Features
TERRAFORCE® ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS
GROW A WATER-WISE LIVING WALL
Our unique hollow-core design allows you to make plants a living part of your wall, allowing water to drain back into the ground. Use low-water-use plants to create a landscape that is sustainable. In commercial or industrial settings, plant growth also deters graffiti.
DURABLE WITH NO CHEMICAL ADDITIVES
Concrete provides versatile, sustainable construction solutions. Our blocks will not rot and weaken over time, and no chemical preservatives are added. Blocks can easily be replaced if damage occurs. When it comes to providing sustainable construction solutions, we have records of Terraforce® retainer walls that have stood strong for over four decades, since the conception of the company in 1978.
MORTARLESS AND VERSATILE
The precast concrete blocks are simply stacked up without mortar to provide a cost effective, do-it-yourself system. They can be used for light revetment cladding, medium-to-heavy gravity retaining walls, heavy duty composite walls in combination with earth reinforcing grids (fabrics) or reinforced concrete infill.
Layout flexibility
The half-moon interlock easily manages convex and concave curves, and the wall angle can vary from vertical to shallow slopes. Create steps by reversing the block. Handrail and fence posts can be set within the blocks.
WIDE CHOICE OF COLOURS AND TEXTURES
Terraforce® eco-friendly solutions come in a choice of round, flat or rock face finish. Consult your local supplier about available colours and textures.
USER FRIENDLY FOR EASY INSTALLATION
While the precast concrete blocks are lightweight for easy delivery and installation, they are heavy in mass when filled with soil, gravel or concrete, providing additional vertical interlock.
Why Terraforce?
Easy to use
The blocks are lightweight for easy delivery, handling and installation, yet heavy in mass when filled with soil, gravel, or concrete. Fence and handrail posts can be set within blocks.
Tried and tested for over 40 years
Terraforce is a member of the Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) in South Africa and adheres to the Canadian and US international Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units, following a successful ICBO evaluation in 2002 (now ICC-ES, a leading US nonprofit, limited liability company that does technical evaluations of building products, components, methods, and materials). The system was also extensively tested by Hawkins Hawkins & Osborne Consulting Engineers, South Africa in 1992, resulting in a comprehensive design and specification manual and user guide.
Composite retaining wall design and construction procedures with Terraforce blocks have also been subjected to rigorous laboratory tests. These were conducted on a large-scale test apparatus to evaluate the mechanical performance of, among others, the connection between blocks and geogrids. In all tests the primary mode of failure was rupture of the geogrid outside the blocks and performance was found to be above average.
Manufacture of blocks follow strict standards
The manufacturing of gravity wall blocks (Terraforce) must adhere to local and international standards by undergoing extensive laboratory testing, during and after manufacturing. These standards are based on the following codes:
- SANS 207,
- Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA)
- BS 8806 and
- ASTM-D6916-18
In addition, licensed manufacturers must adhere to strict minimum specifications and weekly compressive strength tests as well as weight- and dimension measurements must be concluded as part of the manufacture’s quality assurance programme.
BENEFITS OF TERRAFORCE
Why retaining wall blocks can work for you
Listed below are the features of Terraforce retaining wall blocks that have contributed to the growing popularity of Terraforce among architects, engineers, developers, contractors and home owners.
Terraforce blocks are manufactured under controlled conditions in factories on five continents and may be employed to solve issues ranging from light erosion control applications to heavy composite earth retaining requirements. Our consultants will gladly share their experience of many years with you to maximise the environmental and aesthetic opportunities that exist on your site.
Hollow core reversible units
The unique hollow-core design allows you to make plants a part of your wall and allows water to drain back into the ground. Use low-water-use plants to create a landscape that’s sustainable. Plant growth also deters graffiti.
Unique horizontal interlock
With optional vertical interlock allowing for seamless variations of wall inclination (90-35 degrees).
Eliminate the use of geogrids in many cases. Convex and concave corners and curves of unrestricted radius allow complex designs to suit site conditions.
Easy stairway construction
• Straight or curved alignment
• Perfect spiral stairways can be constructed with ease
What’s possible: light revetment cladding, medium-to-heavy gravity retaining walls, heavy duty composite walls in combination with earth reinforcing grids (fabrics) or reinforced concrete infill.
Open horizontal & closed vertical surface structure
• Cuts evaporation
• Improves drainage
• Allows for effective backfill compaction
• Plant growth deters graffiti
• Environmentally friendly
Installation
Must be carried out in accordance with practical installation guidelines and details as contained in our construction manuals.
The units are light and easy to handle before filling. No special construction skills are required. (Installation Guides).
TERRAFORCE walls are not built in a checkerboard fashion and contain no air voids – evaporation is thus reduced to a minimum. They offer minimal visual impact due to their range of colours and natural boulder-like appearance.