A new trade body has been established to support the property flood resilience (PFR) industry, with significant potential implications for insurers and risk managers as climate-related flood risks rise.
The International Property Flood Resilience Association (IPFRA) has been formed to provide a unified voice for the sector and to promote established standards for flood mitigation in buildings. This new association aims to bring greater structure and coherence to a previously fragmented segment of the resilience supply chain.
For insurers, a broader adoption of PFR measures could help reduce claims costs and enhance insurability in flood-prone areas. Despite the growing importance of flood resilience, there has been no dedicated body to represent the professionals involved in PFR, including contractors, surveyors, and installers. IPFRA seeks to change that by advocating for best practices in line with the CIRIA Code of Practice for Property Flood Resilience, a widely recognized guideline in the insurance and resilience planning sectors.
IPFRA is actively encouraging participation from across the built environment, including those in insurance, underwriting, risk modeling, and loss adjusting. The association plans to serve as a hub for knowledge exchange, technical training, policy engagement, and guidance for newcomers to the industry.
The launch of IPFRA is also of particular interest to insurers looking to forge partnerships with trusted suppliers or assist clients in adopting flood resilience measures. All IPFRA members are required to adhere to a Code of Conduct, which outlines fundamental expectations for professionalism, service quality, and ethical standards.
The association will be officially introduced at the upcoming Flood & Coast Conference, where a reception will take place on the first evening of the event. Founding directors will be available in the Property Flood Resilience Zone throughout the conference.
The IPFRA board includes Gareth Boyd of Watertight International; Shelley Evans of JBA Consulting; Jo Ewart-Sear of Whitehouse Construction; Russell Burton of RAB Consultants; and Matt Keight of M3 Floodtec. Other founding members include Simon Crowther of FPS Environmental and Gavin George of APEX Flood Solutions. The secretariat is led by Mike Ockenden of Thornby Associates Ltd.
