Table of Contents

Inside this issue:

Product Standards ...............................................2
Installation Specifications .....................................4
Water Management ............................................. 6
ASTM Standards ................................................. 8
Design, Construction and
Inspection Check Lists ......................................... 10
Design Details .................................................... 12
Water Management
Details ............................................................... 13
Geogrid Details ................................................... 14
Fencing Applications ........................................... 15
Miscellaneous Details ......................................... 16
Design Methods ................................................. 18
Allowable Construction
Tolerances ......................................................... 19
Reinforcement Specifications ............................... 21

List of Figures: List of Tables:

Fig 1: Geogrid Wall Consolidation Zone ................5 Table 1: Embankment Protection
Fabric Specifications .......................... 7
Fig 2: Surface Water Management ...................... 6
Table 2: Strength and Absorption
Fig 3: Construction Water Management .............. 6
Requirements (ASTM) ....................... 8
Fig 4A: Internal Blanket ....................................... 7
Table 3: Geogrid Manufacturers
Fig 4B: Internal Blanket and Chimney Drain ........... 7 Testing Results ................................... 22
Fig 5: Freeze-Thaw Testing ............................... 9
Fig 6: Global Stability ....................................... 10
The most current, up-to-date information can
Fig 7: Elevation View ........................................ 10
be found on our website at allanblock.com.
Fig 8: Wall Site Components .............................. 10
Fig 9: Typical Reinforcement
Configurations ........................................ 11
Also see Best Practices for
Fig 10: Wall Design Envelope .............................. 11
SRW Design for more
Fig 11: Vertical Control .......................................19 detailed information.
Fig 12: Differential Settlements ............................ 19
Fig 13: Horizontal Control .................................... 19
Fig 14: Rotation ................................................. 19

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Allan Block Corporation:
®

A leader in segmental retaining wall design allanblock.com

The following pages will provide assistance to a broad

range of professional retaining wall designers. This
technical specification manual will allow a wall design-
er to source and reference specific information for use
in developing project documents. Included are: prod-
uct standards, installation and water management pro-
cedures, design details, industry standards, allowable
construction tolerances, project design checklist, proj-
ect installation checklist, project inspection checklist,
reference design methods, and geogrid reinforcement
options.

The goal is to provide formatted specification sheets

that summarize information published by Allan Block
and other relevant publications, as well as provide a the Design Detail portion of this publication, but not pre-
comprehensive document for most applications which sented in great detail. The intent of this publication is
utilize mortarless concrete block as a component of a to assist the local wall design engineer, but not limit
segmental retaining wall. their flexibility for any given design situation.

The document focuses on composite structures built The specifications shown here, the detailed AutoCAD
by combining an Allan Block facing unit with a rein- drawings and a further discussion of retaining wall
forced soil mass, and appropriate drainage details. design can be found in our Best Practices for SRW
Other methods of reinforcement will be illustrated in Design document on our website at allanblock.com.

Answering the question:

Can segmental retaining walls satisfy the requirements of my project?
Segmental Retaining Walls (SRW’s) have evolved from
being used in garden and landscape applications in the
80’s and 90’s, to now having found their way into com-
mercial projects, roadway sites, and major industrial
applications. With estimates of hundreds of millions of
Allan Blocks installed worldwide, mortarless segmental
retaining walls have proven their value and durability in
the construction marketplace.

Projects range from walls up to 50 ft (15.2 m) in height

to miles of walls used in roadway, water and other appli-
cations. The flexible nature of the system has proven to
eliminate the need for frost footings in northern cli-
mates, provide additional drainage in tropical areas, and
allow for additional flexibility in earthquake plagued sec-
tions of the world. In short, there are very few site
problems that cannot find a cost effective solution using
Allan Block Retaining Wall Products.

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 Allan Block Product Standards
Specification Guidelines: Allan Block Modular cern in northern tier states or countries that use deicing salts.
Based on good performance experience by several agencies,
Retaining Wall Systems ASTM C1372, or equivalent governing standard or public
The following specifications provide Allan Block Corporation's typical authority, Standard Specification for Segmental Retaining Wall
requirements and recommendations. At the engineer of record's Units should be used as a model, except that the compressive
discretion these specifications may be revised to accommodate site strength for the units should be increased to a minimum of
specific design requirements. 4,000 – 5,800 psi (28 - 40 MPa) unless local requirements dic-
tate higher levels. Also, maximum water absorption should be
SECTION 1 reduced and requirements for freeze-thaw testing increased.
PART 1: GENERAL a. Require a current passing ASTM C1262 or equivalent
governing standard or public authority, test report from
1.1 Scope
material supplier in northern or cold weather climates.
Work includes furnishing and installing modular concrete block b. See the Best Practices for SRW Design document for
retaining wall units to the lines and grades designated on the con- detailed information on freeze thaw durability testing cri-
struction drawings and as specified herein. teria and regional temperature and exposure severity fig-
1.2 Applicable Sections of Related Work ures and tables to define the appropriate zone and
Geogrid Wall Reinforcement (see Section 2, Page 4) requirements for the project.
1.3 Reference Standards 2.2 Wall Rock
A. ASTM C1372 Standard Specification for Segmental A. Material must be well-graded compactible aggregate, 0.25 in.
Retaining Wall Units. to 1.5 in., (6 mm - 38 mm) with no more than 10% passing
B. ASTM C1262 Evaluating the Freeze Thaw Durability of the #200 sieve. (ASTM D422)
Manufactured CMU’s and Related Concrete Units B. Material behind and within the blocks may be the same material.
C. ASTM D698 Moisture Density Relationship for Soils, 2.3 Infill Soil
Standard Method A. Infill material shall be site excavated soils when approved by
D. ASTM D422 Gradation of Soils the on-site soils engineer unless otherwise specified in the
E. ASTM C140 Sample and Testing Concrete Masonry Units drawings. Unsuitable soils for backfill (heavy clays or organic
soils) shall not be used in the reinforced soil mass. Fine
1.4 Delivery, Storage, and Handling grained cohesive soils with friction angle (Ñ) less than 31
A. Contractor shall check the materials upon delivery to assure proper degrees with a PI ranging between 6 and 20 and LL from 30
material has been received. to 40, may be used in wall construction, but additional back-
B. Contractor shall prevent excessive mud, cementitious material, and filling, compaction and water management efforts are
like construction debris from coming in contact with the materials. required. Poorly graded sands, expansive clays and/or soils
C. Contractor shall protect the materials from damage. Damaged with a plasticity index (PI) greater than 20 or a liquid limit (LL)
material shall not be incorporated in the project (ASTM C1372). greater than 40 should not be used in wall construction.
1.5 Contractor Requirements B. The infill soil used
must meet or exceed Sieve Size % Passing
Contractors shall be trained and certified by local manufacturer or
equivalent accredited organization. the designed friction 1 in (25 mm) 100 - 75
A. Allan Block and NCMA have certification programs that are accred- angle and description No. 4 (4.75 mm) 100 - 20
ited. Identify when advanced certification levels are appropriate noted on the design No. 40 (0.425 mm) 0 - 60
based on complexity and criticality of project application. cross sections, and No. 200 (0.075 mm) 0 - 35
B. Contractors shall provide a list of projects they have completed. must be free of
debris and consist of one of the following inorganic USCS soil
PART 2: MATERIALS types: GP, GW, SW, SP, GP-GM or SP-SM meeting the following
2.1 Modular Wall Units gradation as determined in accordance with ASTM D422.
A. Wall units shall be Allan Block Retaining Wall units as produced C. Where additional fill is required, contractor shall submit sample
by a licensed manufacturer. and specifications to the wall design engineer or the on-site
B. Wall units shall have minimum 28 day compressive strength of soils engineer for approval and the approving engineer must
3000 psi (20.7 MPa) in accordance with ASTM C1372. The certify that the soils proposed for use has properties meeting
concrete units shall have adequate freeze-thaw protection with or exceeding original design standards.
an average absorption rate in accordance with ASTM C1372 or PART 3: WALL CONSTRUCTION
an average absorption rate of 7.5 lb/ft3 (120 kg/m3) for northern 3.1 Excavation
climates and 10 lb/ft3 (160 kg/m3) for southern climates. A. Contractor shall excavate to the lines and grades shown on
C. Exterior dimensions shall be uniform and consistent. Maximum the construction drawings. Contractor shall use caution not to
dimensional deviations on the height of any two units shall be over-excavate beyond the lines shown, or to disturb the base
0.125 in. (3 mm). elevations beyond those shown.
D. Wall units shall provide a minimum of 110 lbs total weight per B. Contractor shall verify locations of existing structures and utili-
square foot of wall face area (555 kg/m²). Hollow cores to be ties prior to excavation. Contractor shall ensure all surrounding
filled with wall rock and compacted by using plate compactor on structures are protected from the effects of wall excavation.
top of wall units (see section 3.4). Unit weight of wall rock in 3.2 Foundation Soil Preparation
cores may be less than 100% depending on compaction levels. A. Foundation soil shall be defined as any soils located beneath a wall.
E. Exterior face shall be textured. Color as specified by owner. B. Foundation soil shall be excavated as dimensioned on the plans
F. Freeze Thaw Durability: Like all concrete products, dry-cast con- and compacted to a minimum of 95% of Standard Proctor
crete SRW units are susceptible to freeze-thaw degradation with (ASTM D698) prior to placement of the base material.
exposure to de-icing salts and cold temperature. This is a con-
2
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Consult the Allan Block Engineering Department to ensure you have the latest specification
or for more details at 800-899-5309.

