We are used to seeing Big Bags at construction sites or large logistics hubs, filled with polymers or grain. Yet in recent years, an “off-the-shelf” use has been spreading strongly: Big Bags as emergency flood barriers .

In civil defense scenarios, where every minute counts, the industrial container is transformed into a land defense tool. But why is a Big Bag often more effective than traditional sandbags? The answer lies in the fabric’s physics and operational speed.

For decades, the only defense against water has been small 20 kg sandbags, placed by hand one by one. A grueling job requiring hundreds of arms.

Today, the use of Big Bags can revolutionize the situation. A single Big Bag can hold up to 1,500 kg of sand or gravel. Placing it with an excavator is equivalent to laying 75 traditional bags in one go.

In addition, a Big Bag wall has immense inherent stability. With a square or rectangular base and a height of about one meter, they create a gravity dam that is difficult for even the strongest currents to move.

Not all bags are equal when it comes to stopping water. Resistance to hydrostatic pressure (the force that water exerts on the barrier walls) is critical. Water doesn’t just push down, it presses sideways. A poor quality Big Bag could “span” or give way under this push, compromising the dike.

Another advantage in prevention is space. Thousands of empty bags can be stored in a few pallets, ready to be distributed and filled on site with soil or debris taken directly from the emergency area.

Whether transporting chemicals or protecting a population center from flooding, the quality of polypropylene and precision weaving of SebinoPack solutions make the difference between success and failure.