Typical Retaining Wall Details

Based on the 2006 Virginia Construction Code

Fairfax County, Virginia

CONTENTS Timber Retaining Wall ...................................................................................2 General Notes.............................................................................................2 Wall Construction ........................................................................................2 Deadmen Requirements ...............................................................................3 Connection Requirements.............................................................................3 Masonry Retaining Wall.................................................................................4 General Notes.............................................................................................4 Wall Construction ........................................................................................4 Bond Beam and Reinforcement Details...........................................................5 Dowel and Keyway Requirements..................................................................5 Vertical Joint Requirements ..........................................................................6 Backfill and Drainage Requirements...............................................................6 Concrete Retaining Wall ................................................................................7 General Notes.............................................................................................7 Wall Construction ........................................................................................7 Dowel and Keyway Requirements..................................................................8 Vertical Joint Requirements ..........................................................................8 Backfill and Drainage Requirements...............................................................8 The use of this package in lieu of submitted drawings applies to retaining walls with the following limitations: heights no greater than 5 feet, level backfill, no surcharge loading and residential use only. Retaining walls must be constructed in strict conformance with the details contained herein. A copy of these retaining wall details is required to be on the job site and available to the inspector during the construction and inspection process. The use of the Fairfax County Typical Retaining Wall Details for a tiered or stacked retaining wall system is strictly prohibited.

Fairfax County
Typical Retaining Wall Details
Based on the 2006 Virginia Construction Code
Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

VIRGINIA
Sheet 1 of 8

TIMBER
GENERAL NOTES

RETAINING

WALLS

1. All lumber shall be 6x6, southern pine, grade #2 or better and pressure treated in accordance with American Wood-Preservers' Association standards for ground contact. 2. All spikes shall be 60d or equivalent, hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel and driven into predrilled holes. Spikes shall be of sufficient length to penetrate the base member a minimum of 2 inches. 3. Member joints shall be staggered a minimum of 3.5 feet from the joints of the course above and below. WALL CONSTRUCTION The construction of a timber retaining wall shall conform to the requirements show in FIGURE 1 through FIGURE 3.
stagger joints 3'-6" min. deadman tieback, typical

8'-0" typical

stagger deadmen between courses

FIGURE 1: TYPICAL ELEVATION

typical deadman

gravel backfill to within 1'-0" of top of wall level backfill only

30" cross plate, typical

place drain pipe on a minimum of 4" of gravel 6'-0"

24"

4" diameter rigid perforated drain pipe, full length; drain to daylight

FIGURE 2: TYPICAL SECTION

Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

12" min.

5'-0" maximum

Sheet 2 of 8

DEADMEN REQUIREMENTS Deadmen shall be placed at 8 feet on center as shown in FIGURE 1. Deadmen and cross plates shall be constructed as shown in FIGURE 3. Deadmen are not required in the bottom course below grade.

60d spikes @ 24" o.c. staggered, each course 2-60d spikes each end 30" cross plate

deadman drain pipe

FIGURE 3: TYPICAL DEADMAN DETAIL CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS Each 6x6 member shall be secured at each end with 2-60d spikes driven vertically into the member below. The corners shall be secured with 2-60d spikes and driven horizontally as shown in FIGURE 4.

2-60d spikes at each end of timber, typical

2-60d spikes at corners, typical

FIGURE 4: TYPICAL CORNER DETAIL

Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

Sheet 3 of 8

MASONRY
GENERAL NOTES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

RETAINING

WALLS

The minimum concrete compressive strength at 28 days shall be 3,500 PSI and shall comply with ACI 318. Reinforcing steel shall comply with ASTM A615 and shall have a yield strength of 60,000 PSI. Concrete masonry blocks shall comply with ASTM C90. All joint reinforcement, ties and other accessories shall be resistant to corrosion. All head and bed joints shall be 3/8-inch thick. Bed joints of the starting course over the concrete foundation may be between 1/4-inch and 3/4-inch. Mortar shall conform to ASTM C270.

WALL CONSTRUCTION The construction of a concrete masonry retaining wall shall conform to the dimensions and reinforcing steel requirements shown in FIGURE 5 and TABLE 1. O bars, or dowels, can be lapped above the footing in accordance with FIGURE 9.
8" cement mortar cap or other detail as desired level backfill only

top bond beam with 2 #4 bars O bars intermediate bond beam every other course with 2 #4 bars, typical

3" P bars

24" min.

2"

3"
3"

#3 bars @ 12" o.c.

FIGURE 5: TYPICAL MASONRY WALL SECTION TABLE 1: TYPICAL MASONRY WALL SPECIFICATIONS* Dimensions, inches Reinforcing Bars, inches on center H B W T O (dowels) P 24 12 32 9 #3@32 #3@27 33 12 36 9 #4@32 #3@27 42 12 39 10 #5@32 #3@27 46 14 44 10 #4@16 #4@30 60 15 50 12 #6@24 #4@25
*Reference: National Concrete Masonry Association

Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

Sheet 4 of 8

BOND BEAM AND REINFORCEMENT DETAILS A bond beam shall be provided at the top course and at intermediate courses below as shown in FIGURE 5. Bond beams shall be constructed using the block types shown in FIGURE 6. Vertical and horizontal steel placement shall be per FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 8.

