Best Options for Flood Protection for Larger Openings
FCI GUIDES
Protecting businesses from flooding often means having to design flood defences for openings such as loading docks, gaps between buildings or entrance gateways. But what are the best solutions for protecting these larger openings from flooding?
Best Options for Flood Protection for Larger Openings
Stop Log Flood Barriers
These systems use modular components and can be configured in many ways with fully removable posts, angled corners, sloped bases and up to heights of 13ft/4metres as standard. These flood barriers require more resources and time to deploy than other flood protection systems, but are fully effective and fully removable when not required.
Best Options for Flood Protection for Larger Openings
Swing Flood Gates
These floodgates are easy to operate manually and can work on level sills. Issues that can occur is how to move them safely if large gates in high winds, and also that gate hinges can struggle if the gates are long and low. Also the gates require a clear ‘swing area’ when opening/ closing. Due to the weight of larger gates, they are difficult to power/ automate safely in access areas. These gates can work with a level sill, and can be mounted either on- or off-seating.
Best Options for Flood Protection for Larger Openings
Sliding / Rolling Floodgates
Sliding floodgates are often the best choice – if there is a parallel area to store them when not deployed. These gates are easy to deploy manually by a single operative, or under power by either winch or direct drive. Sliding floodgates are safe to operate in all wind conditions and do not need a swing area. These gates can work with a level sill, and can be mounted either on- or off-seating. Depending on walls and foundations openings up to 13ft high and 70ft wide can be defended.
Best Options for Flood Protection for Larger Openings
‘Flip Up’ or Rising Floodbarriers
For very long openings these floodbarriers may be a great option. They take their support from the ground and can either ‘flip up’ – which means shallow foundations but a large footprint, or rise vertically – which means deep foundations (usually 1.5 times the protected height) but a narrow footprint. Flip-up barriers can often be linked with no intermediate posts for any length, and flood protection heights up to 13ft/ 4m are achievable. Rising floodbarriers can be powered or use floodwater to deploy. If relying floodwater be aware that a sudden ‘wave’ would probably pass the barriers before they fully raised, and that the water has control of when the barriers deploy, and then can be lowered after an event.
