SIGMA turbidity curtains — also called silt curtains, silt screens or silt barriers — are vertical floating barriers positioned in the water to contain fine silt discharged by dredging, construction and reclamation. They are supplied in the three standard U.S. DOT classifications: Type 1 for calm water, Type 2 for moving water, and Type 3 as a heavy-duty silt curtain for open and tidal water. Each turbidity barrier combines PVC-coated woven polyester fabric, closed-cell foam flotation, a top load line and a bottom ballast chain so the floating turbidity barrier stays upright and contains suspended sediment.
A turbidity curtain (silt curtain) is a vertical barrier positioned within the water that contains the fine particles of silt discharged into the water from dredging, construction or reclamation activities. These silt curtains are useful in almost any water environment, holding suspended sediment inside the work zone so it settles instead of drifting downstream as a turbidity plume. The floating turbidity barrier hangs from surface flotation down to a weighted skirt, forming a continuous silt barrier across the water column. "Silt curtain", "silt screen", "silt boom" and "sediment curtain" all describe the same product.
Each turbidity barrier is made from PVC-coated woven polyester for UV, abrasion and water resistance. A line of closed-cell foam flotation sealed into the top hem keeps the barrier upright, while a galvanized top load cable carries tension between panels and a galvanized bottom ballast chain holds the skirt vertical against current. The result is a stable floating turbidity barrier, not a loose silt screen that folds over in a breeze. Stress plates at the lower corners and ASTM aluminum couplers between panels keep the silt boom rigging intact in working water.
There are three groups of silt curtains — Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 — with Type 1 the lightest and Type 3 the most heavy-duty silt curtain. A Type 1 turbidity curtain suits calm ponds and marshes; a Type 2 turbidity curtain handles moving water in lakes, streams and tidal areas; a Type 3 turbidity curtain is built for open water with wind, waves and current. Qualified professionals weigh water flow speed, waves, wind and project type and duration to decide which silt curtain a project needs.
The floating silt barrier is towed out in panels, joined end to end and anchored across the work zone so it spans the channel or encircles the dredge. The skirt (draft) is sized so it reaches near the bed in shallow water or hangs to a set depth in deep water, intercepting the turbidity plume through the active part of the water column. In tidal or moving water the curtain is anchored at intervals and given slack to ride the current and tide rather than fight it, which is why correct silt curtain installation matters as much as the fabric grade.
Turbidity curtains protect sensitive water bodies during dredging and reclamation, marine and shoreline construction, bridge and outfall work, and pond or lagoon cleanouts. The lighter types suit ponds, lakes and slow rivers; the Type 3 silt curtain handles open, tidal and intercoastal water with current and waves. Used together with a land-based silt fence, a turbidity curtain closes the loop on a project sediment-control plan.
Each curtain is supplied in 50 ft and 100 ft panels joined with ASTM aluminum couplers, in high-visibility yellow / orange as standard. As a manufacturer we supply turbidity barrier for sale across all three types — tell us the water conditions, required skirt depth and total length and we will quote turbidity curtain price ex-works. We can also supply replacement flotation, ballast chain and couplers to extend an existing silt curtain line.
Manufacturer datasheet — turbidity curtain specifications.
