Portable water barrier

Abstract

A water barrier is formed from a kit of parts comprising at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane and a plurality of water-permeable panels that, when connected together, form a structural frame including a first part for supporting the at least one water-impermeable membrane against horizontal water pressure and a second part substantially perpendicular to the first part. A support structure may connect the first part and the second part to resist deflection of the frame. In an alternative arrangement, the frame of the water barrier may also be assembled in an inverted-V configuration.

Claims

1. A water barrier comprising: a water-permeable frame formed from a plurality of discrete, perforated panels, the plurality of perforated panels comprising a plurality of wall panels and a plurality of floor panels, wherein each wall panel of the plurality of wall panels comprises a plurality of protrusions for connection to a respective floor panel of the plurality of floor panels, and each floor panel of the plurality of floor panels comprises a plurality of apertures sized to receive the plurality of protrusions; and a substantially water-impermeable membrane formed separately from the water-permeable frame, wherein the water-permeable frame is configured to support the substantially water-impermeable membrane in an L-shape such that, in use, water pressure on an upper surface of a horizontal part of the water-permeable frame counter-balances water pressure on a first surface of an upright part of the water-permeable frame.

2. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises a grating structure.

3. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wall panels and the plurality of floor panels are configured to connect together at approximately 90° to form an L-shaped structure.

4. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein for each wall panel of the plurality of wall panels, the plurality of protrusions permits connection of the respective wall panel to the respective floor panel at multiple locations on the face of the respective floor panel and/or facing in at least two different directions with respect to the respective floor panel.

5. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein for each floor panel of the plurality of floor panels, the plurality of apertures permits the floor panel to connect to two or more wall panels of the plurality of wall panels.

6. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein each wall panel of the plurality of wall panels is rectangular, having a length that is longer than its width, and wherein each wall panel of the plurality of wall panels comprises the plurality of protrusions formed along a first edge where the first edge extends in the width-wise direction, and a second plurality of protrusions formed along a second edge where the second edge extends in the length-wise direction.

7. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein wall panels of the plurality of wall panels and floor panels of the plurality of floor panels are usable interchangeably with one another.

8. A water barrier according to claim 1, further comprising a support structure extending from the horizontal part of the water-permeable frame to the upright part of the water-permeable frame to resist deflection of the upright part of the water-permeable frame.

9. A water barrier according to claim 8, wherein the support structure extends over an upper edge of the upright part of the water-permeable frame and traps the substantially water-impermeable membrane between a cable and the upper edge of the upright part of the water-permeable frame.

10. A water barrier according to claim 9, wherein the support structure is connected at two locations to a second surface of the upright part of the water-permeable frame, opposite the first surface of the upright part of the water-permeable frame, and is connected at a point between the two locations to an attachment point on the horizontal part of the water-permeable frame.

11. A water barrier according to claim 10, wherein the attachment point clamps the substantially water-impermeable membrane against the horizontal part of the water-permeable frame.

12. A water barrier according to claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to the support structure.

13. A water barrier according to claim 1, wherein the water barrier is configured to be deployed in moving water by hand and/or without the aid of machinery.

14. A kit of parts for assembling a water barrier, the kit of parts comprising: at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane, a plurality of discrete, water-permeable panels that, when connected together, form a structural frame including a first part for supporting the at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane against horizontal water pressure and including a second part substantially perpendicular to the first part; and at least one support structure for connecting the first part and the second part to resist deflection of the structural frame, wherein the plurality of water-permeable panels comprises a plurality of first panels and a plurality of second panels; wherein each first panel of the plurality of first panels comprises a plurality of protrusions for connection to a respective second panel of the plurality of second panels, and each second panel of the plurality of second panels comprises a plurality of apertures sized to receive the plurality of protrusions; and wherein the at least one support structure is configured to, in use, extend over an edge of the first part and trap the waterproof membrane between the at least one support structure and the edge of the first part of the structural frame.

