Pole Retaining Wall

Design Guide
Pole Retaining Walls
1. Durability
Pinex poles are treated with C.C.A. salts
to the H5 standard which is the level required
for house and building foundations. This will
ensure that the poles have a service life of at
least 50 years when used as recommended.
2. Cost Effectiveness
Pole retaining walls have been used for
many years as a means of securing unstable
ground or increasing the amount of usable
area on steep sites. As land values increase,
particularly in urban areas, the use of pole
retaining walls permit better use of steep or
difficult sites and the cost is normally covered
by the increase in value of the improved site.
The cost of softwood poles compares vary
favourably with other materials which are
used for retaining purposes.
3. Visual Appeal
There is a much greater appreciation in
the community for the environment and the
aesthetic appeal of treated timber poles is
consistent with this. A well designed and
installed pole wall creates an interesting and
visually pleasing feature.
4. Building Permit
Pole retaining walls are subject to local
body approval and a permit would
normally be required for walls of 1.2m in
height or more. If in doubt, check with
your local council.
5. Cutting Treated Timber
All Pinex poles are impregnated with
preservative salts which are applied under 1
Wall
pressure; providing a barrier or envelope of slope
protection. The effectiveness of this
protection is compromised if the treated
timber is cut or drilled. If processing after
treatment is unavoidable, be sure to protect 10
the affected parts by brushing on liberal
quantities of an approved preservative. In any
case, the cut end should not be placed in
ground contact.
6. Embedment
In order to conform with the design
tables overleaf, poles must be placed in a
manner that effects total encasement with
17MPA concrete of the in-ground portion
of the pole.
Pole Retaining Wall Design Table
This table has been prepared for retaining walls with a level backfill. Any such wall with a sloping
Material: Soft Clay backfill or a traffic surcharge will require a specific design drawn up by a registered engineer.
Pole Spacing 1.8 1.2 0.9
Height 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1
Embedment depth 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.7 1.2 1.5 1.9 2.2 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1
Pole Diameter 175 200 250 300 150 175 225 250 125 150 175 200 225
1/2 Round Face Size 130 160 160 160 130 130 160 160 130 130 130 130 130
Planking Thickness 50 50 75 100 50 50 50 75 50 50 50 50 75
Hole Diameter 325 350 400 450 300 325 375 400 275 300 325 350 375

Material: Stiff Clay

Pole Spacing 1.8 1.2 0.9
Height 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1
Embedment depth 1 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.9
Pole Diameter 175 200 250 300 150 175 225 250 125 150 175 200 225
1/2 Round Face Size 130 130 160 160 130 130 130 160 130 130 130 130 130
Planking Thickness 50 50 75 75 50 50 50 75 50 50 50 50 50
Hole Diameter 325 350 400 450 300 325 375 400 275 300 325 350 375

Material: Sandy Silt

Pole Spacing 1.8 1.2 0.9
Height 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1
Embedment depth 0.9 1.3 1.6 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.4 1.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.9
Pole Diameter 150 200 225 250 125 150 200 225 125 150 175 200 225
1/2 Round Face Size 130 130 130 160 130 130 130 160 130 130 130 130 130
Planking Thickness 50 50 75 75 50 50 50 75 50 50 50 50 50
Hole Diameter 300 350 375 400 275 300 350 375 275 300 325 350 375

Material: Crushed Rock

Pole Spacing 1.8 1.2 0.9
Height 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1
Embedment depth Dependent upon soil type of foundation material see tables above
Pole Diameter 125 150 200 225 125 150 175 200 125 125 150 175 200
1/2 Round Face Size 130 130 130 160 130 130 130 160 130 130 130 130 130
Planking Thickness 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
Hole Diameter 275 300 350 375 275 300 325 350 275 275 300 325 350

While Carter Holt Harvey Timber undertakes to have exercised all reasonable care and skill in the preparation of this design guide, Carter Holt Harvey
Timber does not guarantee the accuracy of the material or its compliance with any regulations or codes of practice in place from time to time. No liability
is accepted for any direct or consequential loss suffered by any person, whether arising directly or indirectly out of the use of, or reliance on, the contents
of this design guide. This is not intended to have the effect of contracting out of the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 except to the
extent permitted by that Act, and the foregoing is to be modified to the extent necessary to give effect to that intention.

Your local Pinex distributor is:

For supplies of
• Poles • Marine Piles •Sawn House Piles • Fencing Roundwood

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