Flexible covering for door and window openings

A flood barrier for door and window openings of a building, said flood barrier comprising:

• a rigid frame formed of metal or alloy or composite members in combination with softgoods;
• wherein the rigid frame comprises at least one horizontal flanged member formed of C-channel or L-channel shaped extrusions;
• wherein the at least one horizontal member comprises at least a lowermost horizontal member of the rigid frame and wherein the at least lowermost horizontal member further comprises a horizontal sealing gasket;
• the softgoods comprising a water-impervious barrier;
• and,
• a sacrificial bladder positioned on one side of the water-impervious barrier;
• said flood barrier further comprising a block compression mechanism mounted upon at least one of the vertical members of the rigid frame to pre-compress the horizontal sealing gasket before the flood barrier is subjected to hydrostatic forces.

A method of preventing flood water from entering a building through at least one door or window opening by

• installing a flood barrier comprising:
• a rigid frame formed of metal or alloy or composite members, the rigid frame being combined with softgoods attached to the rigid frame;
• the softgoods comprising a water-impervious barrier;
• and,
• a sacrificial bladder positioned on one side of the water-impervious barrier to span across at least one of a door or a window opening of a building;
• by attaching the rigid frame to the building with fasteners passing through holes in vertical members of the rigid frame;
• and,
• tightening the fasteners to compress vertical sealing gaskets between the vertical members and the building.

A flood barrier for preventing the passage of floodwater about a perimeter, said flood barrier comprising:

• a rigid frame formed of metal or alloy or composite members, the rigid frame being combined with softgoods;
• the rigid frame comprising a peripheral surface upon which is mounted the softgoods;
• the peripheral surface defining an area;
• the softgoods comprising a water-impervious barrier;
• and,
• a sacrificial bladder positioned on one side of the water-impervious barrier;
• wherein the water-impervious barrier is mounted upon the peripheral surface while spanning the entire area and sealed to the rigid frame in a water tight manner such that water does not pass between the water-impervious layer and the rigid frame;
• wherein the sacrificial bladder is laid over the water-impervious layer while also spanning the entire area;
• and,
• a series of bladder clamps, the bladder clamps clamping the sacrificial bladder to the rigid frame;
• the rigid frame being positioned between supporting vertical posts.

A flood barrier for door and window openings of a building, said flood barrier comprising:

• a unitary rigid frame formed in combination with softgoods;
• the softgoods are mounted to the rigid frame;
• the outer peripheral surface of the unitary frame defining an area;
• the softgoods comprising a water-impervious barrier;
• and,
• a sacrificial bladder positioned on one side of the water-impervious barrier;
• the sacrificial bladder comprising a plurality of holes therein;
• wherein the water-impervious barrier is mounted upon the rigid frame while spanning the area and sealed to the rigid frame in a water tight manner such that water does not pass between the water-impervious barrier and the rigid frame;
• wherein the sacrificial bladder is laid over the water-impervious barrier while also spanning the area with the holes in the bladder permitting entry of water through the bladder so as to be captured between the water-impervious barrier and the sacrificial bladder;
• and,
• a series of bladder clamps, the bladder clamps clamping the sacrificial bladder to the rigid frame.