| Component | Property | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeboard | Material | PVC | PVC | PVC |
| Freeboard | Spec. | height:160mm, grammage:600gsm | height:200mm, grammage:600gsm | height:300mm, grammage:800gsm |
| Freeboard | Tensile strength | crosswise-70KN/m, lengthway-60KN/M | crosswise-70KN/m, lengthway-80KN/M | crosswise-96KN/m, lengthway-80KN/M |
| Floating | Material | EPS | EPS | EPS |
| Floating | Spec. | dia.16cm*1.1m | dia.20cm*1.1m | dia.30cm*1.1m |
| Floating | Flotage | 25kg/m | 35kg/m | 80kg/m |
| Draft | Material | PET needle-punched geotextile | PET needle-punched geotextile | PET needle-punched geotextile |
| Draft | Spec. | deep:0.5-10m, grammage:200gsm | deep:0.5-10m, grammage:300gsm | deep:0.5-10m, grammage:400gsm |
| Draft | Tensile strength | crosswise: 50KN/m, lengthway: 40KN/m | crosswise: 90KN/m, lengthway: 80KN/m | crosswise: 140KN/m, lengthway: 120KN/m |
| Chain | Material | hot galvanized chain | hot galvanized chain | hot galvanized chain |
| Chain | Spec. | dia.:4mm, 1.0kg/m | dia.:6mm, 1.5kg/m | dia.:10mm, 2.2kg/m |
| Chain | Strength | 24KN/m | 48KN/m | 96KN/m |
| Belt | Material | terylene | terylene | terylene |
| Belt | Spec. | width:5cm | width:5cm | width:5cm |
| Belt | Strength | 32KN | 48KN | 72KN |
| Connection | Material | aluminum ASTM or belt&terylene rope | aluminum ASTM or belt&terylene rope | aluminum ASTM or belt&terylene rope |
| Section length (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | |
| Wave height (m) | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | |
| Wind speed (m/s) | 5 | 8 | 15 | |
| Flow rate (kn) | 0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | |
| Temperature (℃) | -20 to 50 | -20 to 50 | -20 to 50 | |
| Storage temperature (℃) | -20 to 60 | -20 to 60 | -20 to 60 |
Match the type to the water: a Type 1 turbidity curtain for calm ponds and marshes (< 1 ft/s current), a Type 2 turbidity curtain for moving water in lakes, streams and tidal areas, and a Type 3 turbidity curtain for open or tidal water with wind, waves and current. Tell us the water conditions and skirt depth and we will recommend a type.
They are the same product — a vertical floating barrier that contains suspended sediment in water. "Silt curtain", "turbidity curtain", "silt screen" and "silt barrier" are interchangeable names; all describe the floating turbidity barrier used during dredging and marine construction.
The curtain is made from PVC-coated woven polyester (14–22+ oz/yd² by type) with closed-cell foam flotation, a galvanized top load cable on Type 2 and Type 3, and a galvanized bottom ballast chain. Panels are 50 ft and 100 ft and join with ASTM aluminum couplers.
Turbidity curtain price depends on type, skirt depth, total length and connector hardware. As the manufacturer we quote ex-works — send the water conditions, required draft and length and we will return a turbidity barrier price the same business day.
The skirt should reach close to the bed in shallow water, or hang to the depth that intercepts the turbidity plume in deep water. Type 1 covers roughly 2–20 ft, Type 2 up to about 65 ft and Type 3 up to about 130 ft of draft. Tell us the water depth and bed conditions and we will recommend a skirt depth and freeboard.
Panels are joined with ASTM aluminum couplers, towed into position and anchored across the work zone. In moving or tidal water the curtain is anchored at intervals with enough slack to ride the current rather than fight it. We supply the curtain ready to deploy; anchors and mooring lines are sized to your site and are quoted separately on request.
Yes. Curtains pack down by panel for efficient container loading, so we export turbidity barrier worldwide. We quote ex-works by default and can arrange FOB or CIF to your port — send the type, skirt depth, total length and destination for sea-freight pricing.
Tell us quantity, destination port, and any questions — we reply within one business day.
Erosion Control HDPE plastic flat mesh (geonet) — extruded polyethylene netting in 7 models, 550–1240 g/m², for slope protection, fencing and ground reinforcement.
Erosion Control Woven polypropylene silt fence for above-ground sediment control — AASHTO M288 silt fence fabric in 24/30/36 in heights, UV-stable and high-strength.
Erosion Control Concrete blanket (GCCM / concrete canvas) — a flexible cement-filled mat to ASTM D8364 that hydrates into a thin, durable concrete erosion-control layer.
