TensarTech® EcoCrib: Crib Retaining Wall System

100% Recycled Crib Facing

100% Resistant to Ultraviolet Light

100% recycled and 100% recyclable crib facing manufactured from 100% UK waste polymer
Supplied in various colours
A retaining wall system that is fully resistant to ultraviolet light and will not rot or be affected by water or fungus infestation
Enables the construction of reinforced soil crib retaining walls with a 4:1 or 84° face angle.
Class 3 fire resistant (wood is class 4)
HAPAS BBA Certificate 12/H194 with typical design lives up to 120 years

Need a crib retaining wall or slope design for your project?

Tensar’s design team specialises in crib retaining wall solutions and can produce a free-of-charge “Application Suggestion” to illustrate what Tensar can achieve and how much value can be added to your project.

Request Design Assessment

Overview

This crib walling system is designed for the construction of reinforced soil retaining walls with a 4:1 or 84° face angle. With TensarTech EcoCrib, engineers gain a crib wall facing, which provides an aesthetically pleasing alternative to timber or concrete finish with the potential to use various site-worn granular and recycled fill types. Services can include detailed crib wall design, professional indemnity, construction drawings and construction advice during on-site installation.

System Components

The TensarTech Ecocrib System includes advice, training and services from Tensar’s design and on-site teams, as well as four specific products. These are Tensar uniaxial geogrids (high-density polyethylene with extremely high durability and no corrosion potential), 100% recycled and 100% recyclable crib facing manufactured from 100% UK waste polymer, GRP dowel pins for interconnecting and Tensar high-efficiency polymer connector.

Why choose Tensar’s Criblock Retaining Wall Solution?

Achieve Lasting Results

TensarTech EcoCrib goes beyond traditional crib wall solutions, offering a range of benefits that simplify your project and ensure long-lasting performance.

Reduces construction time and labour costs: Compared to conventional crib wall retaining wall systems, EcoCrib boasts lightweight interlocking components that enable a quick and easy on-site assembly.
Built to last up to 120 years: Unlike timber crib walls susceptible to rot and degradation, EcoCrib is highly resistant to ultraviolet light, water damage, and fungal infestation, which minimises the need for replacements and ensures lasting value.

Minimise Your Environmental Impact

EcoCrib is manufactured from 100% recycled UK waste polymer. This significantly reduces the embodied carbon compared to using materials like concrete or timber. This use of recycled aggregates helps projects qualify for points towards LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification - the world's most widely used green building rating system.

Unlock Design Flexibility

EcoCrib versatility makes it a perfect fit for a wide range of applications. Need to tame challenging slopes and embankments? EcoCrib provides a robust and stable solution that looks great too, seamlessly integrating with the natural landscape. From creative shapes to various colour options, EcoCrib™ allows you to bring your vision to life.

Unlock design flexibility, conquer slopes, and achieve lasting results – all with the versatility of the TensarTech EcoCrib retaining wall system.

EcoCrib Retaining Wall Technical Data

EcoCrib™ units are class 3 fire resistant (wood is class 4) so it’s harder to ignite than wood.
HAPAS BBA Certificate 12/H194 with typical design lives up to 120 years.
Potential to use various site-won granular fill types, including DOT Class 6I/6J.
Security of positive connection between EcoCrib unit and geogrid reinforcement using the Tensar high-efficiency polymer connector.
Supplied as part of a Design and Supply, TensarTech® Earth Retaining System services can include detailed design, professional indemnity, construction drawings and construction advice during on-site installation.

EcoCrib Retaining Wall Technical Data

EcoCrib™ units are class 3 fire resistant (wood is class 4) so it’s harder to ignite than wood.
HAPAS BBA Certificate 12/H194 with typical design lives up to 120 years.
Potential to use various site-won granular fill types, including DOT Class 6I/6J.
Security of positive connection between EcoCrib unit and geogrid reinforcement using the Tensar high-efficiency polymer connector.
Supplied as part of a Design and Supply, TensarTech® Earth Retaining System services can include detailed design, professional indemnity, construction drawings and construction advice during on-site installation.

TensarTech EcoCrib Success Stories

Castleford, UK

Poppy Grange

Market: Housing
Application: Earth Retaining Walls
Benefit: Cost Savings, Time Savings, Sustainability

Edinburgh, UK

Edinburgh Airport

Market: Airports
Application: Reinforced Slopes
Benefit: Sustainability

Design Software for Crib Retaining Wall Systems

The TensarSoil design program allows the design engineer to produce designs for reinforced soil walls, slopes and bridge abutments. You can easily input and alter your crib retaining wall project geometry, layout and characteristics to determine stability and material costs – saving you time and money.

Request TensarSoil

TensarTech EcoCrib Related Products & Systems

Criblock Retaining Walls FAQs

What is a criblock retaining wall?

A criblock retaining wall is a gravity-type wall made of precast concrete cribs filled with stone. The cribs are designed to interlock, and the wall's open grid pattern allows water to drain away. Criblock walls are often used in highways, rail, and housing projects.

Traditional crib retaining walls operate on a similar principle to gabion retaining walls, but cribs are used to contain the fill rather than baskets. Tensar’s Ecocrib walls are manufactured from 100% recycled UK waste polymer, which significantly reduces embodied carbon compared to other commonly used materials like concrete or timber.

What is the difference between a crib wall and a retaining wall?

A retaining wall is a broad term for structures that hold back soil, preventing erosion and collapse. They come in various types, including gravity and cantilevers, and can be made from materials like concrete, stone, or wood. Learn more in our guide on Retaining Walls: Types, Designs, and Functions.

A crib wall is a specific type of gravity retaining wall built using interlocking box-like frameworks (cribs), often made of timber, concrete, polymers, or steel. It is filled with soil or rock for stability. While all crib walls are retaining walls, not all retaining walls are crib walls. Crib walls are often used for slope stabilisation and erosion control.

What is the life expectancy of a crib retaining wall?

Timber triblock walls have an agreement certificate showing a sixty-year lifetime, but the life span depends on the quality of the timber treatment. On the other hand, Tensar EcoCrib retaining wall offers a life expectancy of up to 120 years. It is highly resistant to ultraviolet light, water damage, and fungal infestation, minimising the need for repairs or replacements.

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TensarTech® EcoCrib: Crib Retaining Wall System

Need a crib retaining wall or slope design for your project?