Big Bags USA® Flood Barrier FAQs
Investing in Big Bags USA® flood barrier systems for your community is one of the best things you can do to mitigate flood damages. In today's blog, we answer some of the most common questions we hear from prospective and current customers.
Big Bags USA® is a flood barrier system made of 5 large polypropylene sandbags that opens like an accordion. It is 15 foot long and 40 inches tall. When open, they easily stand on their own ready to be filled by machinery such as skid steers or front-end loaders; you can even use a cement mixer with a slurry of sand and water. The systems can effectively be used most anywhere. The flexible design of no rigid bottom structure allows the Big Bags USA® sandbags to conform to any sub-surface, making a water-tight seal.
The equipment used depends on the location and kind of deployment you're doing. If you're deploying on the side of a roadway during a flood, a good way to fill them is with a cement mixer. You use 20 gallons of water for every cubic yard of sand; by the time the sand reaches the bags, it is heavy and wet. As the sand mixture comes down the chute into the bags, it's best if they're filled just 8-10 inches on the bottom of each before proceeding to fill them all the way. You can also use a front-end loader, a backhoe or a skid-steer.
Each system connects to the next with either clamps or ¾ to 1 inch wood screws inserted on-site once the flood barrier systems are opened and prior to filling. It's quite simple. Place the first system where you need it. If you're unloading multiple systems from the back of a truck, you want to place them 105 feet apart. Then take your second system and pull it towards the first system you placed. Place them flush together as best you can. If it's not raining, you might want to use a screw gun and screws to attach the systems together. Place the screws in the same position that you can see the ones in the bags that are already connected in one system. Use four screws down each leg and two across the top. Be sure you have the laces or the seems out to make it more flush. You can use spring clamps for assistance keeping the boards together. If it is raining, the clamps can be used in place of the screws so you're not burning out the motor in your screw gun.
Once the systems are connected where you want them, you're ready to start filling them. Don't fill each bag all the way up separately. Instead, fill them each 8-10 inches high before going back and filling them to the top. This helps with speed of deployment and filling of the bags properly. There are no additional ‘techniques or requirements’ to fill the sandbags. The front loader is the favored option for speed and efficiency of filling. If the first load of sand tips the system over, just use the bucket to pull it back into place. To avoid that issue, fill the bags slowly spreading the sand across the bottom of each bag before filling them up completely.
Big Bags USA® flood barriers can be placed at any angle required. Empty systems weigh 50 pounds and can easily be moved by one person. To make a 90 degree angle, place your first system and then drag the second one perpendicular to the end of it. Grab a couple extra u-frames. (We can include these in your order if you let us know you'll be needing them.) Insert one into the bag on the side where the bags meet and there's not already a frame. Now you've got them in position to screw them together (see connecting bags above). Being able to create angles allows you to create a protective wall around buildings and other property/objects.
The Big Bags USA® flood barriers are shipped 7 systems per pallet. We've made enhancements to our shipping. When placing barrier systems on top of one another, rather than the loops being on top where they can get caught, we have flipped the top layer of systems upside down. That gives you 210 linear feet on each pallet instead of 105. Depending on the size of your order, it will typically take 5 to 7 business days to be delivered to your destination.
Demonstration videos can be found on our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJY3AUsjdakbH9yoxzn38uQ.
Now that your questions are answered, you can see just how valuable Big Bags USA® flood barriers can be when it comes to flood protection. If you have any further questions about our flood protection products, give us a call at 1-800-337-0537.
1. What is Big Bags USA®?
Big Bags USA® is a flood barrier system made of 5 large polypropylene sandbags that opens like an accordion. It is 15 foot long and 40 inches tall. When open, they easily stand on their own ready to be filled by machinery such as skid steers or front-end loaders; you can even use a cement mixer with a slurry of sand and water. The systems can effectively be used most anywhere. The flexible design of no rigid bottom structure allows the Big Bags USA® sandbags to conform to any sub-surface, making a water-tight seal.
2. How Do You Fill the System?
The equipment used depends on the location and kind of deployment you're doing. If you're deploying on the side of a roadway during a flood, a good way to fill them is with a cement mixer. You use 20 gallons of water for every cubic yard of sand; by the time the sand reaches the bags, it is heavy and wet. As the sand mixture comes down the chute into the bags, it's best if they're filled just 8-10 inches on the bottom of each before proceeding to fill them all the way. You can also use a front-end loader, a backhoe or a skid-steer.
3. How Do You Connect Two Systems Together?
Each system connects to the next with either clamps or ¾ to 1 inch wood screws inserted on-site once the flood barrier systems are opened and prior to filling. It's quite simple. Place the first system where you need it. If you're unloading multiple systems from the back of a truck, you want to place them 105 feet apart. Then take your second system and pull it towards the first system you placed. Place them flush together as best you can. If it's not raining, you might want to use a screw gun and screws to attach the systems together. Place the screws in the same position that you can see the ones in the bags that are already connected in one system. Use four screws down each leg and two across the top. Be sure you have the laces or the seems out to make it more flush. You can use spring clamps for assistance keeping the boards together. If it is raining, the clamps can be used in place of the screws so you're not burning out the motor in your screw gun.
4. What's the Best Way to Fill the Bags?
Once the systems are connected where you want them, you're ready to start filling them. Don't fill each bag all the way up separately. Instead, fill them each 8-10 inches high before going back and filling them to the top. This helps with speed of deployment and filling of the bags properly. There are no additional ‘techniques or requirements’ to fill the sandbags. The front loader is the favored option for speed and efficiency of filling. If the first load of sand tips the system over, just use the bucket to pull it back into place. To avoid that issue, fill the bags slowly spreading the sand across the bottom of each bag before filling them up completely.
5. Can the Barriers Be Placed Around a Corner and How?
Big Bags USA® flood barriers can be placed at any angle required. Empty systems weigh 50 pounds and can easily be moved by one person. To make a 90 degree angle, place your first system and then drag the second one perpendicular to the end of it. Grab a couple extra u-frames. (We can include these in your order if you let us know you'll be needing them.) Insert one into the bag on the side where the bags meet and there's not already a frame. Now you've got them in position to screw them together (see connecting bags above). Being able to create angles allows you to create a protective wall around buildings and other property/objects.
6. How are Your Systems Shipped?
The Big Bags USA® flood barriers are shipped 7 systems per pallet. We've made enhancements to our shipping. When placing barrier systems on top of one another, rather than the loops being on top where they can get caught, we have flipped the top layer of systems upside down. That gives you 210 linear feet on each pallet instead of 105. Depending on the size of your order, it will typically take 5 to 7 business days to be delivered to your destination.
Demonstration videos can be found on our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJY3AUsjdakbH9yoxzn38uQ.
Now that your questions are answered, you can see just how valuable Big Bags USA® flood barriers can be when it comes to flood protection. If you have any further questions about our flood protection products, give us a call at 1-800-337-0537.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
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