Technical Downloads
Shoreline Flood Protection
FloodBreak flood barriers are a perfect solution for shorelines and provide permanent flood protection for coastline communities, waterfront businesses, wastewater treatment plants and nearby housing.
FloodBreak flip up barriers utilize passive automatic technology to ensure 24/7 flood protection without people or power, the floodproofing method preferred by FEMA.
Coastal resiliency has become a paramount concern.
Anticipated sea level rise and the increasing frequency of coastal storms necessitates action to protect vulnerable businesses, local communities and critical infrastructure. It’s a juggling act between fortifying defenses and preserving waterfront access and views that are integral to the community. Instead of resorting to the traditional approach of building imposing barriers that wall off neighborhoods from the waterfront, FloodBreak designs flood barrier systems that hold back the expected storm surge, but also integrate with public space amenities for the local neighborhood to enjoy in dry conditions.
Integrating Flood Protection into Community Fabric
24/7 flood protection
For many shoreline projects, FloodBreak flip-up barriers utilize our passive automatic technology to ensure 24/7 flood protection without people or power and can be designed to meet the emergency preparedness plans of the community.
The FloodBreak flood barrier system can be used for a range of applications including pedestrian pathways, parks, sports fields or roadways running alongside the water. Hidden below grade, the system provides automatic protection to the flood elevation during flood events but full access for community members during dry times.
Preserve water views and access
Traditional flood protection measures for shoreline communities are often limited in scale or protection. Many are temporary barriers and require posts or stanchions for support and large mobilization efforts in advance of a possible flood event.
Our automatic flip-up flood barriers are permanently installed and are hidden underground until needed. And with no size limitations, FloodBreak can meet the unique set of challenges that come with each waterfront project.
City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works
– Indianapolis, IN
The Indianapolis North Flood Damage Reduction Project
The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)
– Upper and Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX
IBWC Meet FEMA Levee Accreditation Requirements with Floodgates Along the Rio Grande
Passive FreeView® Flood Barrier system
The FloodBreak® FreeView® Flood Barrier System is an innovative flood control solution to provide FloodBreak’s proven passive automatic technology for long linear protection projects. Permanently installed along rivers, levees, lakes and coastlines, it reduces flood risk without blocking views or limiting community access to the water.
FreeView® Flood Barrier Float Test
The Indianapolis North Flood Damage Reduction Project sought to provide maximum flood protection without negatively impacting pedestrian accessibility or impeding the view of the riverbank.
Two FloodBreak flood barriers are integrated into a floodwall to protect 663’ of shoreline to a flood protection height of 4′. The longer section is 605′ and operates as a single barrier without stanchions or vertical stops,
Both barriers were tested by USACE, a requirement of their Levee Safety Evaluation Report and part of the submission package sent to FEMA for accreditation.
A float test was conducted on September 14, 2021. During the test, residents came out to watch our barrier in action. They were amazed when they saw the ease in which the barrier floated up with the rising water. Importantly, they will realize insurance savings once the LOMR is approved.
Unseen Protection, Unmatched Reliability
Like all FloodBreak passive automatic flood barrier systems, FreeView® flood barriers provide 24/7 flood protection while remaining hidden until an actual flood event. Lifted by the rising floodwater, the buoyant barrier deploys automatically in the same manner FloodBreak automatic flood gates have been deploying to protect customer assets for over a decade. When the water recedes, the self-draining and self-retracting passive barrier returns to its rest position. And due to the self-supporting design, there is no length nor height limitation.
Modular in nature with tension members rather than stanchions or vertical stops, the FreeView® Flood Barrier System is ideal for long continuous runs that can serve as pedestrian pathways or bike paths.
Elegant Flood Protection for Community Assets
The FloodBreak FreeView® Flood Barrier can be used for a range of applications including boardwalks or pathways along seawalls, bulkheads or river banks. Embedded in the walkway or cantilevered over the water, the system provides protection to the flood elevation during flood events but full access for community members during dry times. For levees, the narrow footprint eliminates the need to widen the toe to increase elevation.
Long Service Life. Low Maintenance.
Our FreeView® Flood Barriers are designed for decades of service life with minimal maintenance. Materials are specified for long-term exposure to outdoor, industrial conditions.
- Barrier systems are fabricated using marine grade aluminum, stainless steel fittings, and EPDM gaskets so rust or corrosion is not a factor.
- The gate system is designed to be self-clearing both before and during a flood.
- The hinges, the only moving part, are designed to operate without lubrication even in harsh environments.
The systems are easy to clean and inspect. Maintenance can be handled by one or two-man crews in an hour or two.
