New Zealand does not have design standards for timber pole or reinforced concrete retaining walls, nor are there any generally agreed industry standards.
SESOC, with input from NZGS, has produced stand-alone design guides covering the geotechnical aspects of these walls. The guides outline design procedures based on a static mechanics pressure block approach consistent with Limit State design concepts. While adhering to sound geotechnical principles, in accordance with its target audience – the Structural Engineering fraternity – the guides are presented in a manner with intentional structural bias.
The guides are available as PDF downloads:
- Simplified Structural Design Guide: Timber Pole Retaining Walls
- Simplified Structural Design Guide: Concrete Cantilever Retaining Walls
And the following document gives guidance on the choice of load factors for calculating active soil pressures on walls due to superimposed surcharge loads: