Correctly Creating a Sandbag Wall

As rain storms are increasing , flooding is going to be a problem again for certain areas. If your property is located in a potential flood zone or if it is prone to intermittent flooding, then creating sandbags may be in order. Sandbags are used to make a temporary dike so that flood waters will be diverted around an area and prevent or minimize water damage. Not knowing how to correctly build a sandbag wall can be catastrophic.

Placing sandbags correctly will keep flood waters back from damaging buildings and property. First, you’ll need to purchase sandbags. NYP-Corp produce and distribute the only full line of Military compliant and commercial grade sandbags in the industry.

Correctly Measure & Calculate For a Sandbag Wall

To build a successful sandbag wall, you’ll need to calculate the total amount of sandbags you’ll be using.  Measure the area you want protected with a tape measure. Write down on a piece of paper the length as this number represents the linear feet of the wall.  Determine the amount of sandbags you’ll need by using the following scale below once you have established the linear feet.

• A 1-foot wall needs five bags per foot, 2-foot wall needs 10 bags per foot, 3-foot wall needs 21 bags per foot,  4-foot wall needs 36 bags per foot, and a 5-foot wall needs 55 bags per foot.

Next, you’ll want to multiply the number of bags needed per foot by the total length of the wall. For example, lets say you have have decided you want to create a wall that is 30 feet in length and is 3 feet high. Multiply 21 (number of bags for 3-feet) by 30 (feet in length) which equals 630, the total amount of bags that you’ll use.

Correctly Filling Sandbags

Using emergency sandbags for flood protection can help reduce the severity of floods and minimize damage, but it’s important to use them properly. Knowing how to properly fill a sandbag is beneficial. You don’t want to invest time and energy on creating sandbags that are not being filled correctly. The bags usually measure about 14 inches wide and 24 to 26 inches long. Other sizes of bags also are available, but bags are easier to handle if their filling weight is limited to 35 to 40 pounds. Overfilled bags and bags tied too low will leave gaps in the dike, allowing water to seep through.

Fill the bags about on-half full with sand, dirt, or small pebbles, depending on what is available and tie the bag near the top. Sand is the easiest material to work with as the other materials are more difficult to work with.  If being tied, make sure you leave room in the bag,  allowing the sand to move easily to create a better dike.  There is no need to tie the bags if their not being transported. Filling sandbags is usually a two-man operation as one member holds the bag open while the other shovels the material into the bag. Always think about safety while filling the sandbags; it’s recommended that the individual holding the bag should be wearing gloves and both should be wearing goggles to protect during dry and windy days. Fill the bags only when needed and not store them filled because the soil can break down the bags.

Once the bags are filled, and you’ve determined the amount bags you’ll need, prepare the area by removing any rocks or twigs and making the ground roughly level. If  plastic sheets are available, they can be used to further waterproof the bags by laying it on the ground with the back edge where the sandbags will lay.

More Useful Information

Read our previous blog “Using Sandbags for Flood Protection,” for more information on how to use sandbags for flooding.

NYP Corp realizes that using sandbags to prevent flooding involves massive planning and effort. It is important that you carefully plan and have expert help when constructing the dike. They offer an emergency hotline and an online guide on how to properly use sandbags for flood protection.

Tags: building a dike, filled sandbags, flood prevention, flood protection, flooding, sandbag wall, Sandbags

This entry was posted on Friday, November 18th, 2011 at 8:22 am and is filed under Industrial Packaging, NYP-Corp News, Sandbags.