Discover different types of sand bags for sale!

Did it ever happen to you that you were walking down the street, and out of nowhere, a gust of wind threw debris over you? Or even worse, a signpost came flying upon you? Well, it’s common but can be utterly dangerous.

Hence, traffic engineering companies developed a new idea to prevent this dangerous calamity. It’s none other than using the famous tools known as sandbags. They help in traffic management by acting as anchors for traffic control devices.

Eager to learn more about them? Read along and learn all about sand bags that you ought to know.

What materials are empty sandbags made of?

Most companies sell empty sandbags, meaning you must manually fill them with sand, gravel, or aggregate. Before discussing the applications of sandbags, let’s see some of the different materials used to make them.

Burlap sand bags

Traditionally, the bags you found at hardware or grocery stores were used as sandbags. These were usually brown and had good temperature resistance. Burlap bags can thrive in any weather, making them useful for flood and traffic control.

You can fill them up with sand and stockpile them into a wall form for flood protection. Furthermore, they are also suitable for traffic control. If you plan on installing several signposts in your city street, you can place a burlap bag over one of the stands and prevent it from moving.

Plastic sand bags

Things and the traffic control plan have evolved. Traffic engineers have created plastic sandbags, especially PVC and woven polypropylene (PP).

PVC plastic bags are long-lasting because they are UV-treated, which makes them withstand long hours in sunlight. Plus, the PVC material is durable and doesn’t wear off quickly.

PP is another widely used plastic that is often the most robust material for flood control. These plastic sandbags can carry over 15-25 kg of fine sand and have ties for securing the bags.

With the ability to withstand harsh sun rays, these plastic sandbags are what you need for anchoring.

Bulk sand bags

These are slightly different from sandbags. They are relatively bigger and have more space to store sand.

As a result, these tend to be a lot heavier, and forklifts are used for lifting them. They are perfect for creating fortified walls and bullet-proof structures.

Learn more: What materials are empty sandbags made of?

What are hessian/burlap sand bags?

Here’s another type of sandbag – hessian (burlap), made from jute fabric. Jute is a type of plant, and hessian is formed by tightly weaving the jute. The result is an impervious fabric that even holds the minute particle of sand.

Hence, with a hessian fabric, you can be certain that zero amount of floodwater or soil breaks through the hessian sandbag wall. Hessian sandbags are also exceptionally lightweight, enabling you to carry them around easily.

Plus, they are easy on your pockets. You can purchase bundles of hessian sandbags and create an entire defence wall at a very cheap cost. Another feature of the hessian fabric is that they are biodegradable, causing them to decompose slowly over time.

Nevertheless, they are also suitable for weighing down traffic control devices and signages, causing them to remain still from a specific standpoint. With hessian sandbags, you even have the option to customize them because they are printable.

Therefore, if you want your company’s logo embedded in the bags, hessian sandbags are what you need.

Advantages and disadvantages of sand bags made of hessian/burlap

Let’s look at some of their amazing features:

• They are quite lightweight and inexpensive. You can easily create a fortified sandbag wall at a very low price.

• Hessian/burlap bags are mainly used to store fodder and can be found in any feed store. They are biodegradable and decompose after some time.

However, their biodegradability features pose some limitations. Firstly, the organic texture of hessian/burlap bags makes them rot quickly. Also, they are not abrasion-resistant and can wear down quickly. Therefore, they are not the perfect choice if you’re looking for a sustainable solution.

Secondly, burlap bags are less water-resistant, losing their strengthening properties during water contact. Therefore, they are unsuitable for flood management as they cannot thrive in water. Moreover, they have low moisture absorption capacity, making them worse for flood control.

Lastly, hessian/burlap material is not resistant to UV radiation and heat. Hence, burlap can turn yellow when it comes in contact with harsh sun rays. Moreover, hessian/burlap bags cannot thrive well during rainfall or wind. As a result, the hessian/burlap bags may degrade quickly in case of contact with heavy rainfall.

While hessian/burlap sacks are cheaper than others, they are ranked low in quality, durability, and resistance in harsh weather conditions.

Learn more: What are hessian sand bags?

Various sandbags for different functions

You got it wrong if you thought sandbags were only used for traffic management. They have numerous applications.

People have been using them for centuries, like building fortifications.

Let’s briefly view some of their practical applications.

Flood prevention

Sandbags have been used for a long time to prevent floods. Sandbags are essential for every homeowner in mountainous regions where it rains heavily.

They need these sandbags to prevent the water from flooding their homes and damaging their belongings.

For flood prevention purposes, PVC or hessian sandbags are perfect. They have an impervious layer that completely blocks the entire water flow and diverts it to any other channel. Although sandbags don’t guarantee a water-tight seal, their performance is satisfactory.