15. A kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises a grating structure.

16. A kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of protrusions and the plurality of apertures permit connection of a respective first panel of the plurality of first panels to a respective second panel of the plurality of second panels at multiple locations on a face of the respective second panel and/or facing in at least two different directions with respect to the respective second panel.

17. A kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein for each second panel of the plurality of second panels, the plurality of apertures permits two or more first panels of the plurality of first panels to connect to the second panel.

18. A kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein first panels of the plurality of first panels and second panels of the plurality of second panels are usable interchangeably with one another.

19. A kit of parts according to claim 14, further comprising at least one attachment point for connection of the at least one support structure to a panel of the of the plurality of water-permeable panels, wherein the at least one attachment point is configured to, in use, clamp the at least one waterproof membrane against the panel.

20. A kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein the at least one support structure comprises a tensioning mechanism for applying tension to the at least one support structure.

21. A kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein the kit of parts is configured to permit the water barrier assembled from the kit of parts to be deployed in moving water by hand and/or without the aid of machinery.

22. A method of assembling a water barrier from a kit of parts according to claim 14, the method comprising: connecting water-permeable panels of the plurality of water-permeable panels to form the structural frame, wherein the structural frame is water-permeable; and covering the structural frame with the at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane, such that the structural frame supports the at least one water-impermeable membrane; wherein the at least one support structure extends over the edge of the first part of the structural frame, and the waterproof membrane is trapped between the at least one support structure and the edge of the first part of the structural frame.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the water-permeable frame supports the at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane in an L-shape, such that water pressure on an upper surface of the second part of the water-permeable frame counter-balances water pressure on a first surface of the first part the water-permeable frame, and wherein the method further comprises: connecting the at least one support structure to a second surface of the first part, opposite the first surface, and connecting the at least one support structure to an attachment point on the second part, such that the at least one support structure extends over an upper edge of the first part of the water-permeable frame and traps the at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane between the at least one support structure and the upper edge of the first part of the water-permeable frame.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of covering the structural frame with the substantially water-impermeable membrane is performed while the structural frame is at least partially submerged in water.

25. A water barrier comprising: a water-permeable frame composed of a plurality of discrete, water-permeable panels, the plurality of water-permeable panels comprising a plurality of forward panels and a plurality of rearward panels, the plurality of water-permeable panels being arranged to form an inverted-V shape, wherein each rearward panel of the plurality of rearward panels comprises a plurality of protrusions for connection to a respective forward panel of the plurality of forward panels, and each forward panel of the plurality of forward panels comprises a plurality of apertures sized to receive the plurality of protrusions of a respective rearward panel of the plurality of rearward panels; and a substantially water-impermeable membrane formed separately from the water-permeable frame, wherein the water-permeable frame is configured to support the substantially water-impermeable membrane in a shape having a horizontal portion and a sloped portion that slopes upwardly from the horizontal portion, such that the sloped portion of the substantially water-permeable membrane is supported by the plurality of forward panels.

26. A water barrier according to claim 25, wherein each water-permeable panel of the plurality of water-permeable panels comprises a grating structure.

27. A water barrier according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of apertures is configured to permit two or more rearward panels of the plurality of rearward panels to connect to a single forward panel of the plurality of forward panels.

28. A water barrier according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of forward panels and the plurality of rearward panels are usable interchangeably with one another.

29. A water barrier according to claim 25, further comprising a support structure extending from the horizontal portion to the sloped portion to resist deflection of the sloped portion of the water-permeable frame.

30. A water barrier according to claim 25, wherein the water barrier is configured to be deployed in moving water by hand and/or without the aid of machinery.

31. A water barrier according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of forward panels and the plurality of rearward panels are configured to connect together at approximately 90° to form an L-shaped structure or a T-shaped structure.

32. A water barrier according to claim 25, wherein for each forward panel of the plurality of forward panels, the plurality of protrusions permits connection of a respective rearward panel of the plurality of rearward panels at multiple locations on a face of the forward panel.

