Professionalising Property Flood Resilience

Professionalising Property Flood Resilience

As the impacts of climate change continue to become more widespread, so too does the need for practical, trusted and professional approaches to Property Flood Resilience (PFR).

The creation of the International Property Flood Resilience Association (IPFRA) therefore reflects this shift.

Formed by industry specialists to represent and unify contractors, surveyors, installers and others delivering PFR at the coalface, IPFRA adds a new and much-needed voice to the conversation. But we’re not starting from scratch, nor do we exist in isolation. IPFRA is one of several important initiatives working to mainstream and professionalise the PFR sector, and we are proud to be part of a growing, collaborative movement.

A Shared Commitment to Standards and Skills

A great example is the BeFloodReady platform, an evolving Environment Agency brand.  It brings together a wide range of useful materials, case studies and resources to support local authorities in helping to educate householders and communities on the merits of flood awareness, resilience and recoverability.

Plus CIWEM has demonstrated its commitment to the BeFloodReady brand by adopting it for its PFR Community of Practice, with the aim of improving the competence, confidence and consistency of on-the-ground PFR delivery.  

At IPFRA, we strongly support these initiatives. Our own focus is on championing quality and accountability among the supply chain, from installers and manufacturers through to consultants and surveyors, and providing a central hub for knowledge-sharing, codes of conduct, and member standards.

Together, initiatives like IPFRA and CIWEM’s BeFloodReady PFR Community of Practice are helping to raise the bar across all aspects of PFR, from training and awareness to delivery and customer care.

Industry Collaboration

Ultimately, we want to amplify the good work already happening across the sector, contribute constructively to the sector’s continued evolution while working alongside organisations and platforms such as CIWEM, BeFloodReady, CIRIA, and others who share our ambition to see PFR recognised and embedded across the built environment as business as usual.

Collaboration will be key: it’s only by connecting expertise, sharing knowledge and aligning around trusted standards that we can collectively build resilient communities.

To learn more about IPFRA, email secretariat@ipfra.org.