Water filled barriers – choosing the right one for your site

Over the past two decades, we have seen a significant growth in the use of plastic water filled barriers across Australia. These typically orange and white plastic barriers are seen everywhere from construction sites to roadworks and are great safety barrier solution for traffic management, worksites and crash protection.

These barriers are made of UV stabilised polyethylene, making them light, maneuverable and easy to install. Each plastic barrier is usually 2 metres long, with the units connected through either an interlocking or pin system that can be installed at any length, depending on your unique site requirements. Once the barriers are in place and interlocked, they are then filled with water to create a heavy-duty and difficult to move barricade.

There are a range of different options available, ensuring the perfect solution for every situation. At Site HQ, we offer four types of water filled barriers:

KI 1000

The KI 1000 is a lighter option, commonly used for pedestrian delineation and around slow-moving vehicles. Fitted with reflective tape, these highly visible barriers have two apertures topside for the fitment of hazard lights, pole signage or extended mesh fencing. The barrier is easy to install with a simple interlocking system that allows the fencing to remain connected while moving through angles up to 120 degrees each way.

While these fences are not crash-rated, the light-weight nature of these products makes them perfect for use in car parks or to protect assets and people in locations such as events or festivals. The lighter build also means the KI 1000 is less expensive than some other products on the market.

Shield 1 Barrier

The Shield 1 Barrier is a MASH-tested water filled barrier made from a patented composite design that utilizes a high-strength modified UV stabilized polyethylene and a steel pin connecting system. This accredited design ensures the Australian-made product is road rated for speeds of up to 50km/hour and approved by road authorities across the country. The accreditation and durability of the Shield 1 Barrier makes it perfect for the protection of assets or people on roads or major construction sites.

X-Stream

Our X-Stream water filled barrier, is a lightweight barrier that is easy to manoeuvre and install. It is a great low cost option, that is ideal for use on building sites to delineate walk ways.

X-Site

Our fourth option is the X-Site. This heavy-duty pedestrian zone barrier is the perfect barrier for delineating crowd flow. It is ideal choice for events or constructions sites when road closures are required and traffic management is in place. This barrier is easy to install, with a simple interlocking system. A versatile water filled barrier, it can easily be fitted with anti-gawk screens and fence tops for added privacy.

Benefits of water filled barriers

There are many benefits for using water filled barriers across a variety of locations and purposes. Through our extensive experience and feedback from clients, the Site HQ team has identified five key benefits.

Easy to set up

Concrete or steel barriers are usually much longer and heavier, which makes them difficult to move around. These heavy alternatives also typically require additional set up equipment, such as a forklift or crane for positioning. The light weight, shorter and easy to manoeuvre nature of water filled barriers makes them far easier to set up and pack down than the alternatives available on the market.

Simple to transport and store

The lightweight build of water filled barriers also makes them easy to transport. Trucks can typically carry five times more water-filled barriers than concrete barriers in one load, as each unit is lighter and smaller.

More versatile

As concrete or steel barriers are heavy and difficult to manage, it can be challenging to set them up in some locations. Water filled barriers are more flexible and can taper around corners or intersections far easier, without needing any additional componentry.

Simple to mold around a project

Water filled barriers can be moved longitudinally, which allows a project team to move the barriers along the section they’re working in to ensure only that section is protected. This eliminates the need to place barriers along the entire length of the work zone, while still offering enough protection.

With water filled barriers becoming an increasingly popular option across Australia, Site HQ has a growing range of options on offer. Our professional, knowledgeable and experienced team can also provide guidance to help you pick the perfect option for your situation, budget and requirements.

To find the perfect solution for your needs or to hear more about our available options, simply reach out to our team today on 1300 748 347.