Water filled barriers are a highly practical, lightweight, flexible, and affordable heavy-duty alternative to concrete or metal hoarding barriers.

Depending on usage water filled barriers, or water filled barricades as they’re sometimes referred to, are regularly better suited to an application than traditional chapter 8 road barriers, concrete, or metal crowd control barriers.

They’re often regarded as best practice for safely closing off sections of roads, delineation of worksites, construction sites and pedestrian walkways and to cordon off potentially hazardous areas. Due to their nature water filled barriers are suited for both temporary and semi-permanent barricade solutions, they can also be filled with sand for the latter if preferred.

Lightweight and Stackable

Manufactured from durable UV stabilised polythene plastic water filled barriers are extremely lightweight yet robust and stackable. This ensures they’re easy to handle and implement when empty without requiring specialist lifting equipment and take up minimal space when transporting and storing.

Image source: Roadware Ltd / Oaklands Plastics

Quick Implementation

When empty water filled barriers can be implemented in minutes by one or two people, even around bends. Once in situ and filled with water they provide an extremely robust protective safety barrier many times heavier than their original weight.

Image source: Roadware Ltd

Impact Safety

Water filled barriers are a much safer choice where there’s a risk of collision with many councils stipulating this barrier style for street works projects in the public realm. Research has shown injury and mortality rates are considerably higher where there are accidents involving concrete or metal barriers.

Water filled barriers are designed with flexibility in mind to help absorb and reduce physical impact during a collision whilst still being robust. Some designs also have fully speed tested crash safety ratings, such as the RB22 approved to BS EN1317-N1 50mph.

RB22 Water Filled Crash Barrier Image Source: Roadware Ltd / Oaklands Plastics

No Gap Wall

Featuring a hook and eye barrier to barrier connection water filled barriers quickly link together to create a seamless ‘wall’ with no large gaps.

Due to a high weight when filled with water these barriers also provide impressive wind speed resistance compared to chapter 8 road barriers or cones. They won’t easily blow over with a gust of wind and so safer in many environments.

Water filled barrier systems provide optimal protection and in most applications the potential to improve safety and security for both workers and public.

Image source: Novus Baarrier Roadware Ltd

Reduced Theft

Due to their weight and size when in situ theft of water filled barriers is extremely low compared to chapter 8 barriers or road cones. Each barrier, depending on type, can weigh up to 600kg per section whilst also being interlocked with one another.

Image source: 600kg RB22 Road Barrier Roadware Ltd / Oaklands Plastics

Highly Visible Colours

Being predominantly red and white, water filled barriers are highly visible ensuring motorists and pedestrians are aware of potential hazards and road works. Optional reflective red and white strips further enhance visibility and safety in the dark. Both these factors can help reduce the need and cost of additional street works warning signage.

Water filled barriers are often seen in other colours such as blue and green, especially on construction sites, to match company colours. Areas storing hazardous chemical and fuel containers are sometimes cordoned off by yellow and black water filled barriers to create a chevron warning effect.

Image source: Yellow & Black Evo Barriers Roadware Ltd

Secure Fence Panels

Water filled barriers can have their hight extended up to 2 metres tall via either anti-climb solid hoarding or mesh metal panels that clip together and securely slot into each barrier base section.

These are extremely useful on construction sites to safely secure an area along with contents and stop public gaining unauthorised access. Matching locking pedestrian and vehicle gates can also be incorporated for worker access.

Image source: GB2 Barrier Roadware Ltd

Where to Buy Water Filled Barriers

Roadware are one of the largest distributors of water filled barriers and height extension panels in the UK.
Click on here to explore our range of water filled barriers.