Frequently Asked Questions

• Riverine (River) Flooding
• Coastal Flooding
• Flash Flooding
• Spill containment

PS Flood Barriers® manufactures flood prevention products that protect businesses and municipalities from flooding through a variety of unique, proven solutions.

Riverine (river) flooding is most often the result of spring snow melt, heavy rains or breached levees. Since many cities are built on waterways, these floods can quickly decimate industrial parks and business centers. PS Flood Barriers® are in use around the world to protect a wide variety of facilities and structures.

Coastal flooding is very often due to storm surges, such as those associated with hurricanes. Businesses and municipalities in states such as Florida and Louisiana are at risk of damage from both winds and floodwaters, and PS Flood Barriers® is especially experienced in protecting against flooding in these areas.

Flash flooding is the rapid and extreme flow of high water. It most often happens with extreme weather (heavy rain) but can also result from a broken levee or even the sudden release of water from an ice jam. The fact that flash floods are so difficult to predict make them especially important to PS Flood Barriers®. In order to be prepared for unexpected flooding, PS Flood barriers work closely with customers across the globe to have flood protection ready.

It is the practice of preventing spilled liquids – such as chemicals, oil, or hazardous materials, or even sprinkler water from spreading and causing harm to people, property or the environment. It typically involves barriers, trays, berms or other systems designed to capture and control leaks or spills.

1. Wet flood protection: Designing buildings to allow water to enter, thereby minimizing damage (only possible in specific situations)
2. Dry flood protection: Adding flood barriers or solutions to keep water out (more common)
3. Spill Containment: Adding flood barriers to contain spills in areas and prevent spreading

It’s simply not practical for all buildings and facilities to be constructed to allow floodwaters to pass through. For example, factories, warehouses, retail stores, office buildings, public buildings, schools, libraries, apartment buildings and even public transportation facilities are too important (and expensive) to allow for flooding. Instead, keeping them dry with solutions like those manufactured by PS Flood Barriers® is an important part of any emergency plan

Active flood protection involves attaching a barrier to the building or structure and is extremely effective at holding back water. However, it does require human intervention to deploy.

Some examples of active flood solutions include the following products from PS Flood Barriers®:

• HydroDefense® Flood Planks™
• Flex-Cover® Doors
• Sliding Flood Barriers
• Lift-out Flood Barriers
• Vertical-lift Flood Barriers

Passive flood solutions are always in place and require no human intervention or electricity to activate. They reacts to rising floodwater and provide 24/7 protection, making them effective against flash flooding. They tend to cost more than active flood solution.

A few examples of passive flood solutions include the following products from PS Flood Barriers®:

• Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Doors
• AquaTrigger® Automatic Flip-Up Barriers
• AquaTrigger® Self-closing Flood Barriers

PS Flood Barriers®, a division of PS Industries®, is a global, industry-leading manufacturer that offers a comprehensive line of custom flood protection products.

With in-house design, engineering, manufacturing and testing all under one roof, PS Flood Barriers® serves a wide variety of industries across the globe, including the military, energy, agriculture, food processing, Federal projects, municipalities and all types of manufacturing. PS Flood Barriers has been protecting people and property since 1974, and they have been proven to control flooding even under the worst conditions. Customers include NASA, the United Nations, Miller-Coors, Con Edison, Grainger, Xcel Energy, New York City Transit Authority and thousands of others.

The core competencies of PS Flood Barriers® include (but are not limited to): In-house engineering, in-house design, in-house manufacturing and in-house testing all under one roof. By keeping these experts together, their collaborative expertise benefits every step of the production process, resulting in fewer time-consuming setbacks, more dependable supply lines and shorter lead times.

Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Doors from PS Flood Barriers® are the most progressive products in the passive flood-protection market, serving as both flood-protection barriers and normal-use pedestrian doors. Always in place, these doors provide unmatched flood protection while allowing pedestrian access to your facility. The Hydro1 is a purpose-built flood door, not to be confused with repurposed hollow metal doors that fail to meet flood codes. They feature the lowest leakage rate in the industry with a unique one-piece perimeter gasket that creates a watertight seal. These doors have been independent-party witness tested to 3′ and 20′ water protection heights.

The Hydro1® Flood Door is chosen because it delivers unmatched protection and performance in a design made for everyday use. It’s a fully passive system – always in place and ready for rising water with no deployment required. Independently tested to ANSI/FM 2510, it provides up to 50% lower leakage rates than the standard, with a robust, watertight perimeter seal that outlasts conventional gaskets. Built with structural integrity, ADA-compliant thresholds, and factory-installed hardware, the Hydro1 installs easily and functions like a normal pedestrian door, making it the ideal solution where reliability, accessibility and appearance all matter.

Yes. Hydro1® Flood Doors are customizable to fit a wide range of project needs, including single or paired configurations, various hardware options and specific flood-load requirements. Each door is engineered to match your exact opening and performance criteria, while maintaining its tested integrity. However, there are limitations on maximum height, width and mounting structure, as the frame and wall must meet specific strength and anchoring requirements to ensure proper sealing and performance under flood pressure.

Yes. The Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Door from PS Flood Barriers® passed Florida Product Approval testing, including approval for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward counties) – FL #39631. If these doors can stand up to the punishing conditions put forth by hurricanes in these Florida counties, think how effective they can be for your facility or building.

Yes. The door and threshold of the Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood door from PS Flood Barriers® complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA.

The Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Door features a one-piece perimeter gasket, which creates a forgiving, watertight seal.

Yes. The Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Door from PS Flood Barriers® has been professionally hydrostatically load-tested to meet the ANSI/FM Approvals 2510-2020 4.3.3 standard. It has also recently passed FM Approvals testing and will soon be offered with a factory FM-certified label, providing verified protection for flood depths up to 30 feet with exceptionally low leakage rates. Full testing documentation is available upon request.