C. Foundation soil shall be examined by the on-site soils engineer within the consolidation zone. Employ meth-
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toensure that the actual foundation soil strength meets or ods using lightweight compaction equipment
exceeds assumed design strength. Soil not meeting the that will not disrupt the stability or batter of the wall. Final com-
required strength shall be removed and replaced with accept- paction requirements in the consolidation zone shall be established
able material. by the engineer of record.
3.3 Base G. Install each subsequent course in like manner. Repeat procedure
A. The base material shall be the same as the Wall Rock material to the extent of wall height. Individual course height may vary due
(Section 2.2) or a low permeable granular material. to allowable block manufacturing tolerances per ATSM C1372.
B. Base material shall be placed as shown on the construction draw- Contractor must verify wall height, if noted as being critical, prior
ing. Top of base shall be located to allow bottom wall units to to completion of construction to ensure the elevation of the top of
be buried to proper depths as per wall heights and specifications. the wall or the controlling elevation matches desired plan eleva-
C. Base material shall be installed on undisturbed native soils or tion, if noted as critical. Contractor must follow this method for
suitable replacement fills compacted to a minimum of 95% single walls or walls that branch off into a terraced orientation.
Standard Proctor (ASTM D698). H As with any construction work, some deviation from construction
D. Base shall be compacted at 95% Standard Proctor (ASTM drawing alignments will occur. Variability in construction of SRWs
D698) to provide a level hard surface on which to place the first is approximately equal to that of cast-in-place concrete retaining
course of blocks. The base shall be constructed to ensure proper walls. As opposed to cast-in-place concrete walls, alignment of
wall embedment and the final elevation shown on the plans. SRWs can be simply corrected or modified during construction.
Well-graded sand can be used to smooth the top 0.5 in. (13 Based upon examination of numerous completed SRWs, the fol-
mm) on the base material. lowing recommended minimum tolerances can be achieved with
E. Base material shall be a 4 in. (100 mm) minimum depth for walls good construction techniques. Refer to Page 19.
under 4 ft (1.2 m) and a 6 in. (150 mm) minimum depth for Vertical Control - ±1.25 in. (32 mm) max. over 10 ft (3 m)
walls over 4 ft (1.2 m). distance
3.4 Unit Installation Horizontal Location Control - straight lines ±1.25 in.
A. Install units in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (32 mm) over a 10 ft (3 m) distance.
and recommendations for the specific concrete retaining wall Rotation - from established plan wall batter : ±2.0°
unit, and as specified herein. 3.5 Additional Construction Notes
B. Ensure that units are in full contact with base. Proper care shall A. When one wall branches into two terraced walls, it is important to
be taken to develop straight lines and smooth curves on base note that the soil behind the lower wall is also the foundation soil
course as per wall layout. beneath the upper wall. This soil shall be compacted to a minimum
C. Fill all cores and cavities and a minimum of 12 in. (300 mm) of 95% of Standard Proctor (ASTM D698) prior to placement of
behind the base course with wall rock. Use infill soils behind the base material. Achieving proper compaction in the soil beneath
the wall rock and approved soils in front of the base course to an upper terrace prevents settlement and deformation of the upper
firmly lock in place. Check again for level and alignment. Use wall. One way is to replace the soil with wall rock and compact in
a plate compactor to consolidate the area behind the base 8 in. (200 mm) lifts. When using on-site soils, compact in maxi-
course. All excess material shall be swept from top of units. mum lifts of 4 in. (100 mm) or as required to achieve specified
D. Install next course of wall units on top of base course. Position compaction.
blocks to be offset from seams of blocks below. Perfect "run- B. Vertical filter fabric use is not suggested for use with cohesive soils.
ning bond" is not essential, but a 3 in. (75 mm) minimum offset Clogging of such fabric creates unacceptable hydrostatic pressures in
is recommended. Check each block for proper alignment and soil reinforced structures. When filtration is deemed necessary in cohe-
level. Fill all cavities in and around wall units and to a minimum sive soils, use a three dimensional filtration system of clean sand or fil-
of 12 in. (300 mm) depth behind block with wall rock. Block, tration aggregate. Vertical filter fabric may be used to separate wall
wall rock and infill soil placed in uniform lifts not exceeding 8 in. rock zone from fine grained, sandy infill soils if the design engineer
(200 mm). Compaction requirements for all soils in areas in, deems it necessary based on potential water migration from above or
around and behind the reinforced mass shall be compacted to below grade, through the reinforced zone into the wall rock on the proj-
95% of maximum Standard Proctor dry density (ASTM D698) ect. Horizontal filter fabric should be placed above the wall rock col-
with a moisture content control of +1% to -3% of optimum. umn to prevent soils from above migrating into the wall rock column.
E. For taller wall applications, structural fill should be specified for C. Embankment protection fabric is used to stabilize rip rap and foun-
a minimum bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of the reinforced fill. If structural dation soils in water applications and to separate infill materials from
fill is not utilized in the reinforced mass, the depth of wall rock the retained soils. This fabric should permit the passage of fines to
behind the block should be increased. See the Best Practices preclude clogging of the material. Embankment protection fabric
for SRW Design document for more information. shall be a high strength polypropylene monofilament material
F. The consolidation zone shall be defined as 3 ft (0.9 m) behind designed to meet or exceed typical Corps of Engineers plastic filter
the wall. Compaction within the consolidation zone shall be fabric specifications (CW-02215); stabilized against ultraviolet (UV)
accomplished by using a hand operated plate compactor and degradation and typically exceeding the values in Table 1, page 7.
shall begin by running the plate compactor directly on the block D. Water management is of extreme concern during and after construc-
and then compacting in parallel paths from the wall face until tion. Steps must be taken to ensure that drain pipes are properly
the entire consolidation zone has been compacted. A minimum installed and vented to daylight or connected to an underground
of two passes of the plate compactor are required with maxi- drainage system and a grading plan has been developed that routes
mum lifts of 8 in. (200 mm). Expansive or fine-grained soils water away from the retaining wall location. Site water manage-
may require additional compaction passes and/or specific com- ment is required both during construction of the wall and after com-
paction equipment such as a sheepsfoot roller. Maximum lifts of 4 pletion of construction.
in. (100 mm) may be required to achieve adequate compaction
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 Allan Block Installation Specifications
Specification Guidelines: Geogrid PART 3: WALL CONSTRUCTION
Reinforcement Systems 3.1 Foundation Soil Preparation
A. Foundation soil shall be excavated to the lines and grades as
The following specifications provide Allan Block Corporation's
shown on the construction drawings, or as directed by the
typical requirements and recommendations. At the engineer of
on-site soils engineer.
record's discretion these specifications may be revised to
B. Foundation soil shall be examined by the on-site soils engi-
accommodate site specific design requirements. neer to assure that the actual foundation soil strength meets
or exceeds assumed design strength.
C. Over-excavated areas shall be filled with compacted backfill
SECTION 2
PART 1: GENERAL material approved by on-site soils engineer.
1.1 Scope D. Contractor shall verify locations of existing structures and
Work includes furnishings and installing geogrid reinforcement, utilities prior to excavation. Contractor shall ensure all sur-
wall block, and backfill to the lines and grades designated on the rounding structures are protected from the effects of wall
construction drawings and as specified herein. excavation.
1.2 Applicable Section of Related Work
Allan Block Modular Retaining Wall Systems. (see Section 1,
page 2)
1.3 Reference Standards
See specific geogrid manufacturers reference standards.
Additional Standards:
A. ASTM D4595 - Tensile Properties of Geotextiles by the Wide-
Width Strip Method
B. ASTM D5262 - Test Method for Evaluating the Unconfined
Creep Behavior of Geogrids
C. ASTM D6638 Grid Connection Strength (SRW-U1)
D. ASTM D6916 SRW Block Shear Strength (SRW-U2)
E. GRI-GG4 - Grid Long Term Allowable Design Strength (LTADS)
F. ASTM D6706 - Grid Pullout of Soil 3.2 Wall Construction
1.4 Delivery, Storage, and Handling Wall construction shall be as specified under Section 1,
A. Contractor shall check the geogrid upon delivery to assure that Part 3, Wall Construction, Page 2.
the proper material has been received.
B. Geogrid shall be stored above -10 F (-23 C). 3.3 Geogrid Installation
C. Contractor shall prevent excessive mud, cementitious material, A. Install Allan Block wall to designated height of first geogrid
or other foreign materials from coming in contact with the layer. Backfill and compact the wall rock and infill soil in lay-
geogrid material. ers not to exceed 8 in. (200 mm) lifts behind wall to depth
equal to designed grid length before grid is installed.
PART 2: MATERIALS B. Cut geogrid to designed embedment length and place on top
of the Allan Block units to back edge of the raised front lip
or within 1 in. (25 mm) of the concrete retaining wall face
2.1 Definitions
A. Geogrid products shall be of high density polyethylene or poly- when using AB Fieldstone. Extend away from wall approxi-
ester yarns encapsulated in a protective coating specifically mately 3% above horizontal on compacted infill soils.
fabricated for use as a soil reinforcement material. C. Lay geogrid at the proper elevation and orientations shown
B. Concrete retaining wall units are as detailed on the drawings on the construction drawings or as directed by the wall
and shall be Allan Block Retaining Wall Units. design engineer.
C. Drainage material is free draining granular material as defined in
Section 1, 2.2 Wall Rock, Page 2.
D. Infill soil is the soil used as fill for the reinforced soil mass.
E. Foundation soil is the in-situ soil.
2.2 Products
Geogrid shall be the type as shown on the drawings having the prop-
erty requirements as described within the manufacturers
specifications.
2.3 Acceptable Manufacturers
A manufacturer's product shall be approved by the wall design
engineer.

