Rapidam Barrier

Perimeter or “off-wall” protection can be provided in many forms; earth bunds, concrete or brick walls or by temporary dams such as Rapidam. Where aesthetics or maintaining a view are essential or harm to the environment is a concern then a temporary dam may be a good alternative solution. Rapidam is manufactured and tested to the British Standard Kiitemark PAS1188:2 and is supplied in three variants. Boltdown Tip Forward (TF), Boltdown Stand Up (SU) and Free Standing (FS) and is suitable for solid and soft grounds.

Rapidam Features

• Single component design simplifies deployment
• Rapid deployment using Rapidam Handling Unit
• 100 metres deployed in 30 to 40 mins by 3 to 4 men
• Continuous lengths up to 120 metres available
• Easy and compact to store
• Up to 120 m can be stored on a single handling unit
• Can be stored on site or in nearby “lock-up” facility
• Available in standard heights of 0.5m, 1m and 1.3m
• UV and anti-fungicide treatmented.
• Boltdown or free standing versions.
• Pre-installed concrete beam or earth anchors for stability.
• End units to tie-in to walls or embankments.
• Barrier acts as a wave re-curve wall to reduce overtopping
• The side you see in the pictures is the wet side!
• Lie flat version can be walked or driven over (with safeguards*)

* Boards should be placed over the barrier to reduce trip hazards and to spread the vehicle load to prevent damage to the couplings.

Unlike other heavy engineered multi-component temporary barrier systems Rapidam has been designed as a membrane system which uses water as part of the solution. The weight of the water is used to seal the groundsheet (apron) down and to provide stability to the whole system by retaining the back wall via the tension straps. The design also acts as a wave re-curve wall which ensures that bow waves, caused by passing vehicles, will collapse under the barrier as they push the flexible back wall back & up which collapses the wave.

Boltdown Tip Forward (TF)

The boltdown version of Rapidam requires the pre-installation of a 500mm square concrete beam and retaining bolts. This beam provides the anchor for the barrier and prevents any initial sliding motion caused by the rising waters. The bolts are simply unscrewed and then replaced once they have been secured through the front edge of the Rapidam groundsheet and supplied Kadar strips.

The Kadar strips simply ensure there are no point loadings on the Rapidam.

Once the barrier apron has been attached each end is fixed in place and the whole unit is stood up.

Boltdown Stand Up (SU)

Similar to the Tip Forward version above except it does not lie flat. It is erected and bolted down in its upright position and has been designed with a smaller footprint for those sites which have limited space and for entrance closures as in the photograph on the left.
Free Standing (FS)

Like the Rapidam Boltdown version the free standing version can be deployed quickly and easily. A 20 metre section, for example, could be fully erected and anchored in 15 minutes.

Longer lengths are available but the FS version does not fit onto the handling system so they would be limited physical handling devices such as sack barrows for transporting to site.

Shorter lengths can be joined using either the Rapizip finger system or a shot-gun connection solution.

The Rapidam FS barrier requires minimal preparation and utilises penetrator screw anchors to secure it to soft ground. Originally designed for the US armed forces each anchor can hold 2,500 lbs. On hard surfaces the FS barrier can be secured to suitable street furniture to arrest any initial sliding motion.