_edi.png)
WE AIM TO HELP ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS AFFECTING US ALL.
THE INNOVATIVE FLOOD ZIPPER™ TECHNOLOGY
Flood Zipper™ is a comprehensive suite of patent-pending, dry flood-proofing systems designed to work together to mitigate inland flood risk for existing single-family, slab-on-grade homes. The simple, easy-to-deploy solution addresses all potential leak points including weep holes, permeable wall materials, wall penetrations, and door/window areas together with sewage backup into toilets and shower/bathtub/other drains located on the ground floor.
Innovative solution components leverage the structural integrity of the building’s concrete foundation and exterior walls to enable low-cost protections while allowing for ingress/egress during gently rising water up to two feet above the slab. A pre-flood preparation service by a licensed contractor which includes custom solution design, production configuration, and homeowner/occupant deployment training is envisioned to ensure reliable multi-year service life together with a solution that doesn’t detract from the appearance of the building.
A key design criterion for Flood Zipper™ is the fast DIY emergency deployment of the pre-fitted and labeled system components by two physically capable adults during inclement weather. Also, we believe cost-sharing from many stakeholders is appropriate (e.g., governments, insurers, mortgage lenders, HOAs, large employers, and homeowners).
FZ House Wrap System
A highly configurable, integrated solution for protecting exterior walls, doors, and windows from gently rising inland floodwaters from Ground Level Elevation (GLE) to the Design Flood Elevation (DFE) of up to 24” above the concrete slab. This custom pre-configured system may be deployed by the homeowner/occupant immediately preceding a possible flood event during inclement weather and is completely removable. Most of the deployable FZ House Wrap System components are reusable.
FZ Pluggable Weep Hole System
An optional solution for protecting exterior masonry-veneer walls and includes sealing all leak points from GLE to the DFE including weep holes and enables redundant protection when used with the FZ House Wrap System.
FZ Door Protection System
Includes custom-fitted devices facilitating quick deployment at a door designated for ingress/egress preceding an impending flood event. Other doors may be protected using custom-fitted waterproof sleeves that may be quickly deployed during inclement weather to seal and protect exterior doors to the DFE.
FZ Wall Appurtenance Protection System
Includes custom-fitted apparatus for sealing electrical outlets, exhaust vents, ventilation bricks, HVAC/ plumbing, and other wall penetrations while providing needed ventilation above DFE via hooded snorkels. This system may be used with a standalone FZ Pluggable Weep Hole System.
FZ Sewage Anti-Backflow System
May be required if an anti-backflow valve is not installed between the water main and the house. This system includes plugs deployed through toilet trap ways to a location just below the wax ring and weighted seals for shower/other interior floor drains to prevent ground floor sewage backflow during flooding conditions.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent number US 11,060,313 B2 was granted on July 13, 2021. Additional patent applications have been submitted to the USPTO to seek protections on additional proprietary aspects Flood Zipper™ which are still pending including PCT/US 19/31838; US 17/095,573; US 17/348,495; and PCT/US 22/27228. The earliest patent application established a priority date of May 11, 2018.