HOW TO INSTALL

Sleeper Installation Guide

Follow these 5 steps for a professional finish every time. Suitable for standard residential retaining walls up to 1 metre high.

⚠️ Walls over 1 metre require council permission and independent engineering advice.

STEP 01

Set Your String Line

Set pegs at each end of the retaining wall site and connect with a string line to give the required alignment. Holes should be dug at 2020mm centres for 2.0m sleepers and 2420mm centres for 2.4m sleepers. A similar allowance of 20mm can be used for other lengths.

Hole diameter must be at least 450mm for a 1 metre high retaining wall.

MINIMUM DEPTH

1100mm

MINIMUM DIAMETER

450mm

STEP 02

Dig Your Post Holes

For a typical 1.0m high wall, post holes must be dug to a minimum of 1100mm deep and 450mm in diameter. For higher walls where permits and council regulations apply, holes will typically be larger.

STEP 03

Place Your Steel Posts

Place steel into the recommended size hole, set at 20mm longer than the sleeper being installed. For a 2.0m sleeper, space steel uprights at 2020mm inside the channels. Use timber props to ensure steel is square and straight. Pour concrete into hole ensuring it covers all sides and underneath steel by at least 100mm.

⚠️ DO NOT OVER FILL HOLES. Concrete should finish at least 10mm below the base of the bottom sleeper.

STEP 04

Install Your Sleepers

After the concrete has cured, place the first sleeper between the steel posts. Use packing to adjust level, ensuring each layer is the same distance from the top of the steel posts. Insert wedges behind each sleeper to guarantee each is held firmly to the front of the steel post.

✓ Use packers to level each row

✓ Insert wedge behind each sleeper

✓ Check level after every layer

STEP 05

Install Drainage

Once sleepers are installed, place plastic membrane behind the wall and a slotted drain along the length running to a discharge point. Cover drain and backfill with 20mm scoria up to the height of the wall. Ensure there is no compaction behind the wall height.

Example: For an 800mm high wall — no compaction within 800mm of the back edge of the wall.

Typical Sleeper Arrangement

For 5kPa Design Load

2.0m SLEEPERS

Standard 3 rows

Heavy Duty 4 rows

Extra H.D. 5 rows

2.4m SLEEPERS

Standard 3 rows

Heavy Duty 4 rows

Extra H.D. 5+ rows

Standard

Heavy Duty

Extra Heavy Duty

⚠️

During installation, no equipment should be driven over the wall backfill within the wall height. Compaction, if any, must use non-vibrating hand equipment weighing no more than 500kg per square metre. Wall designs shown are for typical soil conditions. For walls over 1 metre, seek independent engineering advice.

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