Duct Tape Outperforms Sandbags in Flood Protection, University of Hull and Flood Re Research Finds

New research from the University of Hull and Flood Re reveals that common household tapes are significantly more effective at preventing flood damage than traditional sandbags. For insurers and MGAs, these findings offer a low-cost path to reducing claims severity in surface water flooding events, which currently threaten 4.6 million people across the UK.

What was announced

The University of Hull’s Property Flood Resilience lab (PFRlab) conducted tests comparing various low-cost temporary measures designed to stop floodwater from entering residential properties. Commissioned by Flood Re, the study found that flexible synthetic rubber tape is highly effective, reducing water leakage by 99% compared to an unprotected door. Common duct tape also showed strong performance, reducing leakage by 97-98%, offering a balance of affordability and ease of use.

The research tested these measures at flood depths of up to 600mm, specifically replicating the low-level surface water flooding that damaged over 8,600 homes and 1,300 businesses in Hull in 2007. The results showed that even the lowest-performing tape reduced leakage by 80%, significantly outperforming traditional sandbags, which only managed a 70% reduction. The study noted that while synthetic sandless sandbags perform well, they are expensive and difficult to dispose of.

Beyond performance, the study highlighted the practical advantages of tape over sandbags. Sandbags are heavy, prone to rotting, and can become contaminated by floodwater, making disposal a biohazard concern. In contrast, tapes—including aluminium and yellow plastic varieties—are affordable, easily stored, and readily disposable. These findings are intended to inform the development of Flood Performance Certificates, helping homeowners and the insurance industry better understand property-level resilience and the specific measures that can reduce risk.

"Sandbags remain a symbol of flood protection, but these tests turn that assumption on its head. What we have found is that some relatively simple and affordable products can do a much better job of keeping water out."

Jonathan Kassian, Head of Flood Resilience at Flood Re

The companies involved

Flood Re is a joint initiative between the UK government and the insurance industry, designed to make the flood cover part of household insurance policies more affordable. It operates by allowing insurers to pass the flood risk element of a policy to the scheme for a fixed premium, which is funded by a statutory levy on all UK household insurers. This mechanism ensures that high-risk households can access affordable premiums while maintaining a competitive market for carriers. The organization focuses on both financial risk transfer and long-term climate resilience.

The University of Hull provides the technical backbone for this research through its state-of-the-art Property Flood Resilience lab (PFRlab). The university has a long-standing history of water science and flood research, particularly following the 2007 floods that severely impacted the local region. By collaborating with Flood Re, the university aims to translate academic findings into practical guidance for the public and the insurance sector. This partnership focuses on challenging established assumptions about flood protection to deliver immediate benefits to householders and property owners facing increasing climate risks.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously tracked Flood Re’s efforts to increase public awareness regarding flood risks and property resilience. In August 2026, the publication reported on how Flood Re Launches 3D Anamorphic DOOH Campaign to Drive Climate Resilience Awareness, which utilized high-impact digital out-of-home advertising to educate the public on climate-related threats. This latest research into property-level resilience measures represents a continuation of Flood Re's strategy to move beyond financial risk transfer and toward active loss prevention and mitigation strategies for UK homeowners.

What this means from an insurtech perspective

This research provides a data-backed argument for insurers to shift focus from reactive claims handling to proactive loss mitigation. For MGAs and carriers, the superior performance of low-cost tape over traditional sandbags suggests that simple, affordable interventions can materially improve loss ratios during surface water events. The introduction of Flood Performance Certificates could also provide a new data layer for underwriting, allowing for more granular pricing based on actual property resilience rather than just geographic flood maps. For the insurtech sector, this highlights a growing opportunity to integrate physical resilience data into digital risk assessment tools, potentially rewarding policyholders who adopt these verified protection measures and strengthening customer trust through actionable advice.