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MODERNAessence

Flood Barrier

It takes about 5 seconds to position itself

Folding partition for mounting on an edge.

(Patent) The world’s only foldable flood barrier with two side flaps that rest against the outer edge of the access point—the spot where construction workers can best brace themselves against the parapets. You can unfold it by compressing the gaskets with just ONE finger, and when you remove it, it leaves no trace—not even a frame or a mounting hole—preserving the aesthetics and original width of the doorway.

Materials:

  • Anticorodal aluminum construction, protected by a silver/natural-colored anodized finish as standard
  • A2 Stainless Steel Fasteners
  • Special gasket, for fresh or salt water (your choice). Replaceable

Available sizes

  • in cm

L - Custom width.

H - Available fixed heights: 32/42/52/62/72/82/92

Maximum width for the specified height:

  • L 305 x 62 H
  • L 225 x 72 H
  • L 205 x 92 H

Minimum dimensions:

  • L 45 x 32 H

NOTE: To achieve greater widths or to use lighter flood-control devices, purchase the removable connecting post, which can be positioned as needed, allowing you to connect an unlimited number of devices—even different models—to form linear barriers: straight, angular, or perimeter barriers.

Other features

  • Sample No. 001, measuring 305×92 cm, was tested
  • From the outside toward the interior of the area to be protected, it can also be positioned with the user inside.
  • While holding the flood barrier folded and lifted by the carrying handle, rest it against the frame of the interior window or another structure that will keep it secure against water pressure. Press the panel—and consequently the gasket beneath it—down against the lower edge, then push the special lever-style control handle to unfold the two hinged half-panels until the hook-shaped tab engages with the corresponding hook-shaped retaining profile, which holds it securely in place even if the barrier is large or if the wind is blowing from the opposite direction, while also compressing the vertical side gaskets against the side rails.

IMPORTANT: Check the horizontal seal at the corners, and if it does not fit flush against the surfaces, reposition it by gently pressing it into place with your finger.

  • This is a very important factor that should be carefully considered before purchasing the device, especially if multiple devices need to be deployed in an emergency: the MODERNA ESSENCE model is placed starting from 5 seconds.
  • The absence of side profiles and a frame to rest against makes it ideal for requesting its use from the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and the Preservation of Architectural Quality and the Landscape.
  • Suitable for access to the ground floor, basement, or underground level of residential buildings such as:
    • Houses and Villas
    • Garages or Storage Units
    • Shopping Centers
    • Storefronts
    • Logistics Warehouses and Storage Facilities
    • Artisans’ workshops or factories
    • Churches, Historic Buildings, and Monuments
  • It can be installed as a safety flood barrier, as needed, in front of doors, industrial doors, overhead doors, sectional doors, roller shutters, driveway gates, and pedestrian gates.
  • It can be used as a splash guard against water or snow in front of an entrance facing a street or other high-traffic area, or simply to slow down flooding.

I choose MODERNA essence because the designers have solved these issues for me:

PATENTS

For corner support, lightweight locking, easy locking, secure locking, safety locking, internal and external locking, locking above the flood level, and scratch resistance.

A rust-free lightweight alloy with excellent resistance to galvanic corrosion when in contact with water, but only during periods of emergency (approximately 10 days a year in Venice).

  • Up to 5 years for gaskets
  • Up to 10 years on Anticorodal ALUMINUM and AISI 316 STAINLESS STEEL materials

Our patent allows you to pressurize it by pressing the gaskets against the shoulders with a smooth motion—and it can even be operated with just ONE finger—without unnecessary effort, gradually expanding to the correct width without shrinking afterward.

Because there are no protrusions on the side of the room to be protected, the flood barrier can be mounted on any external frame of the existing window or door, even if the frame is flush with the sash or threshold profile

By designing the lever handle with an ergonomic grip, we have improved the grip and achieved better force distribution; we have also made it extendable in case it is needed to assist people with limited strength, or for devices where the vertical gasket is thicker due to industrial manufacturing tolerances, or for irregularities in the access panels—it is designed for opening and closing from the outside; Versatile users can also use it for opening and closing from the inside.

The patented and OPTIONAL Top Handle makes it easier to open the lock from the inside and outside and prevents the security-head screw in the Padlock Kit from being unscrewed, thereby increasing its security.

Its four special, patented sliders, located at the four corners of the flood barrier, rest against the frame of the existing window or door without irreparably scratching its finish—whether paint or otherwise—while also protecting the skin from scratches and cuts caused by the sharp edges of the profiles.

We designed the flood-prevention device with numerous anti-crushing features in its mechanisms and various kinematic components.

It is also designed to prevent fingers from getting crushed during the closing process and to prevent the flood barrier from bending outward in the event of strong winds or improper positioning.

To ensure a snug fit against the side panels, we’ve made “straight” cuts in the gasket below, thereby improving the watertight seal. They are always available as replacement parts.

Thanks to our patent, we have managed to ensure that the gasket stretches by less than 60% only on the outer edge, ensuring long-lasting durability without premature cracking.

