TPA Adds 9-Foot AquaFence to Protect Critical Electrical Buildings

During the peak of Atlantic hurricane season, AquaFence is expanding around Tampa Bay with its recent installation at Tampa International Airport (TPA) to help protect the airport from flooding during heavy rain and storms.

TPA has installed a 9-foot AquaFence to protect two electrical buildings from flooding as a preventative measure. The two buildings are located next to Tampa Fire Rescue’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station by Airside A. The buildings power the airport’s airfield lighting system.

Airfield lighting is important for helping aircraft move safely, especially at night. TPA said the AquaFence will help prevent costly repairs caused by water damage. The location is susceptible to flooding from storm surge during a Category 3 hurricane or higher.

“Tampa International Airport has faced the threats of hurricane season time and again, and the installation of this AquaFence system is a forward-thinking resilience solution to protect some of our most critical assets from storm surge,” TPA Chief Development Officer Smitha Radhakrishnan said in a press release. “While we hope to avoid the need to deploy this barrier, TPA’s role as vital infrastructure to the Tampa Bay region underscores why we must prioritize our operational resilience from such extreme climatic events.”

The fence is built from 150 separate Clima Armour FloodWall panels made of steel, aluminum and laminated plywood with UV-resistant and waterproof plastic membranes designed to keep water out. In the event of a storm watch, TPA said crews will use the panels to create the AquaFence and secure it with anchors at least 48 hours before severe weather.