Water Filled Barriers: Versatile, Safe and Easy to Deploy
Water filled barriers have become one of the most widely used traffic management products in the UK. Their combination of ease of deployment, effectiveness, and relatively low cost has made them a popular choice for everything from motorway roadworks to town centre events.
What Are Water Filled Barriers?
Water filled barriers are hollow plastic units (typically HDPE) that are transported empty and filled with water on site. When filled, their weight provides effective vehicle containment for traffic management applications. When the job is done, the water is drained and the barriers can be stacked and transported compactly.
Key Advantages
- Easy deployment: Empty barriers are lightweight and a single person can position them
- Compact storage: Barriers can be stacked when empty, minimising storage and transport costs
- No specialist equipment: Standard water supply is all that is needed for filling
- Reusable: Quality barriers last for many seasons of use
- Interlocking: Most designs interlock to create continuous runs without gaps
- High visibility: Available in orange, yellow, red/white, and other colours
Common Applications
Road Works and Traffic Management
Standard equipment for temporary road works across the UK, channelising traffic through works zones and protecting workers from errant vehicles. For use on the public highway, barriers must comply with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
Event Management
At outdoor events, water filled barriers create perimeters, define pedestrian routes, protect stages, and separate vehicle from pedestrian areas. Their temporary nature makes them excellent for events requiring quick set-up and take-down.
Construction Site Perimeters
Construction sites use water filled barriers to define site boundaries, protect the public, and control vehicle access routes.
Specifications
Common UK specifications: Length 1.0m to 2.5m per unit; Height 800mm to 1,000mm; Weight when filled 300-750kg per unit; Material high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Always verify Chapter 8 compliance before purchasing for use on public highways.