4
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Consult the Allan Block Engineering Department to ensure you have the latest specification
or for more details at 800-899-5309.

D. Correct orientation of the geogrid shall be verified by the con- D. When fill is placed and compaction cannot be
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tractor and on-site soils engineer. Strength direction is typi- defined in terms of Standard Proctor Density, then compaction
cally perpendicular to wall face. shall be performed using ordinary compaction process and com-
E. Follow manufacturers guidelines for overlap requirements. In pacted so that no deformation is observed from the compaction
curves and corners, layout shall be as specified in Design equipment or to the satisfaction of the engineer of record or the
Detail 9-12: Using Grid With Corners and Curves, site soils engineer.
Page 14. E. Tracked construction equipment shall not be operated directly
F. Place next course of Allan Block on top of grid and fill block on the geogrid. A minimum fill thickness of 6 in. (150 mm)
cores with wall rock to lock in place. Remove slack and folds is required prior to operation of tracked vehicles over the
in grid and stake to hold in place. geogrid. Turning of tracked vehicles should be kept to a min-
G. Adjacent sheets of geogrid shall be butted against each other imum to prevent tracks from displacing the fill and damaging
at the wall face to achieve 100 percent coverage. the geogrid.
H. Geogrid lengths shall be continuous. Splicing parallel F. Rubber-tired equipment may pass over the geogrid reinforce-
to the wall face is not allowed. ment at slow speeds, less than 10 mph (16 Km/h). Sudden
braking and sharp turning shall be avoided.
G. The infill soil shall be compacted to achieve 95% Standard Proctor
3.4 Fill Placement
A. Infill soil shall be placed in lifts and compacted as specified under
(ASTM D698). Soil tests of the infill soil shall be submitted to the
on-site soils engineer for review and approval prior to the place-
Section 1, Part 3.4, Page 3, Unit Installation.
B. Infill soil shall be placed, spread and compacted in such a
ment of any material. The contractor is responsible for achieving
manner that minimizes the development of slack or move-
the specified compaction requirements. The on-site soils engineer
ment of the geogrid.
may direct the contractor to remove, correct or amend any soil
found not in compliance with these written specifications.
H. An independent testing firm should be hired by the owner to pro-
vide services.
I. Independent firm to keep inspection log and provide written
reports at predetermined intervals to the owner.
J. Testing frequency should be set to establish a proper compaction
protocol to consistently achieve the minimum compaction require-
ments set by the design requirements. If full time inspection and
testing at 8 inch (20 cm) lifts is not provided, then the following
testing frequency should be followed:
a. One test for every 8 inches (20 cm) of vertical fill placed and
compacted, for every 25 lineal feet (7.6 m) of retaining wall
length, starting on the first course of block.
b. Vary compaction test locations to cover the entire area of
C. Only hand-operated compaction equipment shall be allowed
reinforced zone; including the area compacted by the hand-
within 3 ft (0.9 m) behind the wall. This area shall be defined
operated compaction equipment.
as the consolidation zone. Compaction in this zone shall
c. Once protocol is deemed acceptable, testing can be con-
begin by running the plate compactor directly on the block
ducted randomly at locations and frequencies determined by
and then compacting in parallel paths from the wall face
the on-site soils engineer.
back, until the entire consolidation zone has been compact-
K. Slopes above the wall must be compacted and checked in a sim-
ed. A minimum of two passes of the plate compactor are
ilar manner.
required with maximum lifts of 8 in. (200 mm). Section 1,
Part 3.4 F, Page 3. 3.5 Special Considerations
A. Geogrid can be interrupted by periodic penetration of a column,
pier or footing structure.
B. Allan Block walls will accept vertical and horizontal reinforcing
Figure 1: Consolidation Zone - Reinforced Zone with rebar and grout.
C. If site conditions will not allow geogrid embedment length, con-
sider the following alternatives:
• Masonry Reinforced Walls • Soil Nailing
• Increased Wall Batter • Earth Anchors
• Double Allan Block Wall • Rock Bolts
• No-Fines Concrete
See Design Details Page 16 and 17.
D. Allan Block may be used in a wide variety of water applications as
indicated in Section 3, Part 1.8, Page 7.

