<P> The self - closing flood barrier ( SCFB ) is a flood defense system designed to protect people and property from inland waterway floods caused by heavy rainfall , gales or rapid melting snow . The SCFB can be built to protect residential properties and whole communities , as well as industrial or other strategic areas . The barrier system is constantly ready to deploy in a flood situation , it can be installed in any length and uses the rising flood water to deploy . Barrier systems have already been built and installed in Belgium , Italy , Ireland , the Netherlands , Thailand , United Kingdom , Vietnam , Australia , Russia and the United States . Millions of documents at the National Archives building in Washington DC are protected by two SCFBs . </P>
a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water
The self - closing flood barrier ( SCFB )