Mobile Walls as Flood Protection Systems

A mobile protection system enables the elevation of flood protection systems while leaving the townscape, the sight and the traffic conditions to and across the river largely unchanged. It therefore preserves the identity and appeal of the city as well as the attractiveness and quality of life of the real estate properties close to the river. In order to achieve this added flood protection while leaving the everyday situation largely unchanged under observation of today's safety standards, the construction and operation of a mobile flood protection system has to meet the highest demands.

In principle, the mobile elements of the IBS systems consist of two components. The center support posts, which are mounted at regular distances in case of a flood, and the dam beams that are stacked between the center support posts.

Two additional components are required for activating the protection function: screw fittings and pressing tools. The centre support posts are screwed together with the stationary reinforced concrete construction via tapped bushes. In order to activate the system's high degree of impermeability, the dam beams must be pressed in vertical direction with the pressing tools. This seals the dam beams and ensures that the bottom dam beam is clamped on the installation surface. This system consisting of centre support post, dam beams, screws and pressing tools enables the construction of mobile walls with a height in excess of 4.0 m with just 4 system components.

Radiuses larger than 20 m (with a support post distance of 2.0 m) or larger than 30 m (with a support post distance of 3.0 m) can be formed with standard support posts.
 

Angle supports are used for hinge points.
Inclines of up to 5% with surface unevenness of up to 15 mm can be compensated. Height protrusions (steps) are overcome with flood height transitions. Depending on the post interspaces, it is possible to construct free-standing support post constructions in excess of 2.0 m. Rear support posts are used in case of larger stress on the construction.

• Dam beams made of aluminium extruded sections (AlMgSi)
• Support posts as full-aluminium constructions (AlMgSi) or combinations of aluminium extruded sections (AlMgSi) with hot-galvanised steel foot (S235)
• End profile made of aluminium extruded sections (AlMgSi)
• Pressing tools made of Gk-AlSi12 / V2a (W-no. 1.4301)
• Anchor plates made of stainless steel (V2A, 1.4301 / V4a, 1.4571) with black steel anchoring
• Seals made of EPDM, PE / PUR

Due to the applied high-quality materials, which have been used in flood protection for many years, we guarantee long durability under proper storage conditions. The system is designed in such a way that planned replacement purchases are not required during the material service life.

The time period required for the assambly of the mobile flood protection system consists of:

• the alarm time - The time from the issue of the alarm and the readiness of the assembly personnel
• the loading time - Time for loading the transport vehicles
• the transport time - driving time from the storage location to the deployment location
• the securing time / unloading time – time to secure the traffic along the flood defence route, unload the vehicles and distribute the storage and transport containers along the defence line
• assambly time – the time for preparing the defence line, placing and screwing down the support posts and inserting/bracing the dam beams

Only the setup time is significantly influenced by the system. However, the local situation, e.g. the area behind the defence line, the placement of support posts level to the ground or on embankments, etc, also have an influence on the assambly time. The construction of a 100 m long, straight mobile flood protection wall with a support distance of 3.0 m and a protection height of 1.20 m requires 1 to 2 hours and 4 to 8 instructed workers on average with a high-quality system configuration. Twice the time has to be calculated for disassambly, removal to the storage containers and cleaning.

The mobile elements (e.g. dam beams, support rods) are stored in transport containers with a maximum weight of approx. 850 kg each. Any lifting equipment (e.g. tractor, fork lift, front loader, etc.) with transport fork or any type of crane (slewing pillar crane, hall crane, truck crane, etc.) are suited for this purpose. All vehicles/trailers with a loading area of at least 2m x 3m can be used for transport. The assembly of the system only requires simple tools (ratchet wrench with the corresponding hexagon sockets).

The following product types are available:

• IBS BSH-I 50 with 50 mm wide and 166 mm or 300 mm high dam beams for application of walls with a maximum height of 1.50 m
• IBS BSH-I 100 light with 100 mm wide and 150 mm high dam beams for application of walls with a maximum height of 3.0m
• IBS BSH-I 100  (heavy duty) with 100 mm wide and 150 mm or 250 mm high dam beams for application of walls with a maximum height of 5.0m
• IBS BSH-I 100 (Köln)  (heavy duty) with 100 mm wide and 150 mm or 250 mm high dam beams for application of walls with a maximum height of 5.0m

These product types provide technical variation options that allow custom-tailored solutions for just about any project situation.

We provide an advanced storage technology for our system. This technology allows the contact-free storage of the dam beams and support posts. The system is stored in hot-galvanised steel palettes equipped with fork tracks, crane stop positions, stackable palette feet and tension belts. Due to the contact-free storage of the individual parts on the steel palettes, these can be simply rinsed off with a water hose after use.