The Guide provides educational materials in support of NCMA’s Zero Wall Failures Initiative. This initiative is “an industry-wide program to educate owners, designers, site civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, and installers of SRW systems on the industry’s recommended best practices and to promote a philosophy that strives for ensuring successful wall performance.”
Using the Guide will help reduce poor retaining wall performance in addition to reducing liability of the involved design professionals by presenting information and guidelines regarding standards of practice. Some key suggestions from the Guide include:
- Follow provided guidelines for optimum project organization that define roles and responsibilities for the various parties involved in retaining wall design and construction.
- Retaining wall design should be done during the design phase of the project by a design professional working directly for the project owner or owner’s representative and not be procured by the retaining wall contractor during the construction phase.
- Global and Compound Stability must be evaluated.
- The SRW components consisting of the face unit, soil reinforcement, and soil, must meet basic industry standards.
- Taller walls require special considerations including tighter standards for the reinforced soil.
