Introduction

On July 28, 2025, Southern Taiwan was hit by an extreme rainstorm, with over 360 mm of rainfall in just six hours in the Chiayi area. The construction site of the highly anticipated TSMC Chiayi AP7 advanced packaging plant experienced severe flooding. While the flooding mainly affected the construction zones and did not reach critical equipment, this unexpected “flash flood” served as a wake-up call for the semiconductor industry: as climate change intensifies, flood risk has become a serious threat to high-tech manufacturing operations.

For semiconductor facilities—where equipment is expensive, processes are highly sensitive, and environmental contamination is unacceptable—any water ingress can result in catastrophic business interruption. As a professional manufacturer of FM Approved quick-fit compression flood barriers, Liansuo Construction Technology draws on the latest FM Data Sheets—FMDS 1-40 and FMDS 7-7—to deliver the most rigorous and resilient flood protection strategy tailored to semiconductor facilities.

FM’s Gold Standard for Semiconductor Flood Protection

FM’s Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets (FMDS) are considered the gold standard for risk control in high-value industries, exceeding most local code requirements. For semiconductor facilities, two standards are particularly relevant:

1. FMDS 7-7 – Semiconductor Manufacturing Facilities: Zero Tolerance for Water Intrusion

Section 1.2 of FMDS 7-7 identifies fluid leakage as a critical threat to ongoing semiconductor operations. The guidelines call for strict site selection, explicitly stating that wafer fabs and critical systems must not be located within 100- or 500-year flood zones (Section 2.3.2.1.2). This highlights a “zero-tolerance” stance toward water risks in cleanroom environments.

2. FMDS 1-40 – Flood: Operational Continuity Above All

FMDS 1-40 provides a comprehensive guide to flood risk management, with its core objective being uninterrupted business operation (Section 2.1). Key requirements include:

• 500-Year Flood Level: Facilities must be protected against a 0.2% annual exceedance probability flood (500-year return period), with an additional 0.3 to 0.6 meters of freeboard (Section 2.2.1).

• Special Consideration for Cleanrooms: For areas that “cannot tolerate any water ingress,” such as cleanrooms, enhanced protective measures must be implemented (Section 3.6.1).

The TSMC Incident: Speed and Opening Protection Make or Break Resilience

The Chiayi flood demonstrated the unpredictable and fast-moving nature of flash floods. Traditional sandbags or beam-barrier flood defenses often require lengthy deployment time, rendering them ineffective in emergency scenarios.

More importantly, no matter how robust a site’s drainage system may be, the building openings—loading docks, driveways, and entryways—are always the weakest points. FMDS 1-40 (Section 2.2.6) explicitly warns: “If all water entry points cannot be controlled, flood damage may be unavoidable.”

Thus, the key to true resilience lies in using flood protection systems that are FM Approved and can be rapidly deployed.

Liansuo’s FM Certified Solutions: Engineered for the Semiconductor Industry

Liansuo Construction Technology has developed an FM Approved Quick-Fit Compression Flood Barrier system that directly aligns with FM’s most stringent flood protection standards. Designed for high-value industrial sites, it offers three core advantages:

1. FM Approved: Global Certification with Industry-Leading Leak Rate

FMDS 1-40 (Section 2.2.6.2.4) strongly recommends the use of FM Approved flood barriers. Liansuo’s products have passed FM Approvals’ rigorous testing, with leak rates controlled to under 1 L/hr/m—a critical requirement for cleanroom-grade protection that vastly outperforms conventional flood protection products.

2. Rapid Deployment: Beating the Flood Clock

Liansuo’s quick-fit design allows facilities teams to install barriers within extremely short warning windows. Compared to traditional beam-type barriers, installation time is reduced significantly, aligning with FMDS 1-40 (Section 3.7)’s mandate for rapid flood response.

3. Compression-Seal Technology: A Watertight Commitment

Using a unique mechanical compression system, our flood barriers maintain structural integrity and seal performance even under high hydrostatic pressure. This proactive sealing mechanism offers superior protection compared to passive water-pressure seals and ensures no leakage under demanding conditions.

Conclusion: Flood Protection Is Not a Cost—It’s a Business Continuity Investment

The flooding at the TSMC Chiayi site is a clear reminder that extreme weather is no longer hypothetical. For the semiconductor industry, flood defense is not an optional expense—it’s an essential investment in operational resilience.

Liansuo Construction Technology is committed to delivering flood protection solutions that exceed global standards. Our FM Approved Quick-Fit Compression Flood Barriers are the optimal choice for companies seeking to comply with FMDS 1-40 and FMDS 7-7, ensuring uninterrupted operations even in the face of climate-driven challenges.

To choose Liansuo is to choose world-class protection—safeguarding your core competitiveness and ensuring business continuity.