ER-4927

LEGACY REPORT Reissued February 1, 2004

ICC Evaluation Service, Inc. Business/Regional Office # 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 90601 # (562) 699-0543
Regional Office # 900 Montclair Road, Suite A, Birmingham, Alabama 35213 # (205) 599-9800
www.icc-es.org Regional Office # 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478 # (708) 799-2305

Legacy report on the 1997 Uniform Building Code

DIVISION: 02SITE CONSTRUCTION using Type II or Type V portland cement complying with
Section: 02830Retaining Walls ASTM C 150.
2.4 Design:
CRIBLOCK RETAINING WALLS
Criblock Retaining Walls are gravity retaining walls dependent
RETAINING WALLS COMPANY on the cribwall weight and the angle of inclination to resist
1800 THIBODO ROAD, SUITE 110 lateral earth pressure or other lateral forces. A soil
VISTA, CALIFORNIA 92081 investigation report, as noted in Section 1804 of the 1997
Uniform Building Code (UBC), is required. The report must
1.0 SUBJECT include soil properties (unit density, soil friction angles for an
anticipated range of normal pressures, coefficient of friction
Criblock Retaining Walls. between cribwall members and underlying soil, and
2.0 DESCRIPTION coefficient of friction between cribwall members and soil
backfilled within crib cells) for backfill soils, retained
2.1 General: excavation soils and foundation soils, as applicable. Lateral
loads are determined by accepted geotechnical engineering
Criblock Retaining Walls are gravity retaining walls consisting
procedures appropriate for the soil and geometric conditions
of concrete grid members dry-stacked as a crib, with soil or
specified for the wall, and must address the applicability of
rock backfilled within the crib cell.
the Criblock Retaining Walls system, including applicability in
2.2 Criblock Retaining Wall Grid Members: seismically active areas. The effect of surcharges must be
considered. The lateral soil pressure is determined using the
The Criblock members are illustrated in Figure 1. Coulomb theory, with the angle of wall friction assumed to be
2.2.1 Front Stretchers: Horizontal front stretchers are two-thirds the angle of internal friction.
reinforced with No. 4 reinforcing steel; are 6 inches (152 mm)
2.5 Structural Analysis:
wide, 4 inches (102 mm) high and 5 feet (1524 mm) long; and
weigh 125 pounds (57 kg). Structural calculations based on accepted engineering
principles, this report, and UBC Section 2107 must be
2.2.2 False Headers: False headers are unreinforced; are
submitted to the building official for each wall system, except
8 inches (203 mm) high, 4 inches (102 mm) wide, and 9.5
where otherwise specified in this report.
inches (241 mm) long; and weigh 30 pounds (14 kg).
The vertical frictional component of pressures due to
2.2.3 Headers: Headers are perpendicular to the wall face
retained soil is located at the centroid of the inclined plane of
and are reinforced with No. 4 reinforcing steel. They are 8
the wall-to-soil interface. Each cribwall must have a minimum
inches (203 mm) high, 4 inches (102 mm) wide, and 4.5 feet
safety factor of 1.5 against overturning and sliding. Maximum
or 5 feet (1372 mm or 1524 mm) long, and weigh from 115 to
soil-bearing pressures at the toe and heel of the cribwall are
135 pounds (52 to 61 kg).
limited to values provided in the soils report. The resultant of
2.2.4 Back Stretchers: Back stretchers are reinforced with the soil-bearing pressure must occur in the middle-third of the
No. 4 reinforcing steel; are 6 inches (152 mm) wide, 4 inches cribwall base. When calculations distribute the soil-bearing
(102 mm) high, and 3 feet 9 inches (1143 mm) long; and pressure over the entire base width of the cribwall, the
weigh 95 pounds (43 kg). bearing pressure between the front and rear courses at the
base is developed by friction between the soil within the
2.2.5 Tolerances: The width, length and bearing surfaces cribwall cell(s) and the crib elements (stretchers and
of the members must be within 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) and the headers). Sliding resistance of the cribwall is based on friction
weight must be within 5 percent of specified values. between the concrete stretchers and underlying soil, and the
2.3 Materials: shear capacity of the soil within the cribwall plug.
All reinforcing steel and deformed bars conform to ASTM A All contact surfaces of the units must be maintained in
615 or A 706, Grade 60, with a minimum yield strength of compression. The maximum compression stress under
60,000 psi (413 MPa). Concrete members are cast using a service load stress design is determined in accordance with
dry-mix process that provides a minimum concrete UBC Section 1926.3.1, with the wall designed to provide a
compressive strength at 28 days of 3,250 psi (22.4 MPa) minimum safety factor of 1.5 for sliding between cribwall