33. A kit of parts for assembling a water barrier, the kit of parts comprising: at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane, a plurality of discrete, water-permeable panels that, when connected together, form a structural frame including a first part for supporting the at least one substantially water-impermeable membrane against horizontal water pressure and including a second part substantially perpendicular to the first part; and at least one support structure for connecting the first part and the second part to resist deflection of the structural frame, wherein the plurality of water-permeable panels comprises a plurality of first panels and a plurality of second panels; wherein each first panel of the plurality of first panels comprises a plurality of protrusions for connection to a respective second panel of the plurality of second panels, and each second panel of the plurality of second panels comprises a plurality of apertures sized to receive the plurality of protrusions; and wherein first panels of the plurality of first panels and second panels of the plurality of second panels are usable interchangeably with one another.

Description

(1) Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cut-away perspective view showing a deployable flood barrier;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a kit of parts for assembling the deployable flood barrier;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a structural module of the deployable flood barrier;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the structural module;

(6) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an attachment ring being connected to the structural module;

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates an attachment hook for connecting an end of a wire to the structural module;

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates attachment of a midpoint of the wire to the attachment ring;

(9) FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the structural module illustrating operation of a wire tensioning mechanism;

(10) FIG. 11 illustrates attachment points of a panel of the structural module;

(11) FIGS. 12 to 16 illustrate alternative arrangements for connection of two or more panels to form different configurations;

(12) FIG. 17 illustrates an alternative design for the panel of the structural frame; and

(13) FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate anchors for connection of the structural module to the ground; and

(14) FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate alternative arrangements for the flood barrier

(15) FIG. 1 illustrates a modular, portable, flood barrier 10 which may be assembled on-site, i.e. within close proximity to or at the location where it is to be deployed to provide flood protection.

(16) The barrier 10 is generally L-shaped in cross section, i.e. having a base part 14 and an upright part 12. In use, the base part 14 of the barrier 10 points into the flood water 18. The weight of the flood water 18 presses onto the base part 14 of the barrier 10 to stabilize it, thereby causing the upright part 12 to create a barrier which stops the water 18.

(17) The barrier 10 comprises two main elements. The first is a skeleton, e.g. composed of a plurality of structural modules 20a, 20b, 20c. The second is a waterproof membrane 16 covering the skeleton, which in the FIG. 1 arrangement is in the form of a thin, flexible, waterproof sheet or membrane 16. The skeleton gives the barrier 10 its structural integrity and resists the forces associated with the flood water 18, while the waterproof membrane 16 stops the flood water 18 from passing through the skeleton.

(18) As will be discussed in greater detail later, the various different components of the barrier 10 can be taken apart, i.e. they are discrete components. Thus, the barrier 10 may be supplied or stored as a kit of parts, such as shown in FIG. 2, comprising a plurality of panels 22 for forming the structural modules 20a, 20b, 20c, the waterproof membrane 14, and optional fasteners 24 as will be discussed below.

(19) The kit of parts is much more compact than the assembled barrier 10, simplifying both storage of the barrier 10, as well as transportation of the barrier 10 to a flood location. Furthermore, the absence of complicated or fragile parts allows for storage and deployment of the barrier 10 in harsh conditions.

(20) The waterproof membrane 16 may comprise any waterproof material that ensures that the barrier 10 is waterproof. It may, for example, comprise a uniform (non-reinforced) material, such as plastic, or a fibre-reinforced composite material. Different materials can be used to cover different needs. For example, a stronger, reinforced membrane may be useful for fast moving floods that could contain debris, while a cheaper plastic membrane can be used for calmer floods.

(21) The material used for the waterproof membrane 16 may also be chosen to be of a recyclable material, and/or may be chosen to fit storage requirements such that it can be stored in sealed packaging for long periods of time whilst retaining functionality.

(22) The waterproof membrane 16 is illustrated in this arrangement as extending beyond the front of the base 14. Where it extends beyond the front of the base 14, the waterproof membrane 16 is preferably held in place using a weight, such as a heavy chain or a row of sandbags (not shown), to ensure a good seal against the ground. Alternatively, the edge of the membrane may be anchored to the ground in some other manner. Once held in place by the weight of the water, the seal between the membrane and the ground will be relatively robust.