During construction, install wire loop in bed joint; loosen wire before mortar sets. Using wire loop, position vertical reinf. prior to grouting core.

unit with section removed

slotted unit
(slots may be cast into unit or cut with a masonry saw)

wire loop
FIGURE 7: VERTICAL REINFORCEMENT TIE HOLD DETAIL

FIGURE 6: BOND BEAM BLOCK TYPE

vertical steel in filled cores horizontal steel in filled bond beams

metal lath or similar material may be placed over un-grouted cores to prevent cores from filling with grout

FIGURE 8: TYPICAL WALL REINFORCEMENT DETAIL DOWEL AND KEYWAY REQUIREMENTS O bars, or dowels, can be lapped as shown in FIGURE 9. The minimum lap length shall be 15 inches for a #3 bar, 20 inches for a #4 bar, 25 inches for a #5 bar and 30 inches for a #6 bar. A keyway or roughened concrete shall be placed on the footing surface below the block wall; see FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 9: TYPICAL DOWEL AND KEYWAY DETAIL

lap length

roughen top of footing under wall prior to placement of concrete OR provide 1" deep by 4" wide continuous keyway

Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

Sheet 5 of 8

VERTICAL JOINT REQUIREMENTS Control joints, constructed per FIGURE 10, shall be placed no more than 20 feet on center. Expansion joints, constructed per FIGURE 11, shall be placed at every forth control joint.
line one side of core with building paper prior to filling cores
cover earth side of joint with a strip of membrane waterproofing to prevent seepage through joint grease portions of bars extending across joint to prevent movement

caulking, each side

alternate courses

bond beam course

caulking, each side

compressible material

standard course

FIGURE 10: CONTROL JOINT DETAIL

FIGURE 11: EXPANSION JOINT DETAIL

BACKFILL AND DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS Backfilling against reinforced masonry retaining walls shall not be permitted until at least 7 days after placing concrete or grout in cores. Heavy equipment shall maintain a distance away from the wall equal to the wall's height. Care shall be taken to avoid exerting large impact forces on the wall.
finished grade

Denotes undistrubed natual soil Denotes backfill material Denotes crushed stone gravel backfill to within 1' from top of wall and a minimum of 4" below drain pipe filter fabric, wrapped around 12" of gravel finished grade 4" diameter min. rigid or flexible perforated drain pipe, full length of wall connected to outlets at each end or weep holes at 8' o.c.

where soil under footing consists of soft clay, place 4" to 6" of crushed gravel

FIGURE 12: TYPICAL BACKFILL AND DRAINAGE DETAIL

24" min.
Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

Sheet 6 of 8

CONCRETE
GENERAL NOTES 1. 2.

RETAINING

WALLS

The minimum concrete compressive strength at 28 days shall be 3,500 PSI and shall comply with ACI 318. Reinforcing steel shall comply with ASTM A615 and shall have a yield strength of 60,000 PSI.

WALL CONSTRUCTION The construction of a concrete retaining wall shall conform to the dimensions and reinforcing steel requirements shown in FIGURE 13 and TABLE 2. Dowels, can be lapped above the footing in accordance with FIGURE 14.
8" level backfill only #4@18" o.c.

2" #4@12" o.c. 2"

#4@13" o.c. #4@13" o.c.

TABLE 2:TYPICAL CONCRETE WALL DIMENSIONS* H, feet C, inches W, inches 2 3 4 5 11 15 20 24 25 31 37 43

#4@18" o.c.

C #5@13" o.c.
24" min. 2"

*Reference: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute

3"
3"

5#4 bars, locations as shown above W

FIGURE 13: TYPICAL CONCRETE WALL SECTION DOWEL AND KEYWAY REQUIREMENTS Dowels, #4@13" o.c., must be lapped a minimum of 20 inches. A keyway or roughened concrete shall be placed on the footing surface below the block wall. See FIGURE 14.

12"

roughen top of footing under wall prior to placement of concrete OR provide 1" deep by 4" wide continuous keyway

FIGURE 14: TYPICAL DOWEL AND KEYWAY DETAIL

min.

20"

Version: 2006.1, revised: 11/12/08

Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

Sheet 7 of 8

VERTICAL JOINT REQUIREMENTS Control joints, constructed per FIGURE 15, shall be placed no more than 20 feet on center. Expansion joints, constructed per FIGURE 16, shall be placed at every forth control joint.

1/2" x 1/2" wood strip to be removed with formwork; fill void with mastic caulking or 1/2" rubber strip, full height

2" 1/3 1/3 1/3 1/2" filler material

FIGURE 15: TYPICAL CONTROL JOINT DETAIL

FIGURE 16: TYPICAL EXPANSION JOINT DETAIL

BACKFILL AND DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS Backfilling against reinforced concrete retaining walls shall not be permitted until the concrete has reached its 28-day strength. Heavy equipment shall maintain a distance away from the wall equal to the wall's height. Care shall be taken to avoid exerting large impact forces on the wall.
finished grade

Denotes undistrubed natual soil Denotes backfill material Denotes crushed stone gravel backfill to within 1' from top of wall and a minimum of 4" below drain pipe filter fabric, wrapped around 12" of gravel finished grade 4" diameter min. rigid or flexible perforated drain pipe, full length of wall connected to outlets at each end or weep holes at 8' o.c.

where soil under footing consists of soft clay, place 4" to 6" of crushed gravel

FIGURE 17: TYPICAL BACKFILL AND DRAINAGE DETAIL Fairfax County is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all county programs, services and activities and will provide this document in alternative formats and in different languages upon request. Please call 703-324-5033, TTY 711 or write Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Suite 659, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035-5506. Please allow at least seven working days for preparation of material.

24" min.

A Fairfax County, Virginia Publication

Fairfax County, Virginia - Typical Retaining Wall

Sheet 8 of 8