Technical Downloads
24/7 Shoreline Flood Barriers for Waterfront Communities
FloodBreak passive flood barriers give shorelines permanent flood protection for coastline communities, waterfront businesses, wastewater treatment plants and nearby housing.
FloodBreak flip-up flood barriers use passive automatic technology for 24/7 flood protection without people or power. It is the floodproofing method preferred by FEMA.
Coastal resiliency has become a paramount concern.
Sea level rise and more frequent coastal storms make action urgent for vulnerable businesses, local communities and critical infrastructure. Protecting the shoreline is a balancing act between strong defenses and the waterfront access and views the community depends on. Instead of building imposing barriers that wall off neighborhoods from the water, FloodBreak designs automatic flood barrier systems that hold back the expected storm surge and still integrate with the public spaces people enjoy in dry conditions.
Integrating Flood Protection into Community Fabric
24/7 flood protection
For many shoreline projects, FloodBreak flip-up barriers use passive automatic technology for 24/7 flood protection without people or power, and they can be designed to meet the community's emergency preparedness plans.
The FloodBreak flood barrier system works for a range of applications including pedestrian pathways, parks, sports fields or roadways alongside the water. Hidden below grade, the system delivers automatic protection to the flood elevation during a flood event but gives community members full access during dry times.
Preserve water views and access
Traditional flood protection for shoreline communities is often limited in scale or protection. Many are temporary barriers that need posts or stanchions for support and large mobilization efforts ahead of a possible flood.
Our automatic flip-up flood barriers are permanently installed and stay hidden underground until needed. With no size limitations, FloodBreak can meet the unique challenges of each waterfront project.
Passive FreeView® Flood Barrier system
The FloodBreak® FreeView® Flood Barrier System is a flood control solution that brings FloodBreak’s proven passive automatic technology to 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 set out to provide maximum flood protection without hurting pedestrian access or blocking the view of the riverbank.
Two FloodBreak flood barriers are built into a floodwall to protect 663 feet of shoreline to a flood protection height of 4 feet. The longer section runs 605 feet 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. Residents came out to watch the barrier in action and were amazed at how easily it floated up with the rising water. Once the LOMR is approved, they will realize insurance savings.
Unseen Protection, Unmatched Reliability
Like all FloodBreak passive automatic flood barrier systems, FreeView® flood barriers provide 24/7 flood protection while staying hidden until an actual flood. Lifted by the rising floodwater, the buoyant barrier deploys on its own, the same way FloodBreak automatic flood gates have protected customer assets for over a decade. When the water recedes, the self-draining and self-retracting barrier returns to its rest position. Because the design is self-supporting, there is no length or height limitation.
Modular in nature and built with tension members rather than stanchions or vertical stops, the FreeView® Flood Barrier System is ideal for long continuous runs that double as pedestrian pathways or bike paths.
Elegant Flood Protection for Community Assets
The FloodBreak FreeView® Flood Barrier works 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 protects to the flood elevation during a flood but gives community members full access during dry times. For levees, the narrow footprint removes the need to widen the toe to gain elevation.
Long Service Life. Low Maintenance.
Our FreeView® Flood Barriers are built for decades of service with minimal maintenance. Materials are specified for long-term exposure to outdoor, industrial conditions.
Barrier systems are fabricated with marine grade aluminum, stainless steel fittings and EPDM gaskets, so rust and corrosion are not a factor.
The gate system is designed to self-clear both before and during a flood.
The hinges, the only moving part, 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.
This same passive technology protects buildings and openings through our perimeter flood protection systems, and supports levees and waterfront projects nationwide.