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FloodBreak adds New Zealand to its expanding global presence

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Permanent passive flood protection without the need for human intervention or powerFor over a decade, FloodBreak® passive automatic flood barrier systems have been protecting people and property without human intervention or power across the U.S.  Based on it’s simple yet proven design, increasingly customers across the globe are choosing the passive system to protect critical assets.  A recent customer installation in New Zealand marks the first in that country though the response has been extremely positive and discussions with the project team will undoubtedly lead to more projects.

Permanent flood protection Hidden beneath grade

The FloodBreak vehicular flood barrier provides permanent protection yet remains hidden beneath grade until an actual flood event occurs, allowing unimpeded access.  Regardless of time of day and without need for personnel to be present, the floodgate will deploy automatically, lifted by the power of the rising floodwater.

FloodBreak featured in FEMA Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings publication

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FEMA P-936, Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings, features two hospital flood mitigation projects with floodwalls and FloodBreak® passive flood barriers. The new publication is intended to assist local government officials, engineers, architects, and property owners involved in the planning and implementation of floodproofing retrofits. Both hospital mitigation projects were FEMA funded and used a combination of floodwalls and passive flood barriers to protect the lifeline institutions. The combination is an effective approach for hospitals as it provides the flood protection these critical institutions need to ensure that they can provide healthcare to their communities while also ensuring full access for patients and staff until a flood event is imminent. You can find the full publication on FEMA’s website.  . Go to FEMA website

FEMA issued a new Floodproofing Non-Residential Buildings publication  (FEMA P-936 ) to provide new information and guidance for planning and implementation of floodproofing retrofits. The passive floodgate technology used by FloodBreak has been proven in actual flood situations at over a dozen verified customer locations including many with multiple occurrences.

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MTA Tests FloodBreak Vent Shaft System for Subway Flood Protection

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The FloodBreak® Vent Shaft System is a versatile flood control product line that protects a range of ventilation openings above and below grade.

NY Subway system installs FloodBreak to protect against street floodingInitially designed as a flood control solution for the MTA, the closure device passively protects subway system vents from being inundated by localized street flooding.

In response to Sandy, The MTA asked FloodBreak to develop a 2nd generation closure device to protect against coastal storm surge for their vulnerable vent openings, particularly in lower Manhattan. It would only be used in a planned shutdown if a major storm like Hurricane Irene or Superstorm Sandy approached the city.

MTA tests FloodBreak vent shaftThis system was recently tested for government leaders and featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Here’s the link: A Grate Fix for Flooding

The double–gated device is designed for 10’ pressure head, near 100% airflow during “rest” position and is deployable by single operator with special tool, a MTA requirement. It is simple by design, requiring no maintenance, no power and ready for quick deployment.

NY Subway Crews boarding up vent shafts (2)_200x150Once installed inside the ventilation shafts, the units will eliminate the need for the labor intensive and risky process previously used where MTA personnel covered sidewalk grates with plywood and sand bags.

Historic Rosenberg Library Protected by Passive Flood Barriers

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Architecturally Integrated Flood Gates Protect Rosenberg Library.

Customer: Rosenberg Public Library
Location: Galveston, TX
Products: Vehicle and Pedestrian Gates
Installation dates: 2010 – 2011

Background
The Rosenberg Library, a historic building on Galveston Island in Texas, was ravaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008 but now is fully restored and protected from future storms.  Today the many Texas treasures on display at the Rosenberg Library Museum, inside the Rosenberg Library, are protected by FloodBreak passive flood barriers as part of an overall hurricane proofing of the building. Damage was extensive as part of the building was under as much as 6 feet of floodwater at the height of Ike’s storm surge.

The FloodBreak Solution:

Solution

Two 7′ tall passive flood barriers from FloodBreak protect the bottom floor entrances to the 500 year flood elevation.

But you wouldn’t know it unless you looked very closely as they are covered by carpet and instead of the the standard aluminum wiper walls, they use polished concrete, stained to match the historic building architecture. Though hidden, they provide 24/7 flood protection and should another storm surge or flood occur, the floodwater will cause the buoyant floodgates to deploy and seal against the sidewalls.

