Flood Barrier and Method of Use

A method of inhibiting the ingress of water through a window opening in a structure, the method comprising:

• providing a flood barrier having a first window unit a comprising:
• a first frame configured to be received in the window opening, the first frame comprising a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, a first side member perpendicular to the top member, and a second side member parallel to the first side member, the members being arranged to form a rectangle having a through opening, the first frame having an exterior surface that is parallel to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening, the first frame having an outside surface that is perpendicular to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening, the outside surface extending along a perimeter of the first frame, the first frame having an inside surface defining the through opening, the inside surface being perpendicular to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening;
• a first insulated glass unit comprising a first panel of glass defining an interior surface of the first insulated glass unit, the first insulated glass unit further comprising a second panel of glass, the first insulated glass panel comprising a third panel of glass defining an exterior surface of the first insulated glass unit, the second panel of glass being disposed between the first panel of glass and the third panel of glass, the third panel of glass being spaced apart from the second panel of glass so as to define a cavity between the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass, a spacer between the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass, the spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass;
• fixing the first insulated glass unit to the frame by:
• supporting the first frame on a horizontal surface so that the exterior surface of the first frame is facing upwards;
• applying a continuous ribbon of structural sealant along the exterior surface of the first frame so that the continuous ribbon of structural sealant contacts the each of the members of the first frame;
• compressing the first insulated glass unit on the frame so that the exterior surface of the first frame is fixed to the interior surface of the first insulated glass unit by the continuous ribbon of structural sealant between the exterior surface of the first frame and the interior surface of the first insulated glass unit;
• at or proximate to a site of installation in the window opening, positioning the flood barrier in the window opening and fixing it relative thereto so that the interior surface of the first insulated glass unit is adjacent to an area inside the window opening and the exterior surface of the first insulated glass unit is adjacent to an area outside the window opening;
• wherein the flood barrier inhibits the ingress of water through the window opening from the area outside the window opening to the area inside the window opening.

A flood barrier system for inhibiting the ingress of water through a window opening in a structure, the system comprising:

• a flood barrier:
• a first frame configured to be received in the window opening, the first frame comprising a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, a first side member perpendicular to the top member, and a second side member parallel to the first side member, the members being arranged to form a rectangle having a through opening, the first frame having an exterior surface that is parallel to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening, the first frame having an outside surface that is perpendicular to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening, the outside surface extending along a perimeter of the first frame, the first frame having an inside surface defining the through opening, the inside surface being perpendicular to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening;
• a first glass unit comprising a first panel of glass defining an interior surface of the first glass unit, the first glass unit further comprising a second panel of glass laminated to the first panel of glass;
• the exterior surface of the first frame is fixed to the interior surface of the first glass unit by a structural sealant between the exterior surface of the first frame and the interior surface of the first glass unit;
• wherein the flood barrier is positioned in the window opening and fixed relative thereto so that the interior surface of the first glass unit is adjacent to an area inside the window opening and the exterior surface of the first glass unit is adjacent to an area outside the window opening;
• wherein the flood barrier inhibits the ingress of water through the window opening from the area outside the window opening to the area inside the window opening
• wherein the first glass unit comprises a first insulated glass unit, the first insulated glass unit comprising a third panel of glass defining an exterior surface of the first insulated glass unit, the second panel of glass being disposed between the first panel of glass and the third panel of glass, the third panel of glass being spaced apart from the second panel of glass so as to define a cavity between the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass, a spacer between the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass, the spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass;
• wherein the structural sealant comprises a glazing ribbon of silicone between the exterior surface of the first frame and the interior surface of the first insulated glass unit;
• wherein the glazing ribbon contacts an exterior surface of the top member, an exterior surface of the bottom member, an exterior surface of the first side member, and an exterior surface of the second side member;
• wherein the glazing ribbon extends continuously around the rectangle formed by the top member, the bottom member, the first side member, and the second side member;
• wherein the structural silicone bond is uniform in thickness and extends continuously around the entire perimeter of the frame as a result of bonding the insulated glass unit to the frame while the frame was supported on a horizontal surface with the exterior surface facing upward during manufacture.

A flood barrier system for inhibiting the ingress of water through a window opening in a structure, the system comprising:

• a flood barrier:
• a first frame configured to be received in the window opening, the first frame comprising a top member, a bottom member opposite the top member, a first side member perpendicular to the top member, and a second side member parallel to the first side member, the members being arranged to form a rectangle having a through opening, the first frame having an exterior surface that is parallel to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening, the first frame having an outside surface that is perpendicular to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening, the outside surface extending along a perimeter of the first frame, the first frame having an inside surface defining the through opening, the inside surface being perpendicular to the window opening when the flood barrier is received in the window opening;
• a first glass unit comprising a first panel of glass defining an interior surface of the first glass unit, the first glass unit further comprising a second panel of glass laminated to the first panel of glass;
• the exterior surface of the first frame is fixed to the interior surface of the first glass unit by a structural sealant between the exterior surface of the first frame and the interior surface of the first glass unit;
• wherein the flood barrier is positioned in the window opening and fixed relative thereto so that the interior surface of the first glass unit is adjacent to an area inside the window opening and the exterior surface of the first glass unit is adjacent to an area outside the window opening;
• wherein the flood barrier inhibits the ingress of water through the window opening from the area outside the window opening to the area inside the window opening
• wherein the first glass unit comprises a first insulated glass unit, the first insulated glass unit comprising a third panel of glass defining an exterior surface of the first insulated glass unit, the second panel of glass being disposed between the first panel of glass and the third panel of glass, the third panel of glass being spaced apart from the second panel of glass so as to define a cavity between the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass, a spacer between the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass, the spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the second panel of glass and the third panel of glass;
• wherein the structural sealant comprises a glazing ribbon of silicone between the exterior surface of the first frame and the interior surface of the first insulated glass unit;
• wherein the glazing ribbon contacts an exterior surface of the top member, an exterior surface of the bottom member, an exterior surface of the first side member, and an exterior surface of the second side member;
• wherein the glazing ribbon extends continuously around the rectangle formed by the top member, the bottom member, the first side member, and the second side member;
• wherein the glazing system is configured to prevent material leakage through the opening for at least 22 hours under static water pressure corresponding to a water height of at least four feet measured from a bottom edge of the insulated glass unit.