The past year has brought some of the UK’s wettest months on record. From swollen rivers to sudden flash flooding, many parts of the country have been hit repeatedly by severe weather. As climate change continues to accelerate, heavy rainfall and storm-driven flooding are becoming far more common — and far more destructive.
For businesses, utilities and industrial sites, the impact can be enormous. Once water enters a building, the damage to equipment, stock, electrics and structure can run into the tens or hundreds of thousands. As a result, more organisations are now investing in robust flood-resilience measures, including specialist steel flood doors designed to keep water out during extreme weather.
Traditional steel doors are not designed to hold back rising water. Under pressure, water can seep through thresholds, frame joints and hardware points. Flood-rated doors, on the other hand, are built specifically to prevent water ingress during both static and fast-moving flood events.
Even sites that previously sat outside recognised flood zones are now experiencing issues due to:
Heavier, longer periods of rainfall
Groundwater saturation
Blocked drainage systems
Rapid surface-water flooding
Overflowing rivers and streams
With more unpredictable, high-intensity storms expected in the coming years, flood protection has become a priority for building managers and specifiers across the UK.
Flood-resistant steel doors use a combination of reinforced construction and high-performance sealing systems to create a water-tight barrier. Each component plays a part, including:
Heavy-gauge steel door leaf and frame
Compression seals designed specifically for flood pressure
Reinforced hinges and locking points
Precision-engineered thresholds
Flood-rated hardware and fixings
Together, these features prevent water from forcing its way around — or through — the door during a flooding event.
Design & Supply’s flood-rated steel doors are engineered and tested to withstand water depths of up to 900mm. This makes them suitable for the vast majority of commercial and industrial flood-risk scenarios in the UK.
A 900mm rating means:
The door can hold back significant water pressure
All seals remain tight and effective during prolonged exposure
The frame and leaf maintain structural integrity
Water cannot breach the door under standard testing conditions
This level of performance is particularly important for critical infrastructure, plant rooms, electrical areas and buildings storing valuable machinery or stock.
To ensure every flood door performs exactly as designed, we carry out flood testing as part of the installation process. This allows us to verify that:
All seals are correctly seated
Thresholds are fully watertight
Frames are secure and free from gaps
Hardware is correctly torqued and aligned
This initial test gives clients complete confidence that the door is flood-ready from day one.
We also offer annual flood testing visits, where our engineers return to site to:
Recheck seals and compression
Inspect frame integrity
Test water resistance under controlled conditions
Identify early signs of wear or deterioration
Regular testing is the most reliable way to maintain long-term protection and ensure the door continues to meet its original flood-resistance rating.
Steel flood doors are installed across a wide range of sectors, including:
Utility and pumping stations
Warehouses and logistics hubs
Coastal and riverside buildings
Transport and rail infrastructure
Water treatment facilities
Substations and plant rooms
Data and communications centers
Public-sector and municipal buildings
Any site where flooding could cause major operational disruption will benefit from a reliable, tested flood barrier.
900mm flood rating for strong, dependable protection
Robust steel construction for long-lasting durability
High-compression sealing system to stop water ingress
Optional security upgrades, including SR-rated configurations
Made to order, ensuring a perfect fit for new openings or retrofits
Available in single or double leaf designs
Suitable for repeated flood cycles
Professional installation flood testing + annual retesting available
Flooding remains one of the most financially damaging events a UK business can face. Losses often include:
Electrical system failure
Equipment and stock damage
Structural degradation
Contamination and mould
Long-term operational downtime
Increased insurance premiums
In many cases, the cost of one flood far exceeds the investment in appropriate flood-resilient door systems.
When specifying a flood door, consider:
Required water depth rating
Whether the site faces static or fast-moving floodwater
How frequently the area has experienced flooding
Security requirements
Any fire-rating requirements
Surrounding wall/floor construction and sealing needs
Our technical team is available to help with design, specification and installation guidance.
With more than 35 years of specialist manufacturing experience, Design & Supply has become a trusted supplier of high-performance steel doors across the UK. Our flood-rated doors are built to withstand demanding environments and are already used on some of the country’s most sensitive and high-risk sites.
We offer:
Industry-leading 900mm flood protection
Full installation flood testing
Annual on-site flood testing services
Expert technical support
Bespoke manufacturing
Fast lead times
Proven reliability across multiple sectors