Results
The Rosenberg Library is the oldest public library in Texas in continuous operation. It holds about 7,500 items related to the history of Galveston and the Republic of Texas.  Hurricane Ike resulted in devastating damage but the library today is better than ever and protected against future storms.

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NJ dealership saved again from flash flooding

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The FloodBreak® passive flood barrier installed in 2008, once again protected Route 22 Honda, a Hillside, NJ Honda dealership, when flash floods came unexpectedly again this summer.  The FloodBreak Vehicle Gate deployed automatically. lifted by the fast rising floodwaters caused by a slow-moving thunderstorm that inundated  sections of Route 22 in Union County, NJ forcing road closure.  Fortunately, Route 22 Honda was protected from damage to vehicles parked in their underground garage, just as they were protected during two previous flood events.

The Honda dealer is no stranger to flooding as they have experienced floods in past years including in 2010 when their decision to install a FloodBreak Automatic Floodgate paid for itself when it protected their property and helped reduce insurance premiums.

Read about more FloodBreak saves

FloodBreak presents solution to raise levees for FEMA accreditation at FMA Conference

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FloodBreak participated with levee experts at the 2013 FMA Annual Conference to discuss an innovative approach used by the IBWC to raise their levees to meet new flood elevations. The title of the presentation was “Raise Levees for FEMA Accreditation Without Raising Roadways or Bridges – An Innovative Approach and Case Study”

An innovative and potentially less costly alternative is the use of passive flood barriers that extend across roadways and connect the levee at the new elevation requirement. These flood barriers are permanently installed beneath the roadway to allow continuous traffic service and are raised during flood events without human intervention or power to protect the dry/landward side.

FloodBreak prevents flood damage at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute

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A FloodBreak® passive floodgate system was installed at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute in Nashville, TN to provide permanent protection 24/7  against future flooding.

FloodBreak Automatic Floodgate was selected to prevent future flood damageFloodBreak Automatic Floodgates protect against floodingFloodBreak passive flood barriers deploy without human intervention or powerFloodBreak passive flood barriers protect 24/7The Vanderbilt Eye Institute, a department of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was inundated with two feet of water on the first floor in the 2010 Flood.  Flooding on the Cumberland River also damaged the Grand Ole Opry House, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Bridgestone Arena and LP Field – home of the Tennessee Titans.

The FloodBreak pedestrian floodgate is permanently installed beneath grade at the Eye Institue entrance and will deploy automatically, without human intervention or power, should floodwaters approach the building.  The passive system is comprised of a buoyant beam that is lifted by the hydrostatic pressure from the rising floodwaters to prevent the water from entering through the doorway.  Self activating gaskets seal the barrier against the sidewalls.

 

FloodBreak chosen to protect another hospital

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The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is an 84-acre campus on Galveston Island that was devastated by Hurricane Ike.   FEMA awarded the state of Texas more than $90 million, in the form of a Public Assistance Grant, for flood mitigation including FloodBreak passive flood barriers as part of dry floodproofing measures. FEMA requires that all non-residential structures that are located in Zone AE and are to be substantially improved must either have their lowest floors elevated to or above the base Flood Elevation (BFE) or be dry floodproofed (made substantially impermeable) to or above the BFE.

FloodBreak passive flood barriers protect against floodingFloodBreak passive flood barriers provide flood protection below the BFEFloodBreak passive flood barriers were chosen to provide permanent impermeable passive protection, but also because they are designed to withstand hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, and impact forces produced by flooding or high water events. When completed, the Primary Care Pavilion will have 13 FloodBreak passive flood barriers protecting vulnerable entrances.

UTMB joins a growing list of protected hospitals:

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center – Houston, TX
  • Lourdes Hospital – Binghamton, NY
  • Columbus Regional Hospital – Columbus, IN
  • Bayshore Medical Center – Pasadena, TX
  • Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth – Beaumont, TX
  • Lebanon Medical Center – Lebanon, OH
  • Cheyenne Medical Center – Cheyenne, WY

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