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 Allan Block Water Management
Specification Guidelines: be a function of the water conditions on the site. Possible drainage
facilities include Toe and Heel drainage collection pipes and blanket
Water Management or chimney rock drains or others. Design engineer shall determine
The following specifications provide Allan Block Corporation's typical the required drainage facilities to completely drain the retaining
requirements and recommendations. At the engineer of record's discre- wall structure for each particular site condition.
tion these specifications may be revised to accommodate site specific A. All walls will be constructed with a minimum of 12 in.
design requirements. (300 mm) of wall rock directly behind the wall facing. The
material shall meet or exceed the specification for wall rock
SECTION 3 outlined in Section 1, 2.2 Wall Rock, Page 2.
PART 1: GENERAL DRAINAGE B. The drainage collection pipe, drain pipe, shall be a 4 in.
(100 mm) perforated or slotted PVC, or corrugated HDPE
pipe as approved by engineer of record.
1.1 Surface Drainage
Rainfall or other water sources such as irrigation activities collected
by the ground surface atop the retaining wall can be defined as sur- C. All walls will be constructed with a 4 in. (100 mm) diameter
face water. Retaining wall design shall take into consideration the drain pipe placed at the lowest possible elevation within the
management of this water. 12 in. (300 mm) of wall rock. This drain pipe is referred to
A. At the end of each day’s construction and at final completion, as a toe drain, Section 3, 1.4 Toe Drain, Page 6.
grade the backfill to avoid water accumulation behind the wall D. Geogrid Reinforced Walls shall be constructed with an
or in the reinforced zone. additional 4 in. (100 mm) drain pipe at the back bottom of
B. Surface water must not be allowed to pond or be trapped in the the reinforced soil mass. This drain pipe is referred to as a
area above the wall or at the toe of the wall. heel drain, Section 3, 1.5 Heel Drain, Page 7.
C. Existing slopes adjacent to retaining wall or slopes created dur-
ing the grading process shall include drainage details so that
surface water will not be allowed to drain over the top of the
Figure 3: Construction Water Management
slope face and/or wall. This may require a combination of
berms and surface drainage ditches.
D. Irrigation activities at the site shall be done in a controlled and
reasonable manner. If an irrigation system is employed, the
design engineer or irrigation manufacturer shall provide details
and specification for required equipment to ensure against over
irrigation which could damage the structural integrity of the
retaining wall system. 1.4 Toe Drain
E. Surface water that cannot be diverted from the wall must be A toe drain pipe should be located at the back of the wall rock
collected with surface drainage swales and drained laterally in behind the wall as close to the bottom of the wall as allowed while
order to disperse the water around the wall structure. still maintaining a positive gradient for drainage to daylight, or a
Construction of a typical swale system shall be in accordance storm water management system. Toe drains are installed for inci-
with Design Detail 5: Swales, Page 13. dental water management not as a primary drainage system.
A. For site configurations with bottoms of the base on a level
plane it is recommended that a minimum one percent gradi-
1.2 Grading
The shaping and recontouring of land in order to prepare it for site
development is grading. Site grading shall be designed to route ent be maintained on the placement of the pipe with outlets
water around the walls. on 50 ft (15 m) centers, or 100 ft (30 m) centers if pipe is
crowned between the outlets. This would provide for a max-
Figure 2: Surface Water Management imum height above the bottom of the base in a flat configu-
ration of no more than 6 in. (150 mm).
B. For rigid drain pipes with drain holes the pipes should be posi-
tioned with the holes located down. Allan Block does not
require that toe drain pipes be wrapped when installed into
base rock complying with the specified wall rock material.
C. Pipes shall be routed to storm drains where appropriate or
through or under the wall at low points when the job site
grading and site layout allows for routing. Appropriate
details shall be included to prevent pipes from being crushed,
A. Establish final grade with a positive gradient away from the plugged, or infested with rodents.
wall structure. Concentrations of surface water runoff shall be D. On sites where the natural drop in grade exceeds the one
managed by providing necessary structures, such as paved percent minimum, drain pipes outlets shall be on 100 foot
ditches, drainage swales, catch basins, etc. (30 m) centers maximum. This will provide outlets in the
B. Grading designs must divert sources of concentrated surface event that excessive water flow exceeds the capacity of pipe
flow, such as parking lots, away from the wall. over long stretches.
1.3 Drainage System E. When the drain pipe must be raised to accommodate outlets
The internal drainage systems of the retaining wall can be described through the wall face, refer to the Design Detail 4:
as the means of eliminating the buildup of incidental water which
infiltrates the soils behind the wall. Drainage system design will
Alternate Drain, Page 13.

6
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Consult the Allan Block Engineering Department to ensure you have the latest specification
or for more details at 800-899-5309.

1.5 Heel Drain 1.7 Concentrated Water Sources

The purpose of the heel drain is to pick up any water that migrates All collection devices such as roof downspouts, storm
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from behind the retaining wall structure at the cut and route the sewers, and curb gutters are concentrated water sources. They must be
water away from the reinforced mass during the construction designed to accommodate maximum flow rates and to vent outside of the
process and for incidental water for the life of the structure. wall area.
A. The piping used at the back of the reinforced mass shall have A. All roof downspouts of nearby structures shall be sized with
a one percent minimum gradient over the length, but it is not adequate capacity to carry storm water from the roof away
critical for it to be positioned at the very bottom of the cut. from the wall area. They shall be connected to a drainage sys-
The heel drain should be vented at 100 ft (30 m) intervals tem in closed pipe and routed around the retaining wall area.
along the entire length of the wall and should not be tied into B. Site layout must take into account locations of retaining wall
the toe drain system. structures and all site drainage paths. Drainage paths should
B. The pipe may be a rigid pipe with holes at the bottom with an always be away from retaining wall structures.
integral sock encasing the pipe or a corrugated perforated flexible C. Storm sewers and catch basins shall be located away from
pipe with a sock to filter out fines when required based on soil retaining wall structures and designed so as not to introduce
conditions. For infill soils with a high percentage of sand and/or any incidental water into the reinforced soil mass.
gravel the heel drain pipe does not need to be surrounded by wall D. A path to route storm sewer overflow must be incorporated into the
rock. When working with soils containing fine grained cohesive site layout to direct water away from the retaining wall structure.
soils having a PI of greater than 6 and LL of 30 or greater, 1 ft3.
(.03 m3) of drainage rock is required around the pipe for each 1
1.8 Water Application
Retaining walls constructed in conditions that allow standing or mov-
ft (30 cm) of pipe length. ing water to come in contact with the wall face are considered water
applications. These walls require specific design and construction
steps to ensure performance.
1.6 Ground Water
Ground water can be defined as water that occurs within the soil.
It may be present because of surface infiltration or water table Refer to Design Detail 7 and 8: Water Applications, Page 13.
fluctuation. Ground water movement must not be allowed to
come in contact with the retaining wall. Table 1: Embankment Protection Fabric Specifications
A. If water is encountered in the area of the wall during exca- Mechanical Determination
vation or construction, a drainage system (chimney, compos- Property Method
ite or blanket) must be installed as directed by the wall Tensile Strength = 225 lbs/in (39.4 kN/m) ASTM D-4595
design engineer. Puncture Strength = 950 lbs (4228 N) ASTM D-6241
Apparent Opening Size (AOS)
ASTM D-4751
= U.S. Sieve #70 (0.212 mm)
Figure 4A: Internal Blanket

Trapezoidal Tear = 100 lbs (445 N) ASTM D-4533

Percent Open Area = 4% COE-02215
Permeability = 0.01 cm/sec ASTM D-4491

A. The wall rock should be placed to the limits of the geogrid lengths
up to a height equal to 12 inches (30 cm) higher than the deter-
Figure 4B: Internal Blanket and Chimney Drain
mined high water mark. If the high water mark is unknown, the
entire infill zone should be constructed with wall rock.
B. The drain pipe should be raised to the low water elevation to aid in
the evacuation of water from the reinforced mass as water level
fluctuates.
C. Embankment protection fabric should be used under the infill mass
and up the back of the infill mass to a height of 12 inches (30 cm)
B. Standard retaining wall designs do not include hydrostatic higher than the determined high water mark.
forces associated with the presence of ground water. If ade- a. Embankment protection fabric is used to stabilize rip rap and
quate drainage is not provided the retaining wall design must foundation soils in water applications and to separate infill
consider the presence of the water. materials from the retained soils. This fabric should permit the
C. When non-free draining soils (soils with friction angles less than passage of fines to preclude clogging of the material.
30 degrees) are used in the reinforced zone, the incorporation of Embankment protection fabric shall be a high strength
a chimney and blanket drain should be added to minimize the polypropylene monofilament material designed to meet or
water penetration into the reinforced mass. Refer to Design exceed typical NTPEP specifications; stabilized against ultravio-
let (UV) degradation and typically meets or exceeds the values
in Table 1.
Detail 6: Chimney and Blanket Drain, Page 13.
a. Drain material to be consistent with wall rock material.
For more information on wall rock material see D. For walls having moving water or wave action, natural or manufac-
tured rip-rap in front of the wall to protect the toe of the wall from
scour effects is recommended.
Section 1, 2.1 Modular Wall Units, Page 2.
b. Manufactured chimney and blanket drains to be
approved by the geotechnical and/or the local engineer
of record prior to use.

