Saving Embodied Carbon using Platipus Earth Anchors

See how HOLEMASTERS DEMTECH LTD used Platipus Earth Anchors to remediate a retaining wall while saving 96% of embodied carbon.

An independent engineer’s assessment revealed that this 4.5m high retaining wall, bordering a new mews housing development, was generally in poor condition over its entire length and height, and it was imperative that immediate measures were taken to remediate the wall. The plan was to retain the wall on the same line with remedial tying to secure the wall back to the ground behind. Lack of drainage behind the wall was also a contributory factor to the walls condition which needed be rectified by the installation of an effective drainage system. A costly alternative would be to totally remove the existing wall and reconstruct it as a new faced concrete wall.

In an absence of any Site Investigation data, Holemasters conducted suitability testing enabling the Platipus Geotechnical Team to produce a Conceptual Proposal to anchor the wall and address drainage concerns in accordance with the engineers report. Using their diamond drilling expertise, Holemasters cored three rows of 100mm diameter holes through the brickwork then, as Platipus Approved Installers, drove 60 permanent S8 anchor systems through the core holes to a depth of 6.2m. Each anchor was proof tested and locked off at 10kN to balance the earth pressure acting on the wall.

The bottom two rows incorporated the innovative Platipus Plati-Drain anchor system simultaneously providing draining and restraining capability, whilst crack stitching and localised re-pointing of the joints completed the remediation.

By using the Platipus solution to remediate the wall, a saving of 96% Embodied Carbon was achieved. To find out how to save Embodied Carbon on your project contact our sales team.

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