The padlock located beneath the removable handle, following exposure to murky or saltwater, may have had its keyhole clogged, requiring the use of pliers or other tools to open it; this posed a serious risk of crushing or cutting the fingers, potentially severing them; the use of a rivet as a fastener did not prevent its removal by drilling through it while the padlock mechanism was still locked.

Our QR code, engraved directly on the flood barrier, links you to our website www.rapid.sm, where you can download the user and maintenance manual—available in 5 languages—before each use. The QR code also provides direct contact with the supplier in case the Partner is unavailable.

This identification number, which RAPID has been issuing since 2017, contains the entire history of your flood protection device, ensuring seamless after-sales support—from locating replacement parts to handling any recalls.

Known flaws that were avoided as the original design took shape:

The absence of a frame or other structure to lean on to withstand the water pressure

Testing of these frameless, foldable flood barriers—which press the side gaskets against the abutments—is conducted using side profiles that not everyone likes or that are present in the abutments of the access point, such as the frame of an entrance door. Many customers end up not resting them against these profiles—either out of carelessness or to avoid scratching them—relying solely on the friction of the vertical side seals pressed against the abutment. If that were sufficient, all folding flood barriers in Europe would not undergo testing with metal side profiles to hold them in place and counteract water pressure, thereby risking flooding.

This resistance makes it difficult to close the anti-flooding barrier, causing the user to jerk and accelerate their movement. This occurs about halfway through the extension, when—after inserting the folded bulkhead into the compartment—the user begins to press it to remove the fold and straighten it, compressing the side gaskets; At that point, due to the eccentricity of the hinge, the flood barrier expands beyond the width necessary for watertight integrity, only to contract back to the correct width as it straightens out and the fold is eliminated—providing no benefit to watertight integrity but only creating resistance to the user’s thrust.

Especially by those who are weaker or less physically capable, which can result in the device not being positioned properly and, consequently, possible flooding.

Moreover, it is proportional to the height of the flood barrier, and either to the unevenness of the abutments or to the lack of orthogonal geometry at the entrance—as is sometimes or often the case in the structural space of the entrance.

Over an unquantifiable period of time, but at the point where the anti-flooding device bends and on the outer side, a crack would form in the seal lip, since theoretically it should stretch up to 800%, but with an eccentric hinge, it must stretch as much as 6,500% (from 1 mm to 65 mm), resulting in a crack in the seal lip.

Between the fixed-width bulkhead—into which the lever control handle is inserted—and the variable-width bulkhead that makes up the flood barrier, we conducted a crushing test using a medium-density carrot; the end result was a sort of carrot purée.

The padlock located beneath the removable handle, following exposure to murky or saltwater, may have had its keyhole clogged, requiring the use of pliers or other tools to open it; this posed a serious risk of crushing or cutting the fingers, potentially severing them; the use of a rivet as a fastener did not prevent its removal by drilling through it while the padlock mechanism was still locked.

Since they do not conform to the shape of the hands, they do not offer the benefits of an ergonomic design.

The standard model may not be sufficient, especially for users with less strength; the absence of this optional feature prevents the user from utilizing a force multiplier, which is necessary if the extension movement is not smooth due to an uneven range of motion, causing the user to encounter a resistance that overpowers their strength, followed by a sudden, harsh jerk.

Since they are not rectangular in shape, they either make less contact with the surface of the shoulder pads or cannot be pressed firmly against the fabric when the device is extended to smooth out the crease, and they do not guide the scissors to ensure a straight, flush cut of the lower horizontal seam.

The sharp edges and rough edges of aluminum profiles can scratch the mounting frames and may also accidentally injure your hands.

  • AISI 316 stainless steel shoulder bushings and removable pins for resistance to water pressure
  • Extended external lever control
  • Internal and external lever control
  • Internal lever control and extended external lever
  • External control of the vertical bolt (if equipped)
  • A connecting post for multiple flood prevention devices, allowing for various layout configurations: linear, corner, and island layouts, or even just for smaller, lighter devices.
  • Bushings for the shoulder into which the device’s clamps are inserted against the underside
  • L-shaped profiles for water pressure resistance
  • Flat profiles for smoothing and bringing the bottom surface back within tolerance
  • Threshold profile to restore or bring the lower side back within tolerance
  • Square Tubular Profiles for reducing width or for front mounting
  • Padlock system
  • Painting
  • Up to 5 years for gaskets used and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
  • Up to 10 years, excluding gaskets

DISCLAIMER: WARNING! If the access is for SAFETY PURPOSES, a safety plan must be in place that authorizes the use of an alternative measure before installing the flood barrier; otherwise, the area to be protected from flooding must be completely clear of people or other objects that could be endangered inside it. Dripping falls within the seal’s tolerance, although this is not mandatory. When installing the barrier to protect hazardous areas, it is recommended to implement additional safety measures as well.

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RAPID Flood Barriers and Barriers Tested
at the Giordano Institute

Discover our RAPID line of flood barriers, which come with a test certificate for the prototype tested at the Giordano Institute, offering reliable flood protection combined with ergonomics, ease of use, quality, and safety.

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