Block walls have been used in basement construction for years. In unsupported basement block walls, concrete blocks are laid to form the wall, which supports the building structure (Figure 1). Back-filling of the soil at the exterior of the wall forms the grade, which diverts water away from the wall. The wall system is relatively easy to install and low in initial cost.
Maintenance of the wall requires keeping water away from the foundation and sealing water leakage through joints. With lack of maintenance, back-fill settling and excessive water transportation to the foundation can occur, causing the block wall to fail from hydraulic pressure (Figure 2).
Water pressure places a significant load against the wall, causing a deflection inward toward the basement interior. An average water pressure of 0.5 psi (72 psf) places a total force of almost three tons against a 10-foot by 8-foot concrete block wall. The inward deflection of the wall forms a slight void in the soil, which aggravates the condition by causing additional settling. This funnels more water toward the foundation, increasing pressure, inward deflection, and the soil void.
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