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<br /> <br />PART VII: CONCLUSIONS <br /> <br /> <br />Results of tests performed by WES for the Corps of Engineers National <br />Flood Proofing Committee clearly identifies materials and systems which can be <br />used to protect individual buildings from floodwaters. <br />The evaluation of the flood frequency and the height of water which a <br />building can support is a necessary part of the study of systems and materials <br />to protect buildings from floodwaters. It is better to allow water to enter a <br />building than use flood protection methods that subject the building to water <br />loads that structurally damage or collapse the walls. Flooded buildings may <br />be reusable once they have been cleaned and the water damage repaired. <br />Experimental data were obtained by subjecting three brick-veneer and two <br />concrete-block walls to a static head of water. <br />The test walls which did not have roof rafter and ceiling joist re- <br />straint, such as the end walls of a house, failed at about 2.4 ft of water <br />loading. The brick-veneer wall which did have roof rafter and ceiling joist <br />restraint collapsed at 57 in. of water loading. The collapse was so sudden <br />that persons inside could have been killed. The testing of two houses later <br />demonstrated that the constructed house is stronger than the test walls and <br />can safely withstand about 3 ft of waterhead. <br />As a result of closure and preliminary material tests it was determined <br /> <br />that: <br /> <br />o The common brick-veneer wall leaks excessively. <br /> <br />o The brick-veneer or block wall can be protected against excessive water <br />penetration if it is coated with a material which is thick and durable <br />or is protected by an impermeable material. <br /> <br />. For a closure to be watertight, it must have gasket material and must <br />be bolted at its connection to the sidewalls and bottom. The connec- <br />tions for the closure at the sidewalls and floor must be continuous and <br />sealed securely to the walls and floor. <br /> <br />o Two layers of brick will allow a brick-veneer wall to support greater <br />water depths. <br /> <br />. Seals made by snap connections at the base of a building for membranes <br />which extend up and protect the walls of a building are difficult to <br />make watertight and are difficult to make work and should be used only <br />as permanent installations and where more reliable systems are not <br />applicable. <br /> <br />Sealing materials are only one component of a system to protect buildings <br />from floodwaters but they may be useful in specific situations. The tests on <br />sealing materials showed that: <br /> <br />88 <br />