Researchers at the University of Hull have found that properly applied duct tape on the outside of a household door can reduce floodwater leakage by 97 to 98 percent, far outperforming traditional sandbags.
The tests took place in the university’s Property Flood Resilience laboratory and were commissioned by Flood Re, a UK initiative involving the government and insurers. Scientists placed six common door types in a large tank and raised water to a depth of about 2 feet (600 millimeters), matching the low-level flooding that damaged more than 8,600 homes in Hull in 2007. Unprotected doors often leaked thousands of liters per hour at that depth. Sandbags, even when used with plastic sheeting, reduced leakage by only about 70 percent at best. Flexible synthetic rubber tape performed slightly better than regular duct tape, cutting leakage by 99 percent. Even the lowest-performing tape still reduced leakage by 80 percent.
BBC News reported that the same person applied the tape in every test to keep conditions consistent, and application took 10 to 20 minutes per door. External application worked better than internal, and outward-opening doors generally performed better than inward-opening ones. The research team, led by Professor Stuart McLelland, emphasized that tape is a cheap, lightweight, temporary option that is easy to store and does not rot like sandbags. It is not a substitute for permanent, professionally installed flood barriers, and it will not stop water entering through walls, floors, or drains.
Jonathan Kassian, head of flood resilience at Flood Re, said the findings challenge the long-held view of sandbags as the default emergency measure. “Sandbags remain a symbol of flood protection, but these tests turn that assumption on its head,” he said. The university noted that simple, affordable products can give households an extra layer of protection when flooding is imminent, especially if people already know their risk and have supplies ready.
The work was released during Flood Action Week in mid-October 2026. A full report on the tests is available through the university.
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