Turbidity Curtain/Barrier

Turbidity Curtain/Barrier

A turbidity curtain is a flexible, impermeable barrier used to trap sediment in water bodies. This curtain is generally weighted at the bottom to ensure that sediment does not travel under the curtain, which is supported at the top through a flotation system.

A turbidity curtain, also commonly referred to as a turbidity barrier, silt barrier or a silt curtain, is used to contain turbidity (sediment and silt) that is stirred up by construction activities taking place in or near bodies of water, dredging operations and rainwater runoff.

Turbidity Curtains and Turbidity Barriers are manufactured to meet the high demands of the construction industry with top of the line erosion and sediment control. The majority of these products can be customized to meet your needs.

When choosing the right Turbidity Curtain for your project it is important to know the type of application and the corresponding barrier specification for that application.

Description

Choosing the right silt curtain for your location is often dependent on different site factors and conditions. The standard classifications for our turbidity curtains are as follows:

​Type 1: Calm Water
Type 2: Medium Water Conditions
Type 3: Fast Water Conditions

Depth for the turbidity curtain is chosen based on the depth of the water in your location. As a standard rule of thumb the depth of skirt should extend down until it is about one 1′ from the floor. This allows the curtain to provide maximum containment without the bottom of the skirt getting bogged down with settled silt/turbidity/sediment.

What are the max water conditions for each curtain type?

Type 1: 0 fps, still water and calm areas
Type 2: 1 knot, moderate wind and waves under 2′
Type 3: 1.5 knots, moderate winds and waves under 2′

What site conditions need to be evaluated?

  1. Wind, waves, and current: For many locations the three most influential factors on the silt curtain are wind, waves and current. Depending on where your work area is located these factors can act as a force on the turbidity curtain causing it to move and adjust while installed. This, in turn, can limit the turbidity curtain’s ability to contain silt and sediment in a given location.

​If you are dealing with a site that has any of the above conditions a Type 2 or Type 3 silt curtain will probably work best for your area. These silt curtains include the addition of a single or dual tension cable along the top of the curtain. This increases the strength of the curtain and its ability to hold up to moving water areas.

  1. Anchoring: The second thing required for any moving water condition is effective anchoring. Spacing and anchor types will change by area, but should typically include, at a minimum, shoreline anchors and anchoring along the barrier every 50′ or 100′.

We will help you select the appropriate curtain grade as well as the optimum installation design for your project, using the following criteria:

  • Site conditions and hydrodynamic regime:
  • Wind
  • Waves
  • Current
  • Water depth
  • Tides or other changes in water level
  • Bottom geometry
  • Bottom composition
  • Project duration
  • Type of material in suspension
  • Construction Use

Turbidity barriers are the ideal solution for any type of construction project, including:

  • Dredging
  • Bridge construction
  • Dam removal and restoration
  • Marina/harbor projects (bulkheads, piers, retaining walls)
  • Port and terminal projects (groins, dikes, breakwaters)
  • Ferry landings
  • Pipeline crossings
  • Coastal and shoreline restoration and rehabilitation
  • Intake construction

Applications:

  • Construction Sites
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Marine Life Protection

***Note: Construction sites can also create hydrocarbons due to dredging operations. In this case, turbidity curtains should be lined with oil sorbent booms parallel to the curtain. This can be anchored directly to the turbidity curtain and will absorb the hydrocarbons before they can reach the curtain.***

Available as:

Part #TBC2550T1IND – 2.5′ x 50′ PVC Turbidity Curtain Type 1 Industrial
Part #TBC0550T1IND – 5′ x 50′ PVC Turbidity Curtain Type 1 Industrial
Part #TBC7550T1IND – 7.5′ x 50′ PVC Turbidity Curtain Type 1 Industrial
Part #TBC1050T1IND – 10′ x 50′ PVC Turbidity Curtain Type 1 Industrial
Part #TBC1250T1IND – 12.5′ x 50′ PVC Turbidity Curtain Type 1 Industrial

Part #TBC0550T1DOT – 5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 1 DOT
Part #TBC1050T1DOT – 10′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 1 DOT

Part #TBC2550T2IND – 2.5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC0550T2IND – 5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC7550T2IND – 7.5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC1050T2IND – 10′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC1250T2IND – 12.5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC1550T2IND – 15′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC2050T2IND – 20′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial
Part #TBC2550T2IND – 25′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 Industrial

Part #TBC0550T2DOT – 5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT
Part #TBC7550T2DOT – 7.5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT
Part #TBC1050T2DOT – 10′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT
Part #TBC1550T2DOT – 15′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT
Part #TBC2050T2DOT – 20′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT
Part #TBC2550T2DOT – 25′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT

Part #TBC0550T2DOTHD – 5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT, Heavy Duty
Part #TBC7550T2DOTHD – 7.5′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT, Heavy Duty
Part #TBC1050T2DOTHD -10′ x 50′ Turbidity Curtain Type 2 DOT, Heavy Duty

 

See the following links for Containment Boom specifications and product diagrams.

Containment Boom

Type 1 Industrial

Type 1 DOT

Type 2 DOT HD

Type 2 Industrial

Type 2 DOT

Anchor