Defaults Tab

The Defaults tab contains the global design settings used by the program. Here you can review and, if necessary, adjust:

Factors of safety
Load factors
Minimum and maximum reinforcement limits
Other code dependent design parameters

The default values are taken directly from the relevant design codes. In most cases you should only change these settings where you have a clear design justification and supporting evidence.

Minimum surcharge

By default minimum surcharge is set to 10 kN/m², in line with the recommendation in BS 8002 for vehicular loading that may occur during construction, or during the design life of the wall. This value can be altered where it can be demonstrated that vehicle loading cannot occur, for example behind a garden wall where access is not possible.

Slenderness check option (L/d)

There is also an option to check the wall stem for L/d. This check applies to the wall stem only and does not include for any rotation of the wall and base as a combined unit.

Factors of safety for use with CP2 design

Load Factors for use in BS 8002 design

Load Factors for use in EC7 design

Service bearing pressure case (EC7)

There is a tick box option is available to include a Service Bearing Pressure Case.

In EC7, the standard 6 Equ, Geo, Str load cases are treated as ultimate cases. Bearing checks for these cases should therefore be carried out against an ultimate bearing resistance entered on the Soil Data tab, rather than the permissible bearing pressure commonly used in BS design.

Because these cases are ultimate, it is also good practice to check bearing under service conditions. Selecting the service bearing pressure option introduces an additional load case 7 for this purpose.

The service bearing resistance is calculated from the ultimate bearing resistance by dividing it by a factor of safety of 3, a generally accepted value.

Masonry reinforcement limits

The Defaults tab also includes the maximum and minimum reinforcement limits used when designing masonry retaining walls.These limits help ensure the reinforcement provided remains within practical and code compliant bounds.