Walls

Summary
Quick reference guide for key criteria
Walls

Overarching requirements
Embellishments should be designed/selected and installed as follows:
- Fit for purpose, appropriately positioned and accessible.
- Durable, robust and safe (suitable for corrosive environments).
- Vandal resistant with parts that are easily replaceable.
- Easy to maintain (with appropriate warranty and workmanship).
- Comply with relevant standards, legislation, corporate documents and approvals
Planning, design and positioning
- Ensure all walls are the specified distance away from underground services
- (A) Retaining walls – support an excavated or filled embankment to prevent soil from collapsing
- (B) Free-standing walls – stand alone on their own footing
- Do not install seating walls where they may be used for climbing (such as at fenced play spaces or dog off leash parks). Provide 2.0 m clearance
- Comply with Austroads 500 mm minimum offset to any obstacle beside a path, however extra space is required for leg room.
Wall requirements
- Walls over 1.0 m in height must be designed and certified by a Registered Professional Engineer Qld (RPEQ) and must include a fall barrier
- Drainage must be designed and installed to prevent wall collapse
- Preferred materials – rock, concrete, rendered block-work
- Timber is not preferred
- Planter box walls are not recommended for garden beds or for planting trees.
- Free-standing walls (used for seating) require a 150 mm extended top, or a 150 mm cut-out at foot level to assist with rising from a seated position
- Walls with electricals housed inside (ie for lighting), must provide maintenance access for in-situ repairs.
Finished surface, fixings and footings
- Footings to be designed by a RPEQ
- Top of all walls must be sealed to ensure no moisture affects structural strength
- Walls require a luminance contrast with the background against which they are viewed
- Fixings such as armrests and anti-skate devices are to be 316 stainless steel
Note: Further guidance and clarification of the content on this page, can be found in the relevant sections of this information sheet.
This component is currently in development