(23) The waterproof membrane 16 can be made out of several smaller lengths that are made waterproof by overlapping them, and if needed secured by for example tape or glue. The overlap can also or alternatively be secured by weighting the membrane 16 at the overlap above the base 14 to secure placement and ensure waterproofing.

(24) In the FIG. 1 arrangement, each of the structural modules 20a, 20b, 20c forming the skeleton are of an identical configuration. One of the modules 20a is shown in isolation in FIGS. 3 and 4, and will now be described in greater detail.

(25) The structural module 20a comprises two rectangular panels 22. Each rectangular panel 22 is formed of a grating material. The two panels 22 combine together to create the wall 26 and the base 28 of the module 20a, respectively.

(26) An advantage of the use of grating material is that the module 20a can be easily positioned and erected in moving water, which is something that is challenging with existing systems. The holes in the plates 22 allow flood water 18 to pass through the plates 22 during deployment without exerting a large force. For example, the voids in the plates 22 might typically be expected to account for at least 80% of its surface area.

(27) Optionally, a wire 30 can be used to connect the wall 26 and base 28 to further strengthen the structural module 20a. The wire 30 and its attachment point 36 may also help to keep the waterproof membrane 16 in place. That is to say, the wire 30 may act as both a strengthening element of the barrier 10 and an attachment point for the waterproof membrane 16.

(28) In the illustrated arrangement, a single wire 30 is connected at its two ends to a rear face of the wall 26 of the module (i.e. the side opposite to the base 28) and at a midpoint to the base 28 such that the wire runs over the top of the wall 26. In this arrangement, the wire 30 provides resistance against the wall 26 tipping backwards (away from the base 28) due to the pressure of the flood water 18.

(29) A method of installing the wire 30 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10.

(30) Firstly, in advance of erecting the barrier 10, a connection point 36 is mounted onto a panel 22 that will form the base 28 of the module 20a. The attachment point 36 is shown in exploded form in FIG. 5. The clamp part 38 of the attachment point 36 is attached on the grating 28, and includes a lower clamp member 40, an upper clamp member 42, and a threaded rod 44 (or bolt) that points upward from the base 28. A nut 46 is threaded onto the threaded rod 44 to clamp the grating of the panel 22 between the clamp members 40, 42.

(31) Once the module 20a is assembled, a gasket 48 is fitted over the threaded rod 44 to form a seal surface at or above the surface of the panel 22. Next, the waterproof membrane 16 is placed over the module 20a and a hole in the waterproof membrane 16 in pulled down over the rod 44 (or alternatively the waterproof membrane 16 may be punctured by the rod 44), leaving the end of the rod 44 exposed over the waterproof membrane 16. A lifting eye 50 (or any other attachment member suitable for connection to the wire 30) is then attached to the threaded rod 44, e.g. screwed onto the threaded rod 44, over the waterproof membrane 16. As shown in FIG. 6, the gasket 48 thus seals the hole in the waterproof membrane 16 utilizing pressure gained from mounting the lifting eye 50.

(32) It will be appreciated that the above the clamp part 38 is merely one example of how the lifting eye 50 can be attached to the base 28.

(33) Furthermore, whilst the exemplary rod 44 penetrates upwards through the waterproof membrane 14 for connection to the lifting eye 50, it will be appreciated that the rod 44 could be installed downwardly through the waterproof membrane 14 from above, e.g. by being integral with or otherwise coupled to the lifting eye 50.

(34) Next, the wire 30 is attached to the module 22a. The wire 30 exploits the grating of the panels 22 to permit quick and easy attachment at any point on the module 20a. This is important as different configurations of the wall 26 and base 28, as will be discussed later, may have different lengths between the attachment point 36 and the top of the module 20a. This can be easily adjusted by attaching the wire ends further up or down the wall 26.

(35) As shown in FIG. 7, to facilitate connection of the ends of the wire 30 to the module 20a, a hook 34 is connected to each end of the wire 30. Each hook 34 is used to securely attach the wire 30 to a location on the wall 26. It will be appreciated that the hook may take any form suitable for mechanically engaging with the wall 26 to provide an anchor point.