ICC-ES legacy reports are not to be construed as representing aesthetics or any other attributes not specifically addressed, nor are they to be construed as
an endorsement of the subject of the report or a recommendation for its use. There is no warranty by ICC Evaluation Service, Inc., express or implied, as to
any finding or other matter in this report, or as to any product covered by the report.

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Copyright 2004
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elements. The stretcher-to-header connection is based on groundwater are contingent on appropriate soil and
friction with a static coefficient of friction of 0.60. Internal engineering analysis reports being submitted to the building
analysis of the cribwall must include design of rear stretchers official for approval.
for lateral forces due to retained soil and soil confined within The cribwall may be assembled in a curved layout with a
the cribwall cell, and for vertical forces due to gravity and minimum radius of 25 feet (7620 mm). For cribwalls having a
arching action of the confined soil. Forces on front stretchers curve radius of less than 100 feet (30 480 mm), stretchers are
are similar to those on the rear stretcher, except lateral forces saw-cut, or special-length stretchers are furnished to provide
due to retained soil are resisted solely by the rear stretchers. a maximum 1-inch (25.4 mm) gap between stretchers. Curved
Bottom courses of front, rear and middle stretchers must also cribwalls must have a uniform angular change at each joint
be designed for upward loads due to moments imposed by between stretchers so that the front face presents an even
lateral loads. Headers must be designed for the axial forces surface along the cribwall.
developed in connecting the front and rear stretchers. See
Tables 1 and 2 for allowable heights and maximum bearing 2.7 Special Inspection:
pressures. Special inspection during installation must be observed in
2.6 Assembly: accordance with UBC Section 1701.5.7.1. The inspectors
responsibilities include verifying:
The angle of wall inclination is 3:12 (horizontal:vertical)
toward the backfill. Front stretchers are connected to a similar 1. Unit compliance with this evaluation report, including
grid of back stretchers with the headers. Stretchers are identification as noted in Section 2.8.
interlocked with the headers and assembled without mortar. 2. Foundation preparation.
The grids of back stretchers are parallel to the front
stretchers. False headers are installed between the stretchers 3. Unit placement, including alignment and inclination.
in the front and back grids as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The 4. Backfill placement and compaction.
cribwall may be installed with one or more grids of stretchers 2.8 Identification:
parallel to, behind and connected to, the face grid of front
stretchers by the interlocking headers. More than one grid of Each shipping pallet of Criblock members is identified by a
back stretchers forms a multiple-depth cribwall. tag bearing the manufacturers name (Retaining Walls
Company) and address, the product designation (i.e.,
The crib between the front and back grid of stretchers must
Criblock), the evaluation report number (ER-4927) and the
be filled either with free-draining rock or with well-compacted
name of the quality control agency (Professional Service
free-draining, nonexpansive soil, as specified by the wall
Industries).
design engineer. A layer of compacted backfill material must
be placed behind the cribwall. Backfill material consists of 3.0 EVIDENCE SUBMITTED
either well-graded crushed rock that is at least 1 inch (25.4 Descriptive literature and calculations, and a quality control
mm) in diameter, or free-draining nonexpansive soil free of manual.
organic and deleterious materials and conforming to the
gradation limits specified in AASHTO T-27. Where cohesive 4.0 FINDINGS
soil is used, backfill soil must be a mixture of cohesive and That the Criblock Retaining Walls described in this report
cohesionless soils. Backfill soils within and behind the cribwall comply with the 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC),
are placed in layers having a maximum-1-foot (305 mm) subject to the following conditions:
loose-depth. Each layer is thoroughly compacted to a
minimum 90 percent relative compaction in accordance with 4.1 The walls are identified and installed in accordance
ASTM D 1557 or equivalent. Backfill consisting of rock less with this report and the manufacturers instructions.
than 6 inches (152 mm) in diameter is dumped in place; care 4.2 Special inspection is provided during wall erection
is necessary to minimize the dump height. Rocks exceeding and backfilling in accordance with Section 2.7 of
6 inches (152 mm) in diameter must be hand-placed. The
this report.
alignment of the cribwall must be maintained during
backfilling and compaction operations. A maximum 21/2 4.3 Structural calculations are submitted to the building
courses of cribwall framing may be assembled before official for approval.
backfilling. Areas above and behind the cribwall are backfilled
4.4 A soils investigation report as noted in UBC Section
to the finished pattern shown on the project plans.
1804 is submitted to the building official, and
Drainage within and behind Criblock Retaining Walls must addresses soil properties (unit density and soil
comply with recommendations of the soils engineer. Where friction angle for an anticipated range of normal
the soil has poor drainage qualities, a continuous perforated pressures) for backfill soils, retained excavation
subsoil drain of minimum-4-inch (102 mm) diameter is soils and foundation soils, as applicable. Lateral
installed. A sufficient number of drainage outlets must be
loads must be determined using accepted
provided. Drainage above the cribwall must be collected and
geotechnical engineering procedures appropriate
diverted using drainage interception ditches. Drainage of
cribwalls is necessary to prevent hydrostatic-pressure buildup for the soil and geometric conditions specified for
behind the cribwall, and to prevent any erosive flow of surface the wall, and must address the applicability of the
water down, through and over the wall face. Criblock system in seismically active areas.
A bench excavation to sound material is necessary for the 4.5 Installation is limited to areas outside ground water,
base of the cribwall. The depth must be at least 1 foot (305 unless appropriate soils and engineering analysis
mm) below the proposed finished ground level at the front reports are submitted to the building official for
face of the cribwall, or as shown on approved project plans. approval.
Cribwalls without a concrete footing need not be laid below 4.6 Criblock wall components are fabricated at 1025
the frost-penetration depth. The cribwall is placed directly on
Grand Avenue, in San Marcos, California, with
the base soil, unless the design requires the cribwall to be
follow-up quality control inspections by
installed on a concrete footing designed by a civil or structural
engineer. Details in this evaluation report are limited to Professional Service Industries (AA-660).
application in areas outside groundwater. Footings in The report is subject to re-examination in two years.
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NOTES TO TABLES

