Best Practices for Zero Retaining Wall Failures - Compaction Requirements at the Face of Wall

Compacting the wall rock behind your retaining wall, as well as inside the cores of the facing units is key.

Allan Block recommends that a hand operated plate compactor be used behind the base course within the 3 ft (0.9 m) wide consolidation zone with a minimum of two passes.

Compaction of the second course and above begins by running the plate compactor directly on top of the block facing and then compacting in parallel paths from the wall face until the entire consolidation zone has been compacted. A minimum of two passes of the plate compactor are required with maximum lifts of 8 in. (20 cm).

Final compaction requirements are typically 95% of Standard Proctor.For more information, see Sec. 1 Part 3.4 E in the Allan Block Spec Book.    (ref. BP, Chapter 6.7)

Allan Block is working to achieve our industry initiative of Zero Wall Failures. With our Best Practices Manual and experience in the industry we are trying to expand the knowledge base for the design of segmental retaining walls (SRW's) by communicating and educating the professionals in the industry.  To see the full Best Practices Manual, visit allanblock.com to download today and keep an eye out for more industry Best Practice recommendations here.