Geodesign Barriers Ltd

Who are we?

We have a long, proven record of successful deployments of our temporary flood barriers – globally – and it all started in Sweden, in the mid 1990s. As every flood incident presents different circumstances, no situation is the same. This is where our flexible Geodesign Barrier system stands out. Its ability to adapt to local and unforeseen conditions means it can be used in many different situations, in urban as well as rural areas – and also in rivers, canals and lakes. A variety of different types of barriers currently protect critical infrastructure, communities as well as private properties. And you don’t need a whole army to set up the barrier – a couple of people are often enough.

So, what is it?

A temporary flood barrier is a mobile barrier that can be used wherever and whenever you need to hold back the flood water – temporarily. This is not to be confused with a ‘demountable’ barrier, which is an engineered barrier that is permanently fixed and hidden into the ground at a certain site and only activated when needed. A demountable barrier cannot be moved. Our Geodesign Barriers are made in Sweden. For almost a quarter of a century, they have been shipped all over the world – making a real difference to communities and critical infrastructure.

Strong structure

There are different types of Geodesign Barriers but they all have one thing in common:
They consist of an underlying ‘skeleton’ structure, made of special, extra strong steel – double as strong as standard steel. Therefore, we have been able to make the barrier light and easy to handle. On this metal ‘skeleton’ we add panels – and finally, our reinforced plastic membrane. The metal quality, combined with our special plastic membrane means less risk of vandalism. A knife through the plastic membrane wouldn’t make the whole barrier system go down and there would be plenty of time to repair the local damage – as the rest of the barrier remains intact and stable. It also gives a much longer lifespan than if we were relying solely on plastic material. With over 50 years of life expectancy, the reusable Geodesign Barrier is a good future investment for the future. You will probably find the cost paid back already after one single flood – with no flood damage.

Storage and logistics

The Geodesign Barriers are flat-packed and crated, to minimise storage space. For smaller, domestic installations you can store the barriers in a garage or similar. Large-scale users will appreciate the stackable, forkliftable crates – clearly labelled and colour coded, with PVC covers available, for any outdoor storage. Typically, you can fit 50m linear metres in one crate, which facilitates deployment plans. We provide assistance in the planning and training.

Free standing and self-anchoring

The system is completely self-anchoring, because the forces from water pressure are being redirected downwards, due to the angle of the barrier. Together with the friction to the ground and additional pressure from the plastic membrane this gives full stability - even if the barrier was to be overtopped. And before the flood water is there, our iron chain will hold the plastic membrane down and provide weight and stability in strong winds. The system can be used on any friction soil (asphalt, moraine, sand, silt, gravel) without being anchored down. On cohesion soil (clay, mud, grass) we use an anchor pin to secure the system, only as an extra safety measure. For very smooth concrete – with no roughness whatsoever – the supports should be bolted down. 

Flexible and adaptable

The Geodesign Barriers can overcome obstacles such as kerbs, steps, slopes, fences, lamp posts etc. There are special adjustable elements available – but even the straight barrier on its own provides plenty of give in its structure. You can attach the barrier ends to walls, if necessary. Or you can let this free-standing barrier end on higher – and drier – ground. Inner and outer corners of various angles are available.

Ground conditions, drains and pumping

Any water finding its way in the ground – from outside the plastic membrane to the rear of the barrier – will have to be pumped back over the barrier, from the lowest point. Sometimes, there is no water at all behind the barrier but sometimes you will find more water seeping through. This all depends on how permeable the ground is and how well you have dealt with drains and other inlets.
Drains or other cavities in the ground will act as inlets during a flood and must be blocked, either by drain bungs or by using our drain mats and drain blocks. We have two special flood pumps, made to get rid of big volumes of water quickly. The Supertwin 3000D (pumps 3,000 LPM) and the SuperTwin 6000P (pumps 6,000 LPM). One person can easily move them like a wheel barrow and they have a (removable) floatation ring, should you need to let them float in water while pumping.