HiBar Flood Systems Ltd has developed a novel patented concept for a flood defence system that can protect either individual properties, access-ways through permanent defences or a whole riverbank defence system, by means of a self-erecting barrier that is raised and lowered purely by the power of the floodwaters themselves.

With the increase in global warming leading to worldwide rises in water levels, coupled with population pressures leading to more properties being built on flood plains, it is inevitable that more premises will be subjected to flooding in the coming years. Insurance companies are refusing to guarantee they will insure properties that have been built in vulnerable high risk flood areas since January 2009 and the agreement ("Statement of Principles") that the Association of British Insurers entered into with the Government for other properties in flood risk areas, expires in 2013.