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 ASTM C1372 Standard Specifications for Segmental Retaining Wall Units
Specification Guidelines: 6. Permissible Variations in Dimensions
Product Specifications for 6.1 Overall dimensions for width, height, and length shall differ
by not more than ± 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) from specified standard
dimensions.
Segmental Retaining Wall Units
The following summarizes the contents of ASTM C1372 and key 6.1.1 Dimensional tolerance requirements for width shall be
components relevant when specifying modular concrete block waived for architectural surfaces.
for use in structural retaining wall designs. A copy of the full
standard is available upon request. This summary attempts to
7. Finish and Appearance
provide the information which is most commonly used, but 7.1 All units shall be sound and free of cracks or other defects
Allan Block does not claim that all information contained in the that interfere with the proper placement of the unit or signif-
standard is represented. icantly impair the strength or permanence of the construc-
tion. Minor cracks incidental to the usual method of manu-
facture or minor chipping resulting from customary methods
SECTION 4 of handling in shipment and delivery, are not grounds for
1. Scope rejection.
1.1 This specification covers dry-cast segmental retaining wall units 7.2 Where units are to be used in exposed wall construction, the
of concrete, machine–made from hydraulic cement, water, and face or faces that are to be exposed shall not show chips or
suitable mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion of cracks, not otherwise permitted, or other imperfections when
other materials. The units are intended for use in the construc- viewed from a distance of not less than 20 ft (6.1 m) under dif-
tion of mortarless segmental retaining walls. fused lighting.
7.2.1 Five percent of a shipment containing chips not larger than
5. Physical Requirements 1 in. (25 mm) in any dimension, or cracks not wider than
5.1 At the time of delivery to the work site, the units shall conform 0.02 in. (0.5 mm) and not longer than 25 % of the nominal
to the physical requirements of Table 2 when tested in accor- height of the unit is permitted.
dance with 8.2. 7.3 The color and texture of units shall be specified by the pur-
5.2 Freeze-Thaw Durability — In areas where repeated freezing and chaser. The finished surface that will be exposed in place
thawing under saturated conditions occur, freeze-thaw durabil- shall conform to an approved sample consisting of not less
ity shall be demonstrated by test or by proven field perform- than four units, representing the range of texture and color
ance that the segmental retaining wall units have adequate permitted.
durability for the intended use. When testing is required by the
specifier to demonstrate freeze-thaw durability, the units shall
8. Sampling and Testing
be tested in accordance with 8.3. 8.1 The purchaser or authorized representative shall be
5.2.1 Specimens shall comply with either of the following: accorded proper facilities to inspect and sample units at
(1) the weight loss of each of five test specimens at the con- the place of manufacture from the lots ready for delivery.
clusion of 100 cycles shall not exceed 1 % of its initial weight; 8.2 Sample and test units for compressive strength, absorption,
or (2) the weight loss of each of four of the five test specimens and dimensional tolerances in accordance with Test Methods
at the conclusion of 150 cycles shall not exceed 1.5 % of its ASTM C140.
initial weight. 8.3 When required, sample and test five specimens for freeze-
thaw durability in water in accordance with Test Method
ASTM C1262. Freeze-thaw durability shall be based on tests
of units made with the same materials, concrete mix design,
manufacturing process, and curing method, conducted not
more than 24 months prior to delivery.
9. Compliance
9.1 If a sample fails to conform to the specified requirements, the
TABLE 2:
manufacturer shall be permitted to remove units from the ship-
Strength and Absorption Requirements (ASTM)
Minimum Required Net Average Compressive ment. A new sample shall be selected by the purchaser from
Strength, psi (MPa) remaining units from the shipment with a similar configuration and
Average of 3 units Individual Unit dimension and tested at the expense of the manufacturer. If the
3000 (20.7) 2500 (17.2) second sample meets the specified requirements, the remaining
portion of the shipment represented by the sample meets the
specified requirements. If the second sample fails to meet the
Maximum Water Absorption Requirements,

specified requirements, the remaining portion of the shipment rep-

lb/ft3 (kg/m3)
Light Weight Medium Weight Normal Weight
resented by the sample fails to meet the specified requirements.
18 (288) 15 (240) 13 (208)
Weight Classification Oven-Dry Density of Concrete
lb/ft3 (kg/m3)
Light Weight Medium Weight Normal Weight
Less than 105 (1680) to 125 (2000)
105 (1680) less than 125 (2000) or more

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ASTM C1262 Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Freeze-Thaw Durability
of Manufactured Concrete Masonry Units and Related Concrete Units
The following summarizes the contents of ASTM C1262 and key 80°F (16 to 27°C) to the container to achieve a test solution
components of the test methods used to determine relative freeze depth of 1⁄2 ± 1⁄16 in. (13 ± 2 mm) (see Note 8 and Note 9).
thaw durability. This does not provide a comparison to field per- Do not pour test solution directly onto the specimen. The test
formance but a systematic approach to testing. A copy of the full solution shall be either potable tap water or a 3 ± 0.1 % (by
standard is available upon request. This summary attempts to weight) sodium chloride saline solution (see Note 10). Close
provide the information which is most commonly used, but Allan the container lid tightly and store the container on a level sur-
Block does not claim that all information contained in the standard face in laboratory air as defined in 6.2.3.
is represented. 7.2 Cyclical Testing:
7.2.3 One freeze-thaw cycle is defined as a completed freezing cycle
followed by a completed thawing cycle.
7.2.4 At 20 cycle intervals for those specimens tested in water and at
SECTION 5
10 cycle intervals for those specimens tested in saline solution,
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the resistance to freezing and thawing remove containers from the test chamber and collect residue in
of dry-cast segmental retaining wall (SRW) units (see accordance with 7.3. Open containers to visually inspect the con-
Specification C1372) and related concrete units. Units are test- dition of the specimens and to adjust the test solution level to com-
ed in a test solution that is either water or 3 % saline solution ply with 7.1.1.
depending on the intended use of the units in actual service. 7.3 Collection of Residue:
Note 1 — Related concrete units include units such as hollow and 7.3.1 Weigh to the nearest 0.2 g (0.0005 lb) and record as Wf a fil-
solid concrete masonry units, concrete brick, and concrete ter paper of high wet strength and smooth surface that has come
roof pavers. to equilibrium temperature with the lab environment. Remove a sin-
4. Significance and Use gle specimen from its container. Immediately rinse the specimen
with water (if the specimen is tested in saline solution, use saline
4.1 The procedure described in this test method is intended to deter-
solution to rinse the specimen) using a squeeze bottle, being careful
mine the effects of freezing and thawing on SRW and related
to collect in the specimen container the rinse water (or saline solu-
units in the presence of water or saline solution.
tion) and all loose particles from the specimen. Consider any pieces
4.2 The procedure is not intended to provide a quantitative measure
that separated from the specimen as part of the residue. Pour the
to determine an expected length of service for a specific type of
test solution from the specimen container through the filter paper to
concrete unit.
collect the residue (spall) from the test specimen. Replace the spec-
6. Sampling and Preparation of Test Methods imen in the container. Using fingertips and a squeeze bottle,
6.1 Selection of Test Units — Select five whole SRW units rep- remove loose particles from all surfaces of the specimen, again
resentative of the lot from which they are selected. The units being careful to collect all rinse water (or saline solution) and loose
shall be free from visible cracks or structural defects. particles in the specimen container. The top surface of the speci-
6.2 Number of Specimens — Test specimens shall consist of solid men shall not be immersed in test solution at anytime and the col-
coupons saw-cut from full sized units. Do not saw-cut test lected rinse water (or saline solution) shall not exceed a depth of
specimens from units that have been previously oven-dried. 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) in the container. Remove the specimen from the
Do not subject test specimens to oven-drying prior to comple- container, pour the rinse water (or saline solution) through the filter
tion of freeze-thaw testing. paper, and rinse the specimen container until all residue (spall) in
6.2.1 Cut one coupon from each of the five sampled units. Cut the the specimen container is collected on the filter paper. Rinse the
coupon from the exposed surface of the unit as the unit is used residue from specimens tested in saline solution three times with
in service unless the exposed surface is an architectural or other water to remove any soluble salt.
nonplanar surface (see Note 6). In the case of a unit with an 8. Calculation and Report
exposed architectural or other nonplanar surface, cut the coupon
8.1 Determine and report the cumulative weight loss of each residue
from another flat molded surface ideally as far as possible from
collection interval expressed in terms of g (lb) and as a percent of
the architectural or other nonplanar face and in no case less than
the calculated initial weight of the specimen, Winitial, determined
2 in. (50 mm) from that surface. Immediately following saw-cut-
in accordance with 7.3.5. Where the coupon thickness is less than
ting, remove loose particles and residue from the coupon by rins-
ing in tap water and brushing with a soft bristle brush. Do not 1.25 in. (32 mm), the percentage and cumulative weight loss shall
fully immerse coupons in water. Each specimen shall be marked be multiplied by a value equal to the actual thickness in inches
with a unique identification number on the non-molded surface (mm) divided by 1.25 in. (32 mm). Report these values for each
of the specimen. specimen as well as the average of the specimens tested.
Note 6 — Split-faced surfaces are the most common surfaces used
to provide an architectural appearance to segmental retaining
walls. However, other means could be used to obtain similar
architectural effects like tumbling, grinding, and slumping. Figure 5: Test Specimen in Freeze-Thaw Container
7. Procedure
7.1 Specimen Conditioning:
7.1.1 After preparation of the freeze-thaw test specimens in accor-
dance with Section 6, place the specimen in the container face
down on the specimen supports such that the non-saw-cut sur-
face of the specimen is in contact with the specimen supports.
Add a sufficient amount of test solution at a temperature of 60 to

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 Wall Design Checklist
To ensure that the basics are covered in your wall design we
have prepared the following wall design checklist. It may also
Figure 6: Global Stability
be used by someone checking your work to provide an outline
for a consistent review process. For a complete discussion, see
the Best Practices for SRW Design document at allanblock.com.

