Facades and (dam) walls

Facades and (dam) walls

Gabions in facades and (dam) walls
Gabions are increasingly often applied as facade cladding in the non-residential construction and urban development. Narrow and high gabion constructions are to be anchored into the wall or construction behind it or built onto a special support and suspension facility. Insulating properties and an added value for fauna and flora (habitat for birds, lizards, rock herbs) are included.
Gabions as a (dam) wall cladding are usually placed near motorways and waterways. The gabions are attached in a similar way as used for facade cladding.

Spot-welded gabions
Spot-welded gabions are generally used for these applications. Spot-welded gabions have a rectangular or square mesh opening and are typically manufactured from ‘Galfan’ wire (steel wire with a pre-applied alloy consisting of 90% zinc (Zn) and 10% aluminium (Al)). The substrate for the application of gabions usually has adequate load bearing capability for a foundation onto steel, in which case a working surface of concrete or a layer of crushed rubble suffices.

Filling
The filling of the gabions may consist of crushed natural stone, crushed rubble, rejected bricks or other materials. Almost everything is possible, provided that the filling is frost-resistant. It is also important for the gradation of the filling to match the mesh chosen to prevent the filling from falling out. It is also possible to fill the gabions with soil, and in that case the gabions are cladded on the inside with a soil retaining fabric or coconut fibres.