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 psf = 47.88 Pa, 1 psf/ft. = 157 Pa/m.
EFP = Equivalent fluid pressure, psf/ft. (Pa/m).
X:1 Slope: Slope of retained soil behind wall.
Level + 2N: Height of level, retained soil behind wall, feet (mm).
Sliding
Coefficient: Coefficient of sliding for soil mass.
Total Height: Overall height of retaining wall, feet (mm).
H1, H2, H3, H4: Height of cribwall depth over subsequent depth, feet (mm). The sum of Hs is total height.
Bearing pressure: Downward pressure extended by wall on soil, psf (Pa).

TABLE 1ALLOWABLE HEIGHTS FOR 4.5-FOOT-LONG HEADERS

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TABLE 1ALLOWABALE HEIGHTS FOR 4.5-FOOT-LONG HEADERS(Continued)

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TABLE 1ALLOWABALE HEIGHTS FOR 4.5-FOOT-LONG HEADERS(Continued)

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 psf = 0.0479 kN/m2.

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TABLE 2ALLOWABALE HEIGHTS FOR 5-FOOT-LONG HEADERS

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TABLE 2ALLOWABALE HEIGHTS FOR 5-FOOT-LONG HEADERS(Continued)

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TABLE 2ALLOWABALE HEIGHTS FOR 5-FOOT-LONG HEADERS(Continued)

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 psf = 0.0479 kN/m2.

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For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 psi = 6.89 kPa, 1 pound = 0.45 kg.

FIGURE 1
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* = BATTERED VERTICAL TYPICAL PROFILE

INCREMENT 0.97 FOR STD. 1:4
BATTER. NO SCALE
NOTE:
X MARKS FALSE HEADERS.
ALL OTHERS ARE FULL
HEADERS.

TYPICAL TRIPLE DEPTH

PLAN VIEW BASE COURSE
4.5 HEADER
NO SCALE
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.

FIGURE 2
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For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot3/foot = 0.09 m3/m.

FIGURE 3