RSA Insurance has partnered with the University of Hull’s Energy and Environment Institute to launch an 18-month research project aimed at improving flood resilience in commercial properties amid growing insurance losses tied to extreme weather.
The initiative will assess how well property-level flood resilience (PFR) measures, such as flood doors, smart air bricks and non-return valves, perform in business environments, where conventional approaches often fall short.
The goal of the initiative is to identify practical, scalable solutions that can reduce risk exposure for commercial policyholders, who face higher operational and physical vulnerability during flood events.
The research comes as UK insurers contend with a sharp rise in claims from climate-related weather events. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), weather-linked home and contents claims surged to £585 million in 2024 driven largely by flooding.
For RSA, which is part of Intact Financial Corporation, the collaboration marks a push toward proactive adaptation strategies as the insurance market shifts its focus from recovery to prevention.
“As climate change contributes to more intense and frequent flooding, the need for adaptation has never been more urgent,” said Alison Gardner, RSA’s head of UK & International Social Impact and ESG. “This research plays a vital role in building the evidence base to understand what works, where, and for whom.”
The project will also support the development of new risk assessment tools to help brokers, underwriters and commercial clients better model and manage their exposure. These insights could be critical for underwriting strategies and may help improve claims outcomes over time.
Led by Professor Stuart McLelland, the work draws on the University of Hull’s expertise in flood science and resilience, with researcher Dr. David Furnues bringing interdisciplinary knowledge.
“This is an exciting opportunity to work with RSA to improve understanding of how property-level measures can reduce flood risk,” said McLelland. “We’ll also look at opportunities for product innovation to help individuals and organisations take appropriate steps to mitigate their exposure.”