Review Wall Design Plans For

Special Conditions:
• Site Drainage Layout
• Global Stability
• Government Regulations
• High Water Table
• Seismic Design Requirements
• Above Wall Considerations
Review Wall Design Plans For:
• Overall Length of Wall
• Station Points
• Plan Layout
• Elevations
• Grades or Slopes Above or Below Walls
• Soil Conditions
Retained Soil Friction Angle
Infill Soil Friction Angle
Figure 7: Elevation View
Foundation Soil Friction Angle
Cohesion for Foundation Soil
Soil Settlement Potential
• Water Management
Above Grade
Below Grade
Excess Irrigation
• Locations of Catch Basins and Utilities
• Compliance to Specifications
• Surcharges (live, dead, and location)
• Temporary Construction Loads
• Snow or Storage Loads
• Special Provisions
Design Review:
• Grid Length
• Grid Spacing
• Grid Placed on Consistent Courses
• Design Factors of Safety
Sliding
Overturning
Bearing
Figure 8: Wall Site Components
Grid Overstress
Pullout from Soil
Pullout from Block
Internal Compound
Global
Seismic
• Water Management Details
Surface Water Sources
Subsurface Water Sources
Details for Low Permeability Soils
Location and Venting of Toe and Heel Drains
• Overall Quantity Estimates
Block
Grid
Wall Rock
• Construction Details
• General Notes and Specifications
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Construction and Inspection Checklist
We have prepared the following Construction and Inspection
Checklist to provide a list of items covering the basics for your
allanblock.com

retaining wall project. It may also be used during the bidding Figure 9: Typical Reinforcement Configuration
process to ensure that all special provisions are complied with.
Always check your local building codes, document any changes
to the plan in writing and notify the wall design engineer with
any concerns on water management.

Review Wall Design Plans For:

A. Compliance of Site to Latest Site Plan

• Does the site plan and wall layout coincide with current Site
Conditions?
• Have all slopes above and below the walls been taken into
account on the plans?
• Do the section drawings match the topography of the job-site?
• Have site utilities been accounted for?
• Are there any recommendations for changes to the site plans
to accommodate the wall?
Review Construction Details And Procedures:
A. Mark station points for top and bottom of wall elevations and
B. Review of Reported Soil Conditions with On-Site changes in wall direction.
Soils Engineer B. Identify changes in grid lengths, location of grids, and types of
• Are on-site soils consistent with soil parameters used in wall grid to be used.
design?
• Does the site show indications of multiple types of soil, and C. Determine and locate proper base size for each section of wall.
has this been accounted for?
D. Verify that the correct type and color of block has been ordered
• Is there evidence of landfill areas on site?
and delivered to the job.
• Has the owner contracted with a geotechnical engineering
firm for overall / global stability outside of the wall design E. Verify that the foundation soil and retained soil conform to
envelope (H tall by the greater of 2H or He + L long)? See design requirements.
Figure 10.
F. Verify that infill soil meets design standards.
C. Review of Above Grade Water Management with G. Verify that compaction testing will be performed, who is respon-
Project Civil Engineer sible, at what intervals of locations along the wall, and what
• Has surface runoff been accounted for in the site design? coordination will be required.
• Will this site be irrigated? H. Determine what method will be used to verify construction
• If storm drains become inoperable where will the water materials, methods, and sequence of construction. (ie: written
migrate to? documentation of as built, full time inspector on site, photo-
• During renovation of land will temporary drainage be an issue? graphic documentation.)
I. Wall contractor is responsible for quality control of wall installa-
tion per the approved plans. The owner or owner’s representa-
D. Review of Below Grade Water Management with
tive is responsible for engineering and quality assurance of the
Wall Design Engineer and General Contractor
• How and where will drain pipes be installed?
project.
• Is it possible to vent drain pipes to daylight?
• Is venting to a storm drainage system an option?
• Will outlets be located and protected from blockage or damage?
Figure 10: Wall Design Envelope
E. Surcharges
• Have all surcharges been accounted for?
• During construction are there any temporary surcharges that
should be accounted for?

F. Best Practices for SRW walls

• Has the Best Practices for SRW Design document been
reviewed and its concepts incorporated into the project?
• A copy the Best Practices for SRW Design document can be
downloaded at allanblock.com.

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allanblock.com
 Design Details
The following drawings are for general information and use. They are not to be relied upon for any specific project without being
reviewed by an engineer. They are not to be used for construction. It is the sole responsibility of the user to verify the applica-
bility of the drawing to their specific project. Additional AB Fieldstone details are available for download at allanblock.com.

Detail 1: Typical Reinforced Wall Application Detail 1B: Typical Reinforced Wall Application
- AB Fieldstone

Detail 2: Typical Gravity Wall Application Detail 2B: Typical Gravity Wall Application - AB Fieldstone
with short anchoring units (SAU)

Detail 2C: AB Fieldstone with long anchoring units (LAU) Detail 3: Allan Block Plantable Wall

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All details shown are available for download in .dwg or .pdf format at allanblock.com allanblock.com
and can be modified by an engineer to be site specific to a project.

Detail 4: Alternate Drain

Detail 5: Swales Detail 6: Chimney and Blanket Drain

Detail 7: Taller Height Reinforced Water Applications Detail 8: Low Height Reinforced Water Applications

13
allanblock.com
 Design Details
The following drawings are for general information and use. They are not to be relied upon for any specific project without being
reviewed by an engineer. They are not to be used for construction. It is the sole responsibility of the user to verify the applica-
bility of the drawing to their specific project. Additional AB Fieldstone details are available for download at allanblock.com.

Detail 9: Inside Corner Geogrid Overlap Detail 10: Outside Corner Geogrid Overlap

Detail 11: Inside Curve Geogrid Overlap Detail 12: Outside Curve Geogrid Overlap

Detail 13: Step Up at Base Course Detail 14: Grouted Connection

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allanblock.com
All details shown are available for download in .dwg or .pdf format at allanblock.com allanblock.com
and can be modified by an engineer to be site specific to a project.

Detail 15: Non-Wind Bearing Fence or Railing, Option 1 Detail 16: Non-Wind Bearing Fence or Railing, Option 2

Detail 17: Alternate Fence Footing with SLEEVE-IT™ Detail 18: Wind Bearing Fence or Railing, Option 1
Footing System

Detail 19: Wind Bearing Fence or Railing, Option 2 Detail 20: Masonry Parapet

15
allanblock.com
 Design Details
The following drawings are for general information and use. They are not to be relied upon for any specific project without being
reviewed by an engineer. They are not to be used for construction. It is the sole responsibility of the user to verify the applicability
of the drawing to their specific project. Additional AB Fieldstone details are available for download at allanblock.com.

Detail 21: Double Wall Parapet Detail 22: Non-Impact Parking Railing

Detail 23: Impact Roadway or Parking Guard Rail Detail 24: No-Fines Concrete

Detail 25: Concrete Collar Storm Water Pipe Outlet, Section and Elevation View

16
allanblock.com
All details shown are available for download in .dwg or .pdf format at allanblock.com allanblock.com
and can be modified by an engineer to be site specific to a project.

