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What is a Flood Protection?

Flood protection encompasses all structural, technical, and organizational measures that protect a building from the effects of flooding. With increasing extreme weather events due to climate change, flood protection for buildings is becoming ever more important — not only in traditional flood zones but also in urban areas at risk from heavy rainfall.

By Jonas Derissen, Managing Director of Drainbee GmbH 3 min read Updated

At a glance

layers working together
3
homes hit by heavy rain 2002–21
1 in 10
of homes lack natural-hazard cover
41%
one-time, no subscription
€298

How does it work?

Flood protection for buildings can be divided into three levels. The structural level includes measures such as pressure-watertight basement construction (white or black tank), raising window wells and basement windows, installing flood-proof doors, and shaping the terrain so water is directed away from the building.

The technical level includes backflow protection in the sewer system, lifting stations for wastewater below the backflow level, drainage systems with pump sumps, and automatic pumps. Additionally, there are mobile flood protection systems like dam beam systems or sandbag alternatives that can be deployed in front of doors and windows as needed.

The organizational level includes a flood emergency plan, storing valuables above the flood line, keeping materials for immediate sealing on hand, and installing early warning systems that provide timely alerts.

The combination of all three levels is particularly important. Even the best structural waterproofing can fail if the drainage technology breaks down. And the best pump is useless if nobody notices it has stopped working.

Where to start? The German federal flood protection guide (Hochwasserschutzfibel) recommends having experts check the building for entry points, for example with the Hochwasserpass (flood passport). And after a flood: only pump out the basement once the water outside is lower than inside. Otherwise water pressure and buoyancy push against the empty walls and the floor slab.

What does this have to do with Drainbee?

Drainbee closes a critical gap in flood protection: monitoring drainage technology. While structural measures provide passive protection, Drainbee actively monitors whether your pumps and drainage systems are functioning properly. When water levels rise — whether from flooding, heavy rain, or technical defects — you are immediately alerted.

To be honest about the limits: Drainbee only measures in the shaft, needs power and WLAN and has no built-in battery. If the power fails during a flood, the app reports the outage, but no further measurements are taken. Against water coming in through window wells or doors, only structural protection helps.

See Drainbee – €298

Frequently asked questions

Which buildings need flood protection?
Essentially any building with a basement, especially in flood zones or on slopes. But even in urban areas, heavy rain can cause flooding that makes flood protection necessary. According to the GDV, statistically one in ten houses in Germany was hit by heavy rain between 2002 and 2021, and around 41% of residential buildings have no natural hazard cover.
How much does flood protection cost for a single-family home?
There are no flat prices. The range goes from backflow protection through a drainage system to retrofitted exterior waterproofing, which is usually the most expensive because the ground around the house has to be dug up. An assessment beforehand makes sense, for example with the Hochwasserpass (flood passport) or by an independent expert. It shows where the water actually gets in and keeps you from spending money on the wrong measure.
Are there subsidies for flood protection?
In some cases. Funding for protecting your own house comes mainly from the federal states and municipalities, and the programmes change often. Some cities subsidise backflow protection or advice on flood precautions, for example. Ask your municipality and search the German federal funding database (Förderdatenbank) for current programmes in your state.
What is the difference between flooding and heavy rain?
Flooding is caused by water bodies overflowing their banks and rises slowly. Heavy rain causes sudden, localized flooding from surface water that cannot drain quickly enough.

Sources

  1. BMWSB: Hochwasserschutzfibel – Objektschutz und bauliche Vorsorge (2022) (opens in a new tab)
  2. GDV: Starkregenbilanz 2002 bis 2021: Bundesweit 12,6 Milliarden Euro Schäden (2023) (opens in a new tab)
  3. GDV: Starkregen nach Gewittern: 41 Prozent der Wohngebäude ohne Elementarschutz (2026) (opens in a new tab)
  4. Förderdatenbank des Bundes: Förderprogramme von Bund, Ländern und EU (opens in a new tab)

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