(36) The middle of the wire 30 is then run over the top of the wall 26, where it helps secure the waterproof membrane 16 in place by pressing against the top of the module 20a. As shown in FIG. 8, the midpoint of the wire 22a is connected to the lifting eye 50, for example with a carabiner 52 or similar fastening mechanism. Alternatively, the wire 22a may be connected to the lifting eye by passing directly through the lifting eye 50.

(37) Thus, when deploying the barrier 10, the wire 30 can be quickly attached to provide both structural support for the module 20a and to hold the waterproof membrane 16 in place.

(38) It is advantageous that the wire 30 is free of tension when mounting it to the connection points to facilitate easy assembly. Thus, a mechanism may optionally be provided to tighten the wire 30 after assembly to remove any slack in the wire 30. After the module 20a is assembled, tensioning the wire 30 allows the hooks 34 to be securely fastened to the wall 26, locks the waterproof membrane 16 in place, and secures the connection between the wall 26 and the base 28. The tightening mechanism also allows for flexibility when choosing connection points as any slack can be removed when tightening.

(39) The operation of the tightening mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The tightening mechanism works by pulling a sliding part 32, connected to the wire 30 on both sides of the lifting ring 50/carabiner 52, upwards from the base pulling the lengths of wire together and consequently tightening the wire 30 by reducing the effective length of the wire by up to 25%. There are many different alternatives to a tightening mechanism that can be used, but the basic function of increasing the tension should remain the same.

(40) For clarity, the waterproof membrane 16 is omitted in FIGS. 9 and 10. However, it will be appreciated that the tightening mechanism would normally be actuated after installation of the waterproof membrane 16.

(41) As discussed previously, the panels 22 forming the wall 26 and base 28 of the module 20a are made of a grating material. To facilitate attachment between panels 22, the edge of the grating may be removed creating a row of protrusions in the form of “pegs” 52 (circled in FIG. 11) that can be placed onto the base 28 at any desired place. This allows flexibility in the different configurations that can be achieved by placing the wall at different positions on the base.

(42) This arrangement allows the wall 26 to be moved backwards and forward along the base 28, as illustrated in FIG. 12. For example, this may allow a continuous wall to be constructed, even where there are obstructions.

(43) Also, as shown in FIG. 13, the use of a grating having square holes in fact allows for the wall 26 to be connected to the base 28 in a different direction/orientation. The wall 26 then extends to the side of the base 28, and so can be connected to the following base 26 creating a connection point between modules 20 mounted next to each other which can further strengthen the barrier 10. This is, of course, not required for the system to work, but is especially useful when creating a perimeter around an object that you wish to protect from the flood.

(44) Additionally, the ability to connect the wall 26 at a different angle is useful to turn corners, as shown in FIG. 14. In this arrangement, a second wall 26 can also easily be attached to a single base 28 to create a 90 degree angle at any point. In this arrangement, the barrier 10′ may not be constructed from pre-constructed modules 20, but rather the upright part 12′ and the base part 14′ of the skeleton are assembled in situ directly from the panels 22. Wires 30 and the waterproof membrane 16 may then be connected in the same manner as discussed above.

(45) Whilst the above technique can be used for creating angles of 90 degrees, it should be appreciated that smaller angles can be created by angling each module 20a, 20b, 20c individually in relation to each other. The barrier 10 will still remain waterproof after being draped with the waterproof membrane 16. The curvature that can be achieved in this way is dependent on the strength of the waterproof membrane 16, as the larger the angle, the larger the force on the unsupported section of the membrane (between two modules) becomes. Optionally, connectors may be attached between adjacent modules 20 to provide support to the waterproof membrane 16, such as cables or rigid braces.

(46) Returning to FIG. 11, a second set of protrusions in the form of “pegs” 54 may be formed on one of the shorter sides in addition to those pegs 52 formed on one of the longer sides. This allows for two different height configurations, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively, depending on whether the longer end or the short end becomes the width of the module. This means that a single system can be set up in two different ways to protect against two different depths of floods.