Detail 26: Terraced Section Detail 27: Allan Block Double Wall Typical Section

Detail 28: Allan Block Masonry Reinforced Detail 29: Allan Block Veneer Typical Section
Typical Section

Detail 30: Allan Block Facing to Soil Nail Reinforced Detail 31: Allan Block Facing to Earth Anchor Tiebacks
Shotcrete Wall

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allanblock.com
 Design Methods
The following information is intended to provide insight into the of the soil, slope of the backfill, the batter of the retaining wall,
basic concepts behind an Allan Block retaining wall design. A com- and the effects of the friction between the retained soil and
plete review of the methodology and the equations may be found the retaining wall structure. When addressing external stabil-
by reviewing the Allan Block Engineering Manual. ity the engineer will design for adequate factors of safety with
respect to overturning (eccentricity), sliding, bearing capacity,
Allan Block walls are most often designed and constructed as either and global stability.
gravity walls or coherent gravity masses, but can be used in many

[ ]
different types of retaining wall applications; F = (0.5)(Ö)(Ka)(H)2
Gravity Walls are structures that resist the pressures from the
retained soil with the weight of the facing. Under optimum conditions csc(Ä) sin (Ä-Ñ)
Ka =
2

Allan Block gravity walls may be constructed up to 5.5 ft (1.7 m). sin(ÄNÑw) N sin(ÑNÑw) sin(ÑOi)
Coherent Gravity Masses act as large composite structures. sin(ÄOi)
These structures are a flexible unified mass that resist the forces Ö = Soil Unit Weight
from the retained soil in the same manner as a simple gravity wall.
These composite structures are composed of geogrid reinforced soil
masses with Allan Block Retaining Walls used as a durable, aesthet- Internal stability applies to forces and reactions within the blocks
ically pleasing, facing material. and geogrid reinforcement. Here a designer will check for adequa-
cy in block to reinforcement connection strength, reinforcement
Other reinforcement options include Tie Back Walls or Masonry pullout from the soil, reinforcement overstress and, Internal
Reinforcement. Tie Backs utilize Allan Block as a hard facing with Compound Stability (ICS). See the AB Engineering Manual
some type of anchor used to tie back the facing. Designs of this type (Chapter 6) for a complete disclosure on ICS calculations. See
develop loads at the face and end of the anchor and do not perform geogrid reinforcement specifications section for further explanation
as a coherent gravity mass. Masonry reinforcement applications use of how geogrid works. Refer to Page 20.
grout and rebar through the cores of the Allan Block to create a high
strength cantilever wall. Retaining wall designs rely heavily on the site soil properties. At
the beginning of the design process a value is assigned to the soil
Allan Block Corporation has developed several tools to help the that numerically describes how much resistance to movement this
design engineer through the design process. Available tools soil possesses. This resistance to movement is called the internal
include: friction angle (Ñ, PHI). As the internal friction of the soil increases
Best Practices for SRW Design — providing better design it exerts less force on the retaining wall. Soils that contain high
construction practices in the field and to help drive the industry percentages of sands and gravel have higher friction angles, drain
toward Zero Wall Failures. away excess water more readily, and are easier to use during the
construction process. For these reasons soils with sand and gravel
Allan Block Engineering Manual — providing detailed calcu-
are preferred materials to use when constructing a reinforced soil
lations and commentary for the methods and processes used in
structure.
the design procedure.
Soils exhibit another property that resists movement called cohe-
AB Walls™ 3D — a comprehensive design tool which outputs
sion, which is typically found in clay soils. Cohesion may be clas-
professional quality construction drawings with technical support
sified as temporary strength because it depends greatly on mois-
data. It allows designers to transfer a conceptual layout from a
ture content of the soil, because of this it is not utilized in most
site plan to a complete wall solution and then export it to DXF
elements of the design process.
CAD format as well as to the 3D Modeling Program SketchUp. In
addition, designers can generate elevations, plans, and multiple Water pressure is not considered in a typical design. Because
cross sectional views of their retaining wall projects. water adversely affects the strength and weight properties of soil
within the composite structure, primary consideration should be
Hand Calculations — a MathCAD based file that contains all of
given to manage water away from the retaining wall structure.
the detailed calculations for the engineer to review as well as pro-
These structures have been developed to drain away only inciden-
viding the engineer the ability to revise the equations to fit the
tal water which may infiltrate the mass during or after construc-
particular need of the job in process while providing a method to
tion. The wall rock and drain pipe are included to keep the sur-
cross check the output of AB Walls™ 3D.
rounding soil at its optimum moisture content.
The basic elements of the design process require an understanding of
A designer must also consider aspects of the retaining wall that are
the properties of the soils to be used behind and below the retaining
not solved in calculations. They must address all the elements sur-
wall, terrain changes above or below the retaining structure, sur-
rounding the structure and set construction standards.
charges located above the wall, and seismic loading if appropriate.
Compaction requirements, geogrid spacing, and geogrid length are
The design calculation process has two categories of stability to be a few of these items to consider. (See the Best Practice for SRW
checked; external stability and internal stability. Design document for further information).
External stability analysis applies to the outside of the retaining wall Allan Block products can be used for almost any application.
or reinforced mass. The forces exerted on the structure are calculat- Incorporating these design concepts will help any engineer create
ed by using an equation developed by Coulomb in 1776 called active a safe, aesthetically pleasing, and cost effective retaining wall.
earth pressure. The term “active” refers to the ability of the wall
structure to rotate and bend in small increments without adversely
affecting the stability. This equation takes into account the strength

18
allanblock.com
Allowable Construction Tolerances
Construction Tolerances Differential Settlement allanblock.com
To ensure that acceptable work standards are understood during Foundation settlements must be estimated with great care for build-
retaining wall installation, construction tolerances need to be ings, bridges, towers, power plants, and similar high-cost structures.
established. These construction tolerances should consider that For structures such as fills, earth dams, levees, and retaining walls a
the retaining wall is designed to be a flexible structure that toler- greater margin of error in settlements can usually be tolerated. The
ates horizontal and vertical variation. However, too much variation construction method of placing the dry-stacked mortarless Allan Block
can affect the structural stability of the wall. on an aggregate leveling pad creates a flexible but stable retaining
wall. Settlement errors that are acceptable while maintaining structur-
To maintain horizontal and vertical control, adjustments may be al integrity include large total wall settlement and moderate differential
required during modular block installation. Even with tight quality settlement as depicted in Figure 12.
control procedures by block manufacturers, modular block units
may vary in height. Shimming a maximum of 0.125 in. Settlement occurs when the weight of the retaining wall structure
(3 mm) per block is acceptable construction practice. It is recom- exceeds the bearing capacity of the soil. Cohesionless soils consisting
mended that shimming material be asphaltic or non-degradable of sands and gravels often exhibit very little settlement with most of
products. the settlement occurring during or shortly after wall construction.
Cohesive soils with high moisture content have the potential for large
Acceptable construction tolerances are illustrated in Figures 11 time-depended settlement because the weight of the wall can actually
thru 14. compress the foundation soil. The settlement can be estimated using
conventional one-dimensional consolidation calculations. When antic-
ipated settlement is greater than the construction tolerances, special
design and construction steps need to be taken.
Figure 11: Vertical Control Post Construction Finish and Appearance
Depending on wall heights, surcharges, soil conditions and foundation
materials, some stress cracks may occur in the wall during and after
construction. Since Allan Block walls are flexible structures, some
cracking of block is likely, as are spaces between blocks as the wall
moves. These openings should not exceed 0.25 in. (6 mm) and do not
affect the structural integrity of the wall.

Figure 12: Differential Settlement

Figure 13: Horizontal Control Figure 14: Rotation

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 Reinforcement Specifications
Specification Guidelines: multi-point connection. With hundreds of millions of square feet
of Allan Block products in the ground we have not had one case
of the retaining wall block pulling away from the soil mass.
Geogrid Reinforcement
Every building we live and work in calls on various materials to blend Most geogrid mats are stronger in one direction of orientation. The
strength and functionality to create a finished product that provides primary strength direction is commonly referred to as the machine
us with a safe living space incorporating the amenities that we or roll direction. Geogrid mats are typically rolled perpendicular to
desire. The development of geosynthetics to reinforce soil masses the face of the wall to utilize the long term allowable design
has paved the way to a new industry utilizing concrete block as a fac- strength (LTADS) of the geogrid. The transverse strands are in
ing for these composite retaining wall structures. place to maintain consistent spacing of the load carrying strands,
Allan Block walls that cannot rely on the weight of the block alone to and can be half the strength of the primary strands. The LTADS
retain soil typically use geogrid reinforcement to develop a larger mass. value of geogrid accounts for varying soil strengths, installation
Geogrids are flexible synthetic meshes produced from high strength damage, chemical degradation, and creep.
polyester fibers encapsulated in protective coating. They work per- The mechanical properties of various brands of geogrid are given in
fectly with on-site soils and modular retaining wall products because Table 3. LTADS values are given by the geogrid manufacturers
of their strength, durability, workability and overall economy. testing results. Allan Block connection strengths are per ASTM
Soil reinforcement is a concept that dates back to the times of D6638 (also explained in NCMA SRWU-1).
Babylonia and the construction of the Great Wall of China when non-
degradable tree branches were placed in between layers of compact-
ed soil. Whether it is tree branches or coated synthetic fibers, these
No-Fines Concrete
products are used to create a reinforced coherent mass behind the As an alternative method of increasing the mass of the wall instead
retaining wall by stabilizing the mass and increasing the internal of grid there is No-Fines Concrete.
strength of the soil.
No-fines concrete is a combination of coarse aggregate, cement
Geogrid interacts with soil by using friction as well as passive resist- and water and is used as a modified structural fill for walls. It is
ance. This interaction happens both in the infill soil and the "rock- not a new concept; it dates back to the 1800’s in Europe and was
lock" connection of the block to the geogrid. The block to geogrid first used in segmental retaining walls in the 1990’s.
connection is created when the
gravel material in the hollow No-fines concrete acts as a stabilized aggregate allowing for taller
cores of the Allan Block units gravity walls with minimal excavation and is permeable for water
are compacted, interlocking the management. For the complete specificatons on no-fines concrete,
gravel with the apertures of the information on designing with it (Tech Sheet #517), information on
geogrid. The gravel helps cre- building with it (Tech Sheet #417), visit allanblock.com.
ates superior resistance to pull-
out because it is a uniform,

