Planners, engineers and government officials are often faced with the need to implement facility flood-protection programs due to perceived risk or actual loss due to flooding. Frequently, these programs are directed towards asset relocation, less effective countermeasures or acceptance of losses. Meanwhile, surface-mounted floodwall systems provide more flexibility and offer a suitable approach.
How it works
A surface-mounted floodwall system consists of reinforced concrete vertical floodwall-spread footing segments constructed as a monolithic concrete pour connected and sealed to form a protective flood barrier for the interior facility or building. The wall is constructed on a shallow foundation, avoiding subsurface infrastructure. Integral spread footings distribute the loads to a 4-inch asphalt base course supported by an 8-inch compacted impermeable base fill layer.
A watertight concrete slide gate seals the wall, protecting the facility or building from flooding, and it reopens after the flood to allow access and operations to continue.
The protection provided by an RSA SMFS is effectively above and beyond that provided by local, state and federal flood-control systems. An RSA SMFS can be designed to meet most flood challenges or site-specific conditions faced by facility operators, government planners and engineers.
Straightforward installation
Installation of an RSA SFMS is a rational approach to flood protection, offering a solution if regional flood-control systems are inadequate protection.
The RSA Protective Technologies’ SMFS is a practical solution to site-specific, flood-protection needs. Construction is straightforward, as steel rebar cages and forms are combined for a monolithic continuous placement. For most soil conditions a shallow 12-inch excavation relieves the owner of design and construction fees for subsurface utility relocation. The system does not require costly pile design and construction.
The compacted 8-inch fill and 4-inch asphalt seal slab provide an impermeable structure beneath the wall. Along with the asphalt, a fillet seal along the wet side of the wall prevents water from interfering with the bearing surface of the wall footing and increases the hydraulic gradient.
The structural profile dimensions are adjusted using computer-aided techniques to maximize the
effectiveness and economic value. The base flood elevation remains fixed and the wall height and cross-section are adjusted to match existing grade. The base flood elevations are computer generated using advanced stormwater computer modeling.
Groundwater intrusion is expected to be minimal with respect to rainfall inside the perimeter of the wall. Some minor grading and installation of drop inlets at specific locations promote radial
sheet flow to the drop inlets. The drop inlets discharge to sumps with vertical turbines sized accordingly to provide a secure and reliable plumbing system. The captured rainwater is discharged back in the flood zone.
One or more concrete mechanical sliding gates can be installed for accessways. The concrete slide gate on roller wheel bearings is moved by an overhead motor, gear-and-pulley assembly. The weight of the concrete slide wall is supported by coated steel frames and the overhead gear-and-pulley assembly. An electric motor moves the slide gate into and out of the closed position. A backup manual crank is provided with a sprocket and gear ratio, allowing for operation by a single operator. The slide gate seals the system from flood intrusion at accessways, providing a complete flood-protection system.
RSA Protective Technologies, LLC has been involved with large-scale civil Infrastructure inventions for over 19 years solving problems for municipalities and companies. RSA designers and engineers partner with the client’s engineers to accommodate site conditions, and finally with the client’s construction firms to ensure seamless, economical and timely installation.
909-946-0964 | rsaprotect.com