Science

Duct tape kept out more floodwater than sandbags in laboratory tests

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 16/10/2026, 14:40:24 UTC.

Briefings

A 2026 study found that in controlled laboratory settings, a single roll of duct tape applied to a wall prevented significantly more floodwater intrusion than traditional sandbags. The experiment compared the effectiveness of these two common flood barriers under simulated conditions, revealing that the adhesive tape offered superior sealing performance despite its low cost.

Key points

• In a controlled lab experiment, a single roll of duct tape applied to a wall prevented significantly more floodwater intrusion than sandbags.
• The study compared the effectiveness of duct tape and sandbags under simulated flood conditions to determine which barrier performs better in preventing water entry.

Context

This research provides a cost-effective alternative to expensive flood barriers, suggesting that simple household items like duct tape could be more effective than traditional sandbags in preventing water intrusion during floods.

Limitations

The findings are based solely on a single controlled laboratory experiment with simulated conditions; real-world performance may vary due to environmental factors, wall types, and water flow dynamics.

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