FloodGuard® by Reliance Valves is not just another isolating valve. It is a smarter solution designed to stop one of the most common and costly failures in Australian homes before it escalates. Installed like a standard valve, FloodGuard® automatically shuts off water the moment excessive flow is detected during a flexible hose failure. It works instantly without power, wiring or intervention, delivering protection when it matters most.
This matters because when a flexi hose fails, it does not trickle, it floods. A burst hose can release thousands of litres of water in just hours, flooding a home long before anyone has the chance to respond. Insurance data reinforces the scale of the issue. Insurance News reports that burst flexi hoses now account for one in ten home claims, with average costs around thirty thousand dollars and some exceeding one hundred thousand dollars.[i] This is not a rare event. It is a daily reality that leads to unexpected callbacks, difficult conversations around liability and lasting reputational damage for plumbers.
FloodGuard® turns that risk into control.
At the same time, compliance is changing and expectations are rising. Under NCC 2025 Vol 3, isolating valves are now required upstream of flexible hose connections. Adoption is already underway across WA, VIC, SA, TAS and the ACT, with NSW and QLD to follow. Every job now requires a valve, but the real choice is whether that valve simply meets code or actively protects. FloodGuard® does both.
FloodGuard® is engineered as an integrated solution, with protection built directly into the isolating valve through a Reliance Worldwide Corporation proprietary ball valve design that is patent pending. At RWC, our focus is simple: Plumbing matters. We make it better. FloodGuard® brings that philosophy to life by turning a compliance requirement into a smarter, more protective install.
It installs exactly like a standard valve, with no added complexity or change to workflow. It can be fitted at the build stage or retrofitted into existing systems, making it a practical upgrade on any job.
FloodGuard® was developed under the leadership of RWC Engineering Manager Blake Phillips, with a clear brief to solve a known industry problem at its source. The result is a purpose-built solution that responds immediately to catastrophic hose failure while remaining simple and reliable for everyday installation. This is not an add-on. It is a rethink of what a valve should do.
For plumbers, the benefits are clear. Callbacks become avoidable, not inevitable. Liability is reduced through built-in protection. Compliance is confidently covered under NCC 2025. Most importantly, your reputation is protected by preventing one of the most visible and costly failures on the job.
For plumbers in NSW and QLD, the shift is coming. Waiting until it becomes mandatory means reacting. Adopting FloodGuard® now means getting ahead.
NCC makes isolating valves mandatory. Good plumbers go further. FloodGuard® gives you a smarter way to meet compliance, reduce risk and deliver better outcomes on every job.
Get ahead of the curve. Make FloodGuard® your standard now.
[i] Insurance News, “Here to spray: flexi-hose claim costs rise again”: https://www.insurancenews.com.au/daily/here-to-spray-flexi-hose-claim-costs-rise-again