Moreover, sandbagging can even play a crucial role in watershed management. The enclosure can be a temporary place for flood water through which the water will divert to other channels such as ponds and lakes.

Furthermore, when the floodwater flows downstream, it’s accompanied by garbage dumps, litter, sediment, and yard waste, which can deteriorate your house.

These elements carry excessive pollutants, leading to an increase in air pollution. Fortunately, sandbagging helps prevent these minute particles from entering your home.

To create a defence barricade for flood prevention, you need to create a wall that is 4 feet high and 10 feet wide, and each foot translates to roughly 78 sandbags.

The best approach is to create a pyramid wall to strengthen the base. However, the flood water may overflow if the flood levels exceed the wall.

If you live in an area where frequent storms occur, it’s essential to consult a professional to prevent floodwater from causing damage.

Military fortifications

It might appear as a surprise, but sandbags can create heavy, robust structures. Even the military uses them to create fortifications and strengthen their base. Furthermore, sandbags are also crucial for creating vaulted doors and windows.

You can create one by stacking all these sandbags over a specific point. For added protection and long life, plywood sheets can be helpful to prevent the structure from moving around easily.

Soil erosion control

It’s not over. Sandbags can even prevent soil erosion. If a flood warning or road construction is happening in your area, it’s time you do something to prevent soil erosion.

Sandbags are an excellent solution for stabilizing soil from erosion. Sandbagging can help form road closures during road maintenance and prevent excessive soil erosion.

As seen above, hessian bags are strong enough to prevent minute sand particles from escaping. Therefore, it’s possible to prevent soil erosion and debris escaping by installing hessian sandbags.

Learn more: Various sandbags for different functions.

Best orange sandbags for traffic management

Let’s talk about how a sandbag sack can be helpful for traffic management. They are usually used as a ballast for preventing stop, traffic, and speed limit signs from moving from their position.

Sandbags can even hold traffic signals in one place, which helps ensure traffic safety.

If they are not in their place, they can hurt pedestrians, hit any vehicle, and not fulfil their purpose. Signage usually cautions motorists about traffic rules and emergencies.

If they are not in their place, motorists might not be aware of the traffic rules and speed on roadways, increasing the chances of accidents.

You can install these sandbags anywhere, including pedestrian crossings, pavement markings, crosswalks, lanes, parking lots, crossings, and sidewalks.

In simple terms, they are helpful for any place with signage. The PVC sandbags are usually orange, making them visible even in dark surroundings.

Hence, sandbags are essential for the transportation system to mitigate traffic accidents.

At Sino Concept, you can find the best orange PVC sandbags that can thrive in any weather condition and have a long life.

Even the authorities, such as the transportation department and the federal highway administration, install sandbags in various city streets.

All of them are good since they last longer and have a strong, durable structure. Therefore, you know where to go if you require one for anchoring.

Learn more: Best orange sandbags for traffic management.

How to use a sandbag?

Sandbags are essential emergency tools made of different materials, such as woven polypropylene, PVC, and burlap, and they can be filled with soil or sand to serve their original purpose. Even the military and government officials have used them for decades to build fortifications.

Sandbags are useful for many things and they are also vital in certain situations. For example, hold traffic signs, prevent flooding, and hold a tent, umbrella, or trampoline.

Learn more: How to use a sandbag?

How do sandbag barricades work?

The sandbag barricade serves as a versatile defensive structure with a wide range of applications, from establishing fortified barriers to safeguarding against floods.

With a variety of sandbags available, the positive aspect is that each type can be converted into resilient barricades. The appeal of sandbags as a favoured and practical choice for barricade construction lies in their cost-effectiveness, reusability, and convenience in emergency scenarios, such as situations involving heavy rainfall.

Despite the many advantages of sandbag barriers, there is a lack of awareness among most individuals regarding their utility and effectiveness in various situations.

Sandbag barricades, with their simple yet effective design, harness the weight and density of sand to create robust barriers. These barricades are constructed by filling sandbags with sand and strategically stacking them to form walls or barriers. The tightly packed sand inside the bags adds mass and stability, making it difficult for water to penetrate or for the barricade to be easily breached.

This method, proven over decades, provides communities with a quick and efficient way to protect against the destructive forces of water or other threats.

Learn more: How do sandbag barricades work?

Conclusion

Sandbags are essential for property owners living in rainy regions. Since flooding can cause a menace, sandbags are useful for preventing damage to residents. Even the Department of Public Works actively installs sandbags to prevent flood damage.

Are you looking forward to purchasing sandbags to stabilize traffic control devices? Or do you want to prevent erosion and flooding issues in your area? Well, whatever your intention is, sandbags can come in handy for you.

You can find high-quality orange PVC sandbags at Sino Concept that can last long. Browse our website to search for the most suitable traffic-calming measures you need.