Industry Practice Standards and DFI Practice Guidelines for Structural Slurry Walls-PDF

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The Deep Foundations Institute’s 2005 publication presents industry practices and model guidelines for designing and constructing structural slurry walls in the United States. It is not a design code or pre-engineered specification; project decisions remain the responsibility of qualified professionals, who must account for site-specific conditions, applicable codes, groundwater, geology, loads, and construction constraints.<br /><br />A structural slurry wall is built in discrete panels. Slurry—typically bentonite or polymer—supports the excavation until it is replaced by tremie-placed concrete, often containing reinforcing cages, steel beams, or prestressing elements. Walls may serve as temporary or permanent earth-retaining structures, foundations carrying vertical loads, or both. The document describes panel types and joints, dimensions, excavation depths, equipment, slurry preparation and treatment, construction sequences, inspection, and records.<br /><br />Its practice guidelines emphasize experienced contractors; thorough geotechnical investigation; clear design documents and submittals; locating and protecting utilities and nearby structures; stable guide walls; continuous slurry-level and quality control; accurate excavation and panel alignment; clean excavation bottoms; and timely placement of reinforcement and concrete. Tremie concrete should be placed continuously so it displaces slurry from the bottom without harmful mixing. Inspection and detailed records should cover excavation conditions, slurry tests, reinforcement, and concrete placement.<br /><br />The publication also discusses tolerances, differing site conditions, completion and repairs, payment, and water tightness. It cautions that slurry walls may show dampness even when they have no running leaks, and that no universal industry criterion defines acceptable watertightness. Required performance and any supplementary waterproofing measures should therefore be specified clearly in project documents.

Keywords

structural slurry walls

bentonite slurry

deep foundations

tremie concrete

earth-retaining structures

geotechnical investigation

construction guidelines

panel excavation

watertightness

reinforced concrete