IS 12051:1986 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for design and construction of retaining walls (general). This code of practice outlines the general requirements for the design and construction of retaining walls. It covers aspects like site investigation, materials, calculation of earth pressures, stability checks, drainage measures, and construction supervision.
Covers general principles and guidelines for the design and construction of various types of retaining walls.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Philosophy | Working Stress Method (WSM) | Limit State Design (LSD) / Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) | EN 1997-1 / AASHTO LRFD |
| Factor of Safety (Sliding) | ≥ 1.5 (static, dead + live load) | Achieved via partial factors. E.g., for GEO limit state, design resisting force ≥ design sliding force, where forces are factored. | EN 1997-1 |
| Factor of Safety (Overturning) | ≥ 1.5 (static, dead + live load) | Checked by ensuring design resisting moments ≥ design overturning moments. Explicit FOS is not used. | EN 1997-1 |
| Factor of Safety (Bearing Capacity) | ≥ 2.5 (static loads) | Partial resistance factor γ_R;v = 1.4 applied to characteristic bearing resistance (in Design Approach 1, Combination 2). | EN 1997-1 |
| Minimum Weep Hole Diameter | Not less than 100 mm | No strict minimum, but good practice suggests 75 mm to 100 mm. | BS 8002:2015 |
| Wall Friction Angle (δ) for concrete cast against soil | Suggests 2/3 ϕ to ϕ | Suggests δ can be taken as 2/3 ϕ' for precast concrete and tan⁻¹(0.5) for smooth surfaces. | EN 1997-1, Annex C |
| Minimum Cover to Reinforcement | 50 mm for surfaces exposed to soil or weather | Varies by exposure class. For XC3/XC4 (moderate humidity/cyclic wet-dry), typically 35-40 mm plus an allowance (Δc_dev) of 10 mm. | EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2) |