

#Interlocking retaining wall blocks height professional#
Final designs for construction purposes must be performed by a local registered professional engineer, using the actual conditions of the proposed site. For cantilever or segmental gravity (block) retaining walls, a building permit is typically necessary if the total height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top. Check with a local engineer for assistance if you are in a seismic area. For instance, a retaining wall with an exposed height of less than 3.5 feet will typically have at least 6 inches of hidden wall, thus totaling a wall height of 4 feet. The gravity wall heights shown above do not account for seismic loading. The systems may also employ soil reinforcement that extends into the backfill and allows for the construction of walls with significant height (e.g. All heights based on exposed wall heights and include a cap block. This table is based on clay soil having an internal friction angle of 27° (Ref) or better and a sandy soil having an internal friction angle of 32° (Ref) or better. For retaining walls over 3 to 4 feet in height, building codes generally require a building permit and structural wall design prepared by a qualified engineer. Wall Heights listed are for reference only. A segmental retaining wall is built using interlocking concrete blocks. Maximum Wall Heights - Gravity Retaining WallsĪB, AB Aztec & AB Europa Collections 6° (Ref)ĪB Fieldstone Short Anchoring Unit(SAU) 6° (Ref)ĪB Fieldstone Long Anchoring Unit (LAU) 6° (Ref)ĪB Vertical Only of the AB Collection 3° (Ref) Step 1: Digging a Foundation Image source: The Bean Blog via Flickr The most important step in building a sturdy wall is starting with a level base.