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812 facing unit 824 facing unit 812 facing unit 824 facing unit 818 facing unit 818 facing unit SAU - short anchoring unit
w/SAU w/SAU w/LAU w/LAU w/SAU w/LAU LAU - long anchoring unit
20
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Typical Geogrid Specifications and Connection Testing Results
allanblock.com
Table 3: Geogrid Engineering Properties
AB Full-Size Units
Long Term Allowable Design Peak Connection Strength Equations,
Reduction Normal Load
Strength, LTDS, lb/ft (kN/m) P, lb/ft (kN/m)
Geogrid Type Factor Intercept
Sand-Silt-
Sand-Gravel Gravel Creep, RFcr Segment 1 Segment 2 lb/ft (kN/m)
Clay
Strata Systems, 380 Dahlonega Road, Cummings, GA 30040 800-680-7750
939 826 765 Tu = 930 lb/ft + Ntan(24°)
Strata 150 1.65 - -
(13.70) (12.10) (11.20) (Tu = 13.5 kN/m + Ntan(24°))
1919 1689 1564 Tu = 1383 lb/ft + Ntan(17.8°)
Strata 200 1.55 - -
(28.0) (24.70) (22.80) (Tu = 20.2 kN/m + Ntan(17.8°))
2666 2346 2172 Tu = 1257 lb/ft + Ntan(12.2°)
Strata 350 1.55 - -
(38.90) (34.20) (31.70) (Tu = 18.3 kN/m+Ntan(12.2°))
3412 3412 3264 Tu = 991 lb/ft + Ntan(30°)
Strata 500 1.55 - -
(49.80) (49.80) (47.60) (Tu = 14.4 kN/m + Ntan(30°))
4346 4346 4157 Tu = 1001.15 lb/ft + Ntan(35.75°)
Strata 550 1.55
(63.40) (63.40) (60.70) (Tu = 14.61 kN/m + Ntan(35.75°))
Tencate Nicolon, 365 South Holland Drive, Pendergrass, GA 30567 888-795-0808
Miragrid 1142 1090 960 Tu1 = 125.6 lb/ft + Ntan(58.48°) Tu2 = 1623.50 lb/ft 918.60
1.45
2XT (16.60) (15.90) (14.0) (Tu1 = 1.8 kN/m + Ntan(58.48°)) (Tu2 = 23.65 kN/m) (13.40)
Miragrid 1999 1908 1676 Tu = 1193 lb/ft + Ntan(29°)
1.45 - -
3XT (29.10) (27.70) (24.40) (Tu = 17.4 kN/m + Ntan(29°))
Miragrid 2684 2562 2255 Tu1 = 1287 lb/ft + Ntan(29°)
1.45 -
5XT (39.0) (37.30) (32.80) (Tu1 = 14.3 kN/m + Ntan(29°))
Miragrid 3370 3217 2831 Tu = 1065.4 lb/ft + Ntan(25.62°)
1.45 - -
7XT (49.10) (46.90) (41.20) (Tu = 15.52 kN/m + Ntan(25.62°))
Miragrid 4226 4034 3550 Tu1 = 1063 lb/ft + Ntan(40°) Tu2 = 2872 lb/ft 2155.90
1.45
8XT (61.60) (58.80) (51.70) (Tu1 = 15.51 kN/m + Ntan(40°)) (Tu2 = 41.9 kN/m) (31.45)
Miragrid 5426 5179 4558 Tu1 = 513 lb/ft + Ntan(52°) Tu2 = 1426 lb/ft + Ntan(23°) 1067.30
1.45
10XT (79.0) (75.40) (66.40) (Tu1 = 7.48 kN/m + Ntan(52°)) (Tu2 = 20.81 kN/m + Ntan(23°)) (15.57)
Huesker - 11107 - A South Commerce Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273 800-942-9418
Fortrac 35T 1322 1300 1243 Tu1 = 911 lb/ft + Ntan(6.8°)
1.54 - -
(19.30) (19.0) (18.10) (Tu1 = 13.3 kN/m + Ntan(6.8°))
Fortrac 55T 2027 1971 1867 Tu1 = 1070 lb/ft + Ntan(15.1°)
1.54 - -
(29.60) (28.80) (27.20) (Tu1 = 15.62 kN/m + Ntan(15.1°))
3150 3150 2927 Tu1 = 1251 lb/ft + Ntan(18.3°)
Fortrac 80T 1.54 - -
(46.0) (46.0) (42.70) (Tu1 = 18.25 kN/m + Ntan(18.3°))

AB Fieldstone Units
Long Term Allowable Design Peak Connection Strength Equations,
Reduction Normal Load
Strength, LTDS, lb/ft (kN/m) P, lb/ft (kN/m)
Geogrid Type Factor Intercept
Sand-Silt-
Sand-Gravel Gravel Creep, RFcr Segment 1 Segment 2 lb/ft (kN/m)
Clay
Strata Systems, 380 Dahlonega Road, Cummings, GA 30040 800-680-7750
898 791 732 Tu = 853 lb/ft + Ntan(10°) Tu2 = 1200 lb/ft 1967.90
Strata 150 1.65
(13.10) (11.50) (10.70) (Tu = 12.4 kN/m + Ntan(10°)) (Tu2 = 17.5 kN/m) (28.71)
1734 1526 1413 Tu = 1328 lb/ft + Ntan(10.6°)
Strata 200 1.55 - -
(25.30) (22.20) (20.60) (Tu = 19.37 kN/m + Ntan(10.6°))
2448 2154 1995 Tu = 1723 lb/ft + Ntan(10.2°)
Strata 350 1.55 - -
(35.70) (31.40) (29.10) (Tu = 25.16 kN/m+Ntan(10.2°))
Tencate Nicolon, 365 South Holland Drive, Pendergrass, GA 30567 888-795-0808
Miragrid 1142 1090 960 Tu1 = 893 lb/ft + Ntan(31°) Tu2 = 1516 lb/ft + Ntan(5°) 1213.50
1.45
2XT (16.60) (15.90) (14.0) (Tu1 = 13.0 kN/m + Ntan(31°)) (Tu2 = 22.1 kN/m) + Ntan(5°)) (17.70)
Miragrid 1999 1908 1676 Tu = 829 lb/ft + Ntan(39°) Tu2 = 1715 lb/ft + Ntan(6°) 1257.30
1.45
3XT (29.10) (27.70) (24.40) (Tu = 12.1 kN/m + Ntan(39°)) (Tu2 = 25.0 kN/m + Ntan(6°)) (18.34)
Miragrid 2684 2562 2255 Tu1 = 778 lb/ft + Ntan(43°) Tu2 = 2066 lb/ft + Ntan(18°) 2119.80
1.45
5XT (39.0) (37.30) (32.80) (Tu1 = 11.3 kN/m + Ntan(43°)) (Tu2 = 30.1 kN/m + Ntan(18°)) (30.93)

The information in this chart has been taken from published literature and is believed to be accurate. Consult the Allan Block Engineering Department
for details at 800-899-5309.
21
allanblock.com
 This technical specification manual will allow a wall designer to
source and reference specific information for use in developing
project documents. The information contained in this manual is
for use with Allan Block products only.

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