BU562 Low retaining walls

Low retaining walls may be subjected to high forces acting upon them, and the correct steps must be followed to ensure their stability. This bulletin provides guidance for builders, designers and building owners on the construction of retaining walls that are less than 1.5 m in height and are not subject to surcharges or additional loads.

This bulletin updates and replaces Bulletin 394 of the same name.

The bulletin covers:

• design considerations
• general construction
• retaining wall types, including mass gravity walls, segmental retaining walls, mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) retaining walls, crib walls, cantilever walls and gabion walls
• drainage.