The application for a product to be tested will be done by completing the National Flood Barrier Testing & Certification Program application form [.docx]. Once an application is submitted it will be forwarded to ASFPM for processing. After initial processing, ASFPM will coordinate a call among the manufacturer, ASFPM, FM Approvals and USACE to discuss the application, testing level desired, testing protocols, and next steps. If the manufacturer wishes to proceed with evaluation under the program, the manufacturer will submit the non-refundable application fee to the ASFPM to initiate the testing process.
The ASFPM will initiate a contract with the manufacturer and schedule water based testing with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Concurrently, FM Approvals will initiate an FM Approval project directly with the manufacturer in accordance with their typical business process.
All water related testing of temporary water barriers will be conducted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS. Qualified alternate test laboratories may be chosen on a case-by-case basis. All closure water based testing will be conducted either at ERDC, at the manufacturing facility or at an independent laboratory. Testing is conducted in accordance with Approval Standard ANSI FM 2510 and witnessed by FM Approvals. Water related testing refers to that suite of tests that will examine the ability of a product to withstand flood related exposure such as hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, overtopping, velocity, and debris.
All material related testing will be conducted by FM Approvals. Material related testing refers to that suite of tests that will examine the ability of a product to withstand the forces of nature that impinge upon the product when deployed. These tests may include such factors as resistance to internal leakage if the product is water filled; component durability/cycling; and resistance to impact and wear, abrasion, vibration, salt spray corrosion, environmental corrosion, and hail. Additional factors are tensile strength, degradation due to ultraviolet light, heat and cold variability, material aging, compression strength, tear and puncture, and biological degradation. The component makeup of the product will dictate the applicability of the material testing specific for that product. Material related testing is conducted in accordance with Approval Standard ANSI FM 2510.
Plant and product inspection will consist of a manufacturing facility audit by FM Approvals. This visit will be to confirm that proper quality guidelines are in place to ensure the manufacturer’s ability to consistently produce a product identical to the one tested.
This level attained if the product passes all water related testing standards including a minimum of one foot of hydrostatic test, the product passes all of the materials testing standards, the plant and product were inspected prior to product testing, and FUS will be conducted. In order to achieve the Silver certification, the product must not only meet the standards and be subjected to the inspections just discussed, but any testing must be witnessed by a representative of FM Approvals.
This level is attained if the product passes all water related testing standards including a minimum of two feet of hydrostatic test, the product passes all of the materials testing standards, the plant and product were inspected prior to product testing and FUS will be conducted. In order to achieve the Gold, the product must not only meet the standards and be subjected to the inspections just discussed, but any testing must be witnessed by a representative of FM Approvals. Any testing that was conducted without prior plant and product inspection and without being witnessed by a representative of FM Approvals will require complete retesting if a Gold certification is ever desired for that product.
This level is attained if the product passes all water related testing standards including a minimum of three feet of hydrostatic test, the product passes all of the materials testing standards, the plant and product were inspected prior to product testing, and FUS will be conducted. In order to achieve the Platinum certification, the product must not only meet the standards and be subjected to the inspection just discussed, but any testing must be witnessed by a representative of FM Approvals. Any testing that was conducted without prior plant and product inspection and without being witnessed by a representative of FM Approvals will require complete retesting if a Platinum certification is ever desired for that product.
Follow up services [FUS] will consist of periodic visits to the manufacturing facility for as long as any type of product certification is desired by product manufacturer. This long-term periodic FUS will be for the purpose of verifying consistency of product manufacture relative to the product that was originally tested at ERDC and FM Approvals.
A benefit of participating in the National Flood Barrier Testing & Certification Program is that any product passing the tests shall be identified as such on the program’s webpage which is hosted by ASFPM. Links to the manufacturer and any certifications of compliance/approval will be posted as well. Certifications will also be listed in the Approval Guide, an online resource of FM Approvals.
View the types of products tested on the Product Categories Page.