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APPLICATIonS
LONG-staNDING retaINING WaLLs eXtenDeD WItH teRRAFoRce BLocKs A successful product is one that gets
its extension was completed in December
site also included several smaller walls,
used more than once, Two projects, which
last year by Decorton using a further
such as a rock face weir and various low
used the same Terraforce retaining blocks
13 000 Terraforce L12 Rock Face blocks.
toe walls. In total, Dassenberg Retaining
to extend long-standing retaining walls,
At a maximum height of 1.8m on each
installed 24 000 Terraforce Standard
terrace, the original wall was designed with
(round face) blocks, which were planted
three curving terraces of varying width
almost exclusively with hardy indigenous
Oasis Retirement Resort, Century City,
on a berm 500m long. Each terrace had a
species. The installation is now 10 years
Cape Town
concrete foundation and subsoil drainage
old and has proven to be very stable and
Approved by property developer, Harries
was installed behind each bottom row of
easy to maintain.
Projects and built by Decorton Retaining
blocks. The earth backfill on every third
Constant erosion problems, a partial
Systems using 8 000 Terraforce L12
row of blocks was reinforced with Polytex
collapse of new building platforms and
Rock Face blocks in 2006, this undulating
115 geofabric.
unsightly cut slopes led natalie du Preez,
illustrate the point.
retaining wall shields the oasis Retirement
Seven years on, the original wall is
property asset manager at Acucap, to
Resort from excessive noise and prying
completely covered by mostly water-wise,
initiate another retaining wall project on
eyes. Also approved by Harries Projects,
indigenous plants which assist in the
the same site using Terraforce L11 Rock
effective prevention of wind erosion on
Face blocks. Completed last year, Acucap
the gently sloping embankments that face
approved the wall’s design based on the
the buildings.
successful application of the product during earlier phases of the project.
Tygerberg Office Park, Tygerberg
The new section of the Terraforce noise barrier wall under construction at the Oasis Retirement Resort in Cape Town.
Consulting engineer, Erik Raymond,
In 2003 site excavations of a steep building
obser ved that steep sections of the
site lef t a five metre high, 95m long
embankments had to be protected with
embankment, with a 30° surcharge slope
flexible earth retaining block walls to
above it. Property developers, Atterbury
reduce the erosion of the excavated face,
Cape, approved the construction of a
to prevent excessive ingress of water and
composite Terraforce wall which included
to make the area visually appealing.
a four percent cement-stabilized and
The sheer height and steepness of
geof abric-r einf or ced back f ill, cut-of f
some of the walls left no space for geogrid
drainage and a subsoil drainage system.
reinforced backfill, and a double layer of
other retaining walls on site included
blocks with reinforced concrete ( Y12
two six metre high structures which
re-bar) had to be used instead of infill on
stabilised a 12m high fill platform. The
some sections.
BOsUN INtrODUces neW PAVInG FInIsHes Bosun has introduced a new range of
attractive textures on various pavers and
is the process of diamond cutting the
beneficiated paving units which is being
to facilitate the construction of parking
product to exact thicknesses. This ensures
produced in a new custom-built factory using German hydraulic press technology.
areas, roads, boulevards and paths.
total dimensional accuracy. It also makes
Certain kerb shapes can also be
the product installation much quicker and
produced in exposed finishes
easier and yields an aesthetically pleasing
Commissioned in July,
to cater for aesthetically
the new plant is produc-
pleasing road edging to
“As we say on our logo, our customers
ing paving finishes such
ei ther ma tch or o f f se t
should expect the best f r om Bosun.
driveways, paths or com-
We simply need to keep our heads down
as exposed aggr egate, ground concrete and shotblast concrete.
mercial road surfaces. Bosun’s range of large pavers,
According to David Wertheim
some of which measure up to 27 times
Aymes, CEo of the Bosun Group, these
the size of standard paving bricks, are now
f inishes are being of f ered to create
available in a calibrated option. Calibrating
PRECAST VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 2 • 2013
flat surface.
and produce the best, as that is our promise and our customers’ expectation,” Wertheim Aymes concluded. Bosun’s medium Urban Paver in a black washed finish.