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Emergency
BRITISH Management
COLUMBIA
SANDBAGGING
General Information
• Construct the sandbag dike on high ground, as close as possible to your home or building. By being
closer to your home or building, fewer bags will be needed, and the sandbag dike will be less
exposed to the stream.
• Sandbagging should also focus along existing flood works or any low spots along dikes for maximum
protection.
• Dig a trench one bag in depth and two bags wide as a foundation for the dike structure.
• To be effective, a dike must be three times as wide at its base as it is high.
• Sandbags should be turned right side out and filled half full. They need not be tied shut, just laid
overlapping each other.
• The open ends of the sandbags should be facing upstream and/or uphill so that the moving water will
not remove the sand from the bags as readily.
• Alternate direction of sandbags with bottom layer, i.e. bottom layer lengthwise with dike, next layer
crosswise.
• As individual bags are put in place, walk on bags to tamp them into place to ensure maximum
strength. Take care to avoid puncturing the bags.
• The butt ends of the bags should be placed facing the stream, for rows that are perpendicular to the
stream.
• Each successive layer should be set back one-half sandbag width on both sides in each additional
layer so a completed dike has a triangular cross-section.
• The number of sandbags needed to protect a home or building varies depending on the local
topography and the anticipated depth of water.
June 2012 Emergency Management BC Page � 1
Bags Required per 100
Linear Feet of Dike
HeightAbove Bags
Dike Required
1 /3 metre 600
2/3 metre 2000
1 metre 3400
Existing Dike
Riverside
RECOMMENDED METHOD FOR SANDBAG DIKING
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Strip sod before placing bottom layer
1. Alternate direction of sacks with bottom layer,
i.e. bottom layer length wise with dike, next
layer crosswise.
2. Lap unfilled portion under ne� sack.
3. Tying or sewing of sacks is not necessary
Method of Lapping Sacks
Width at base = 3 x Height
Height
Landside
Bonding trench, 1 sack deep by 2 sacks wide
4. Sacks should be approximately one half full of
clay, silt or sand.
5. Tamp thoroughly in place.
June 2012 Emergency Management BC Page � 2