Protecting buildings from flooding has never been more important.
According to the U.S. Senate’s Joint Economic Committee, flooding costs the U.S. between $179 and $496 billion each year – and that cost is expected to grow, impacting more communities, homeowners and businesses than ever before. With a perimeter flood protection solution from Flood Control America, you’re ready to protect your structures and mitigate business interruptions, property damage and the need for extensive flood recovery. For nearly 30 years, our flood protection barriers have kept water out, so businesses and communities can keep moving forward.
What Is a Perimeter Flood Barrier?
Our perimeter flood barriers are there when you need them – and gone when you don’t. Using unobtrusive steel plates embedded in a concrete foundation, our Invisible Flood Control Wall (IFCW™) can be erected before a flood and easily removed after the event. These flood panels can surround your entire property, encircling areas that are prone or at risk of flooding.
Working with your maintenance team, we can design a flood protection system that’s completely invisible when not in use. We can also integrate IFCW™ into any existing levees or concrete walls your community or facility has in place.
Why Choose Removable Perimeter Barriers Over Traditional Solutions?
Minimal Maintenance, Maximum Efficiency
- No erosion, freeze/thaw damage or burrowing animal risk
- Easy to store and reuse
- No visual or environmental impact when not in use
Easy Deployment, Scalable Protection
- Can be erected by small crews in hours
- Modular design allows for custom configuration
How Our Perimeter Flood Wall System Works
Our perimeter flood barrier system is engineered to withstand the force and current of flood waters. The system is made from three main components:
1.
We embed or cast base plates into a reinforced concrete foundation. These remain in place and are level-set into the ground – out of sight.
2.
Galvanized steel posts attach to the base plates when there is a risk of flood.
3.
Patented aluminum planks slide into the steel posts, creating a flood barrier wall.
The base planks feature a specialized gasket that fully seals with the concrete foundation, creating a watertight seal. The sides of the planks seal with a hard rubber gasket, creating a unique tongue and groove design. The planks fill with water as flood height increases, creating further stability and integrity to withstand hydrostatic pressure and dynamic water pressure during severe flooding events.
These systems can be set up quickly. In the event of a flood, a working crew of three people can install 1200 square feet of the IFCW™ in two hours. Each plank weighs approximately five pounds per foot, so two workers can easily handle a IFCW™ plank – since none are longer than 20 feet.
Proven Applications for Critical Infrastructure
IFCW perimeter flood barriers are used across the United States. You’ll find us protecting airports, municipal buildings, museums, ballparks, educational institutions, riverfront walkways and more. Plus, our system has been analyzed and accepted for use by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with installations on many Corps projects.
View ProjectsWhy Choose Flood Control America?
Made in the USA. Built for Civil-Scale Demands.
Flood Control America has been designing and manufacturing removable flood wall barriers since 1997 and is the industry leader in large-scale civil-level removable flood walls. All of our components and source materials are 100% MADE IN AMERICA, keeping Americans working while we protect our communities from potentially devastating flood damage. Our domestic sourcing also means no delivery delays due to overseas shipment problems, port strikes or custom issues.
Nationally Recognized. Professionally Backed. Award-Winning.
Our commercial flood protection systems are compliant with floodplain management policies, FEMA and other regulations. The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Association (EDA) recognized the IFCW™ as one of its 5 major “success stories” of the 20th century.
FAQs
What makes a perimeter flood barrier different from other flood protection systems?
There are many benefits — in addition to reliable protection. With a fully removable system, Flood Control America flood barriers preserve riverfront views that permanent concrete walls and earth levees obstruct. Unlike sandbagging, our systems don’t pollute waterways. They require virtually no maintenance and can be erected by as few as two people, making them much less labor-intensive than sandbagging. These are trusted tools used by any flood specialist looking for modern and sustainable flood proofing strategies.
How quickly can the system be deployed in the event of a flood?
Removable perimeter flood barriers can be installed at a rate of 100 to 200 square feet per man hour. For example, an 8-foot by 200-foot long (1,600 square foot) flood barrier system could be set by a crew of four workers in about four hours.
Can the flood barrier be customized to fit irregular site layouts?
Absolutely. Our team will work with yours to design a system that’s flexible and customized to your property or community’s needs.
How much maintenance does the system require between flood events?
We recommend an annual installation drill, where your maintenance team will install a portion of the flood barrier. This ensures your personnel are well-versed on erecting the system.
What materials are used in your perimeter flood barrier system?
Our system is composed of three main components:
- Metal plates embedded in the ground in concrete
- Galvanized steel posts
- Patented aluminum planks
How is the barrier stored when not in use?
The posts and planks should be stored indoors. Since the IFCW™ is stored with its aluminum planks stacked neatly on top of each other, the required storage space is minimal.
What kind of properties or facilities are best suited for this system?
Our systems work with virtually any structure – and our experience proves this. We’ve added flood protection to:
- Municipal buildings
- Schools
- Airports
- Stadiums and ballparks
- Museums and other tourist attractions
- Private businesses
- Riverfront paths and districts
What makes a perimeter flood barrier different from other flood protection systems?
There are many benefits — in addition to reliable protection. With a fully removable system, Flood Control America flood barriers preserve riverfront views that permanent concrete walls and earth levees obstruct. Unlike sandbagging, our systems don’t pollute waterways. They require virtually no maintenance and can be erected by as few as two people, making them much less labor-intensive than sandbagging. These are trusted tools used by any flood specialist looking for modern and sustainable flood proofing strategies.
Can the system be integrated with existing levees or flood walls?
es, we often work with communities or the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to integrate the IFCW system into existing perimeter protection and flood control measures.