The Concept

Compared to methods of soil erosion control employing traditional retaining wall construction, such as sandbagging, shotcreting and other, the Aqua Solutions Gabi® Block represents considerable savings in gabion materials and construction labour. The benefits from these improvements can be passed directly onto the taxpayer and private sector enterprises. Reduced construction time also minimises traffic delays and frustrations of motorists invariably caused by lengthy roadside projects.

All Aqua Solutions Gabi® products can be engineered to accommodate non-standard parameters and loadings. These and other features such as economy, durability, fire resistance, expandability and architectural attractiveness assure a desirable investment.

Retaining walls have traditionally been drained by a porous medium placed behind the wall during construction. There are many materials in use, the most common being gravel or sand-filled bags. Other drainage options include core-filled blocks, strip drains, shotcrete and tilt-up panels. It has emerged that many of these systems do not offer complete effectiveness. The build up of pressure caused by excessive water retention can result in cracks and, in severe cases, complete wall collapses.

The Gabi® Block is a unique new development that prevents such possible outcomes by dramatically reducing water build-up. Because of its extreme porosity, large volumes of water can escape quickly. In fact, compared to the traditional methods, permeability can be increased by up to 2000%. In simple terms, the Gabi® Block can handle up to 20 times more water than common drainage options.

The Block is constructed to a specific density, using traditional materials and a special bonding agent. The production process allows for easy handling without a compromise in structural integrity. Moreover, the cured block's scientifically proven strength of 14.8 Mpa ensures larger or non-standard sizes can be made according to project requirements. These are then safely hoisted into position.