Up to 10 years with correct maintenance |
| Manufacturing | In-house, Kent, UK |
| Carbon credentials | Net Zero Carbon (Future Net Zero Platinum accreditation) |
Configuration Details
| Feature | WaterDoor | WaterWall | WaterTight |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Standard approval | BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021 (KIWA Certificate KA-25-1001) | BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021 (KIWA Certificate KA-25-1001) | Independently tested |
| EA PFR Framework | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Max aperture width | Up to 1500mm | Unlimited (posts at 1500mm intervals) | Up to 5m |
| Panel profile depth | 20mm | 20mm | 50mm (compression-sealed box section) |
| Deployment personnel | 1 adult | 1 or 2 adults depending on width | 2 adults |
| Primary application | Residential, public sector and light commercial | Residential, commercial, industrial and public sector | Commercial and industrial, some residential applications; wide apertures where posts are not suitable |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a demountable flood defence barrier?
A demountable flood defence barrier is a temporary, reusable flood protection system that is installed before a flood event to prevent water entering a property or site and removed afterwards for storage. Unlike permanent flood defences built into a structure, demountable barriers are stored and deployed when a flood warning is issued. Caro Flood Defence barriers are made to order to fit the exact dimensions of the aperture being protected.
What is BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021 and why does it matter?
BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021 is the British Standard for demountable flood barriers. It sets out mandatory laboratory test requirements covering leakage, wave impact, dynamic impact and current resistance that a barrier must pass to receive approval. In 2025 Caro Flood Defence was the first and only UK company to receive third-party approval to this standard for demountable barriers, independently certified by KIWA (Certificate KA-25-1001). This approval applies to WaterDoor and WaterWall configurations.
Is Caro Flood Defence Barrier approved by the Environment Agency?
Yes. Caro Flood Defence WaterDoor and WaterWall configurations are approved for use on the Environment Agency's Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Framework. Caro Flood Defence is currently the only UK manufacturer of demountable barriers approved under both BS 851188-1:2019+A1:2021 and the EA PFR Framework.
What barrier heights are available?
Individual panels for WaterTight are 200mm, whereas WaterDoor and WaterWall panels are available in 200mm or 300mm high options. Panels are stacked to achieve the required barrier height. Standard barrier heights run from 200mm to 1200mm across all three configurations. Additional heights are available on request. The appropriate height is determined by a flood risk assessment for the specific property or site.
Can Caro flood barriers be made to a bespoke size?
Yes. Every Caro Flood Defence system is made to order to the exact dimensions of the aperture being protected. Bespoke sizing means the barrier fits the opening precisely, maximising performance and minimising the risk of leakage at the edges. To receive a quote, contact info@caro.co.uk or call +44 (0)1763 244446.
What types of flooding can Caro barriers protect against?
Caro Flood Defence barriers are suitable for protection against surface water (pluvial) flooding, river (fluvial) flooding, tidal flooding, runoff flooding and sewer flooding. They are designed for use in polluted floodwater conditions typical of real flood events.
How quickly can Caro flood barriers be deployed?
Caro Flood Defence Barrier WaterDoor and WaterWall can be deployed in minutes by one adult using a single T-Bar Allen key supplied with the system. Caro Flood Defence Barrier WaterTight barriers require two adults and can also be deployed in minutes. Deployment is carried out by the property owner or occupant in response to a flood warning.
What is the difference between WaterDoor, WaterWall and WaterTight?
WaterDoor is designed for individual doorways and openings up to 1500mm wide. WaterWall uses demountable posts at 1500mm intervals to protect wide openings and unlimited perimeter lengths. WaterTight is designed for wide apertures up to 5m where demountable posts are not suitable; it uses a compression-sealed panel system particularly suited to commercial and industrial applications. All three configurations are made to order.
RECENT FLOOD DEFENCE PROJECTS
✔ In-house UK-based manufacturing ensures supplies are always available for immediate dispatch at hard-to-beat prices.
✔ Full design and fabrication capabilities provide an immediate solution to all detailed requirements.
✔ Next day dispatch available from our in-house manufacturing facility.