Notes
(Note 1) Approximate values based on actual work at Taiyo Kogyo Corporation. Under the conditions where the installation height is approximately 45 cm, the length is 4 m, and two workers are involved, it is estimated that using sandbags would require approximately 100 minutes in total to fill the bags with soil and stack them.
"Delta Panel": A Sheet Wall to Mitigate Building Flooding from Torrential Rain
Taiyo Kogyo Corporation
Industry: Manufacturing / Construction
| Publication date | March 22, 2024 (Posted on Jun 19, 2024) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Natural Disasters/Coastal Areas |
Company Overview
Taiyo Kogyo Corporation is a leading company in membrane structures, utilizing the lightweight yet durable properties of "membranes" to expand its business not only in construction but also in civil engineering, logistics, and environmental sectors.
Climate Change Impacts
In recent years, climate change has led to record-breaking rainfalls and typhoons, causing frequent flooding and prompting evacuation advisories in many areas. While local governments have been implementing various countermeasures, the damage from recent disasters have frequently exceeded expectations, revealing the inadequacy of current flood prevention efforts.
Adaptation Initiatives
To mitigate flood damage caused by sudden torrential rains, we have developed the "Delta Panel" which is a flood prevention tool designed to control flood damage by protecting building entrances and exits with a strip of membrane material. This product has been in production and on the market since August 2020.
The "Delta Panel" consists of a lightweight, durable waterproof sheet, along with aluminum frames, pipes, and mesh sheets. This creates a structurally stable triangular cross-section (patent pending) that can withstand water pressure from rising floodwaters (Fig. 1).
The installation process is simple, connecting the sheet panels and setting the pipes in place. The panels are structurally self-supporting, maintaining the necessary distance between walls and doors (Fig. 2). When not in use, the pipes can be removed and the panels can be folded and rolled up (Fig. 3).
Effects / Expected Benefits
Unlike conventional flood prevention measures using sandbags, this system eliminates the need to fill and stack sandbags, reducing the setup time to approximately one-tenth of the conventional methods (Note 1). The panels are also self-supporting, allowing them to maintain a gap between walls and doors, ensuring continued access to the building. Additionally, the panels can be connected to cover wide openings horizontally and effectively prevent flooding up to 50 cm in height.