(47) As noted above, the same panels 22 may be used for both the walls 26 and the base 28 to facilitate simpler assembly. Thus, the panels 22 used for the base 28 may similarly comprise protrusions, e.g. in the form of pins 52, 54, that are simply not used.

(48) In an alternative arrangement, two sets of panels may be provided, one having pins 52 on the longer side and the other having pins 54 on the shorter side. Then, when assembling the modules 20, the appropriate panels 22 may be selected for the desired height of module 20.

(49) Whilst a particular design of grating has been illustrated for the panels 22, it should be appreciated that the panels 22 are not limited to this design. FIG. 17 shows an alternative grating for a panel 22′. The grating used for panel 22′ again comprises an array of squares. However, in this example, the protrusions 52′, 54′ are larger and more rounded. The system would otherwise function in the exact same way as the panels 22 described above.

(50) In further embodiments, a mesh of other repeating geometries is also possible, for example a honeycomb structure. There are also many possibilities that can be made with a custom mould allowing for more intricate protrusions/pegs. In further embodiments, the panels may, for example, comprise sheets with circular cut-outs forming the holes and having cylindrical protrusions/pegs.

(51) With reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, in some scenarios anchoring of the barrier 10 can be advantageous to improve the stability of the barrier 10. An exemplary anchor 56 is shown comprising a helical screw design. However, the design of the anchors will vary depending on the type of foundation. For example, in some embodiments, pile-type anchors could be used. The anchors 56 can be installed when erecting the barrier 10 or may be pre-attached to the base panels 28.

(52) The use of grating for the panel 22 allows an anchor 56 to easily be placed at any desired point on the base 28. In some embodiment, it is possible to utilize the down force created from anchoring in combination with a gasket 58 to provide sealing against the foundation which the barrier 10 is erected on.

(53) If anchoring is used only for improving the stability, the anchor 56 can be mounted in advance of the waterproof membrane 16 and would therefore not affect the waterproofing of the barrier 10.

(54) If anchoring is used with a gasket, the membrane would be placed over the barrier 10 before anchoring. A continuous gasket 58 would then be placed under the front of the base. After the gasket is placed anchors would be mounted through the waterproof membrane 16 and sealed against the membrane with a seal material. Gaskets 58 can be used in combination with an extended waterproof membrane 16 to form a skirt.

(55) Whilst the above embodiment illustrates the flood barrier 10 deployed in an upright L-shaped configuration, the flood barrier 10 may also be deployed in a Δ-shaped (delta-shaped) or inverted-V-shaped configuration as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

(56) In FIG. 20, a barrier 10′ is again assembled of a plurality of modules 20a, 20b, 20c, similar to those used to assemble the barrier 10 shown in FIG. 1. However, when assembling the Δ-shaped barrier 10′, each L-shaped module 20a, 20b, 20c is oriented with its apex directed generally upwards. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the base 28 (forward panel in this arrangement) is directed towards with flood water 18 with the wall 26 (rear panel in this arrangement) directed away from the flood water 18. Consequently, the waterproof membrane 16 is laid over the forward panel 28 to prevent ingress of the flood water 18.

(57) As in the preceding embodiments, the modules 20a may be assembled in two different configurations (see FIGS. 15 and 16). In a further alternative, another Δ-shaped barrier 10″ may be assembled using modules with one panel (the forward panel 28′) in a long orientation and the other (the rear panel 26′) in a short orientation connecting at a mid-point along the length of the forward panel 28′. In this arrangement, additional panels may be connected between adjacent modules as the rear panels 26′ may extend beyond the edge of the forward panels 28′. Again, the membrane 16 is laid over the forward panel 28′ to prevent ingress of the flood water 18.

(58) In these arrangements, any suitable means for attaching the waterproof membrane 16 may be used. For example, a clamping arrangement may be used that pierces through the membrane 16 and seals against it, similar to of the attachment point 26. Alternatively, an edge of the membrane 26 may be perforated to allow connection to the top of the barrier 10′, 10″.