CSA TS-227:26

Preface This is the first edition of CSA TS-227, Temporary flood barriers — A selection guide for flood mitigation practitioners. This Technical Specification (referred to as "this Document" from here on) is not a consensus project; that is, it is not a standard and it has not been formally approved by a Technical Committee. CSA Group acknowledges that the development of this Document was made possible, in part, by the financial support of the Standards Council of Canada. This Document was prepared by the Subcommittee on Flood Protection Barriers — Municipal Selection and Deployment Guide under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Flood Resiliency. Scope 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this Document is to provide Canadian flood emergency response personnel with a comprehensive approach to selecting, deploying, and maintaining the appropriate type of emergency flood barrier. The primary objective of this Document is to enhance the efficiency of flood emergency response in communities located in regions across Canada where limited technical expertise is available. To that end, this Document provides practitioners with a) plain language background information about the various types of temporary flood barriers that are available on the market today; and b) practical, stepwise guidance about how to select a temporary flood barrier that provides desired flood protection based on specific parameters. 1.2 Application This Document applies to the selection of temporary flood barriers for the protection of all public and private assets across Canada. This Document can help meet the strategic needs of the following key interests: a) flood barrier designers; b) owners and operators of buildings, infrastructure assets, and other campus management bodies; c) insurers; d) regulatory authorities; e) planners, engineers, and designers; f) local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), including Indigenous communities (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit); and g) the public. 1.3 Users This Document is intended to be a publicly facing guide intended for use by local AHJs, contractors, asset owners, and members of the general public who are tasked with selecting a temporary flood barrier that will provide short-term flood protection for a public or private asset. Users of this Document include but are not limited to a) Indigenous communities; b) local AHJs and provincial/territorial and federal authorities; c) chief administrative officers; d) emergency management officers; e) fire chiefs; f) infrastructure operators and managers; g) building or asset owners and managers; and h) members of the public. 1.4 Exclusions The following exclusions apply: a) This Document does not discuss in depth landscape barriers (e.g., borrow pits, earthen berms, dykes). b) Below grade conditions are not considered in this Document. 1.5 Disclaimers 1.5.1 Overview Users of this Document should be aware of the following: a) Temporary flood barrier information and selection guidance is provided for informational purposes only. b) All guidance is based on the best available information at time of publication. c) CSA and its agents, representatives, and associates cannot be held responsible for failure of barriers or applications identified in this Document. d) Users of temporary floor barriers should be aware of any encroachment of barriers and related devices on land (drainage, right of way, access, etc.). e) The requirements of any authorities having jurisdiction take precedence over this Document on all matters concerning the selection and installation of barriers. f) Individuals who have experience with the variables of flood mitigation (see Clause 1.5.2) should assist with the temporary flood barrier selection process outlined in this Document. g) This Document makes no provisions for changes in the bearing area or varying site conditions where barriers were installed due to flood or any other natural or human-made occurrence after deployment. 1.5.2 Professional approvals The following should be undertaken by a professional: a) all applications, materials, and installations should have their final design and requirements approved by a professional engineer; b) product specifications should be approved by a professional engineer to meet site requirements; c) in the event a site is required to undergo a geotechnical evaluation, it should be performed and approved by a geotechnical professional to confirm i) the site’s ability to support the weight of any barrier (including any fill material); ii) the ability of the strata to resist the loads imparted on the barrier, its supports, and its connection to the ground; and iii) the site’s ability to resist the rotation of the barrier when exposed to flood waters; d) a site inspection of the actual location for deployment should be completed by a person certified by the barrier supplier who provides documented compliance to all manufacturer’s performance specification requirements; and e) the barrier installer should evaluate risk from the barrier installation and create a risk mitigation plan as required (see Clause 6.6). Users of this Document should assess their risks and liability with an insurance professional (see Clause 6.6). 1.5.3 Limits to effectiveness of temporary flood barriers Due to the number of variables that are present or that could potentially be created during any emergency event, temporary flood barrier systems might be subjected to multiple conditions that can render them ineffective or create failure. Refer to Clause 6.2and CSA W212 for additional information. 1.6 Terminology In this Document, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Document; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of this Document. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.