Technical Downloads
Passive Vent Flood Protection
FloodBreak designs flood protection solutions for building vents, whether above or below grade, and ground-level vent shaft openings. These horizontal vent systems and vertical vent systems use the same passive technology as our standard flood barriers.
During dry times, the vent systems stay open to allow air flow to continue as normal. When flooding occurs, the bouyant panels close automatically to prevent flood inundation.
Only panels affected by the water will close and once the floodwater recedes, the panels reopen automatically.
A Permanent, Customizable Flood Solution
Designed for long service life with minimal maintenance and field-tested in harsh, real-world conditions, these vent systems can be custom-sized to fit virtually any vent opening and can be designed to be inboard duct work, inside vent shafts or face-mounted to buildings.
New York City Transit (NYCT)
– New York City, NY
Safeguarding NYC’s Subway with FloodBreak’s Vent Protection for MTA – NYCT
Kruger Energy
– Quebec, Canada
Kruger Energy Installs FloodBreak Passive Flood Vent System at Quebec Hydro Power Plant
Passive Flood Protection For Wall Vents
The FloodBreak horizontal vent system (FB-HVS) is a passive automatic flood mitigation device that provides 24/7 flood protection for vulnerable fan plants, air intake and exhaust vents, ducts, and window openings.
- Fully passive automatic – No People. No Power.
- 24/7 flood protection for vents, ducts, and windows.
- No size limitations; can be placed deep underground.
- Custom-designed to meet project loading and airflow requirements.
FloodBreak horizontal vent system activates only when needed: using buoyancy, not people or power, to seal openings and prevent flood inundation. Only the panels affected by the water will close, allowing air to continue to flow. When the floodwater recedes, the system reopens automatically.
The wiper seals stop the water from going around the deployed panels. The shelves drain through automatically. There is no additional drainage required to clear.
Installation is simple and the devices provide passive flood protection with minimal maintenance for decades.
Seeing is Believing:
See how the FloodBreak passive flood vent protection system deploys and reopens without human intervention or power.
Passive Flood Protection For Wall Vents
The FloodBreak horizontal vent system (FB-HVS) is a passive automatic flood mitigation device that provides 24/7 flood protection for vulnerable fan plants, air intake and exhaust vents, ducts, and window openings.
- Fully passive automatic – No People. No Power.
- 24/7 flood protection for vents, ducts, and windows.
- No size limitations; can be placed deep underground.
- Custom-designed to meet project loading and airflow requirements.
FloodBreak horizontal vent system activates only when needed: using buoyancy, not people or power, to seal openings and prevent flood inundation. Only the panels affected by the water will close, allowing air to continue to flow. When the floodwater recedes, the system reopens automatically.
The wiper seals stop the water from going around the deployed panels. The shelves drain through automatically. There is no additional drainage required to clear.
Installation is simple and the devices provide passive flood protection with minimal maintenance for decades.
Seeing is Believing:
Click Here to see how the FloodBreak passive flood vent protection system deploys and reopens without human intervention or power.
Passive Flood Protection-Vertical Vents (FB-VVS)
MTA – NYCT Flash Flood MCD’s
In 2008, NYCT asked FloodBreak to help solve a flood challenge – vertical subway street vents vulnerable to flash floods. The first FloodBreak passive automatic vent shaft system units were installed in 2010 in Brooklyn & Queens, NY.
A decade later, the MTA tested them again. They operated as intended.
These MCDs continue to be installed in areas vulnerable to flash flooding around the city, particularly difficult to reach locations. Despite being designed specifically for the MTA – NYCT, FloodBreak’s vertical vent system (FB-VVS) can protect vulnerable underground vents from flooding anywhere in the world. Like all FloodBreak flood protection systems, they are custom built to fit the exact dimension requirements of any project.
FloodBreak designed a passive automatic vent shaft system to protect the MTA subway vent shafts against flash flooding. The system has a simple installation – each unit can be dropped into position within the vent. No anchoring is required, they are gravity hung on an embedded angle frame beneath the grating.
The passive system automatically closes during flood events and reopens when the water has receded. All seals & mechanisms utilize the same materials and technology as our flood barriers. They are built and designed to provide flood protection for decades with minimal maintenance and no training required.
These vent units are self-clearing. A weep hole at the bottom of each unit controls water flow to the existing pump system. After a flood, these units will reopen automatically and resume normal airflow.