Yes, the Hydro1® Flood Door from PS Flood Barriers® comes standard with a 12-gauge frame, but there are several frame options available depending on the anchorage structure and loading requirements. Options include the standard frame, the face-overlap frame and the Z-frame, each designed to provide the best seal and performance based on wall type and installation conditions.

The Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Door from PS Flood Barriers® is constructed with 16-gauge door skins and a 12-gauge frame for superior strength and durability. When furnished in mild steel, the door is made from galvannealed steel for enhanced corrosion resistance. For stainless steel models, Type 316 is available in either a mill finish or a #4 brushed finish, depending on project requirements.

It does. The frame on the Hydro1® Pedestrian Flood Door is fully welded and ready to protect your business from floodwaters.

For mild steel construction, two finish systems are available. The first is the Sherwin-Williams Genesis Lustral Polyurethane System, which includes a two-coat epoxy primer and a matte polyurethane topcoat in the color of your choice. The second option is the Macropoxy 646 primer with Acrolon 218 topcoat system, providing excellent durability and chemical resistance. For Type 316 stainless steel, doors are available in either a mill finish or a #4 brushed finish, depending on the project’s aesthetic and performance requirements.

ASCE/SEI 24-24 is the newest national standard for flood-resistant design and construction. It widens the flood hazard area, updates load requirements and establishes clearer rules for dry-floodproofing. One of the most important changes is the requirement that flood shields and barriers be tested to the latest ANSI/FM 2510-2020 Standard.

Several updates affect design and construction:

• Flood barriers/shields must be tested and certified to ANSI/FM 2510-2020
• Flood Hazard Areas now include the 500-year floodplain
• Flood elevations are tied to Mean Recurrence Intervals and Sea Level Rise
• Flood loads follow ASCE 7-22 Supplement 2
• Dry-floodproofing limitations for residential buildings are clarified
• Pumps are required to remove water in dry-floodproofed spaces

These changes raise the minimum level of protection for critical and non-residential structures.

Yes. Any flood barrier/shield used to dry-floodproof an opening must be tested and certified to ANSI/FM 2510-2020. This is the only accepted testing path for compliance in new construction. If a product has not been certified by a nationally recognized laboratory, it does not meet the standard.

Not only does the ANSI/FM 2510 standard require simulated flood water testing and impact testing of the flood barrier, it also requires individual testing of flood barrier components (gaskets, adhesives, etc) and environmental testing of components (UV, salt spray, cycle testing). It also assesses dependability, re-usability and maintenance requirements. Ensure flood products are tested and compliant to the full ANSI/FM 2510-2020 standard by a nationally recognized laboratory. Products bearing the designation “FM Approved” to the 2020 standard are fully compliant. Many non-compliant products claim to be tested/certified to single sections of the standard, but not the standard in full.

It simplifies compliance. Designers now have a clear set of rules:

• Use certified barriers tested to ANSI/FM 2510-2020, including, but not limited to, the general component and water performance testing requirements for opening barrier applications. Products bearing the “FM Approved” are verified to meet all applicable requirements for the test standard.
• Follow MRI-based flood elevations
• Design for ASCE 7-22 flood loads
• Make sure the system is substantially impermeable
• Provide an O&M plan
• Include pumping for dry-floodproofed areas

It also means that generic or “equal” systems without testing certification are no longer acceptable.

Likely when the 2027 International Building Code (IBC 2027) is published. ASCE 24-24 does not become enforceable on its own. It only becomes law when it is adopted by reference in the IBC – and then when each state or local jurisdiction adopts that edition of the IBC.

Yes. PS Flood Barriers® products that carry the “FM Approved” mark are tested and certified to ANSI/FM 2510-2020, which is the standard referenced in ASCE 24-24 for code compliance. Our systems are built to withstand the hydrostatic and impact loads outlined in the standard, and each component – gaskets, adhesives, coatings, and hardware – is subjected to the required UV exposure, salt-spray and durability tests. We also provide detailed O&M manuals and installation guides, including inspection checklists, to support proper deployment and long-term performance.

They are. ASCE 24-24 notes that passive or automatic systems reduce the risk of human error during a flood event. While manually deployed barriers are still allowed, passive systems are recognized as more reliable.

PS Flood Barriers® offers both, including doors and barriers that require no deployment at all.

No. Dry-floodproofing is only permitted on non-residential structures or the non-residential portions of mixed-use buildings. Residential areas must use elevation or wet-floodproofing methods.

Yes. ASCE 24-24 requires a means of removing any water that enters a dry-floodproofed area. This increases reliability and reduces risk to electrical and mechanical systems.

Any barrier or shield that is certified to ANSI/FM 2510 qualifies, including:

• Permanent passive systems
• Automatic systems
• Pre-installed barriers requiring manual deployment
• Doors, walls, planks and gates designed for opening protection

PS Flood Barriers® offers systems in all of these categories.

Most designers include:

• ANSI/FM 2510 certification reports
• Product data sheets
• Installation drawings
• Flood load calculations (ASCE 7-22)
• Elevation and MRI requirements
• O&M documentation

We can provide everything needed for a complete submittal package.

All of our dry-floodproofing products meet or exceed the new requirements, including:

• Hydro1® Flood Doors
• HydroDefense® Flood Planks™

Every system is built to meet the standard’s impermeability, load resistance and testing requirements.

We support architects and engineers with:

• Load calculations
• CAD/Revit content
• Certification documents
• Lunch-and-Learn training
• Project-specific consultation

We help you design to the new standard with confidence.

You can connect with our team at PS Flood Barriers® by calling 877-446-1519.