The galvanized metal sill plate is unobtrusive and is the key to this unique flood protection system. For walls over six feet (1.8 m), galvanized diagonal braces and vertical support I-beams are pinned together for ease of handling and erection speed. Many of the components of this off-the-shelf system were not originally designed for galvanizing. 

Through cooperation among Flood Control America, the galvanizer and the fabricator, components were modified with an assortment of vent/drain holes, hanging devices, etc., to allow for a uniform galvanized finish on all surfaces. Duluth, Minnesota is situated on the western edge of Lake Superior. The weather can range from wind-driven rain, rain to ice and ice to snow, all in the same day. The owner of the fuel station needed a durable, low-maintenance corrosion prevention system that could withstand the harsh environment.

The owner expects to fuel a large percentage of vessels that sail into the harbor during shipping season, but does not have the luxury of time for maintenance. Although slow in the off-season, the weather, not to mention the surface area of the structures involved, would not permit the frequent maintenance that a paint system would require. The East Grand Forks' IFCW is the first major installation in the United States accepted by the Army Corps of Engineers. The IFCW is the most proactive means of protecting communities and property from the ravages of floods while still preserving the natural, unfettered beauty of a river setting. The specification for hot-dip galvanizing of the steel components came from the Army Corps of Engineers and was cited by the IFCW's North American licensee as the perfect application for hot-dip galvanizing since the permanent parts of the IFCW are continuously exposed to the environment.