Information regarding the Rootlok system
General specification
Manufactured in the UK, the Rootlok System is designed to provide a permanent vegetated solution for gravity walls, retaining walls, soil reinforced structures, river and flood protection works, slope stability and landscaping applications.
Rootlok is fully tested and all solutions conform to British Standards and Eurocode 7 (Geotechnical Design).
Specifically we design to the following national codes:
Mass gravity retaining walls designed to BS8002 (code of practice for earth retaining structures).
Geogrid retaining walls designed to BS8006 (code of practice for reinforced earth).
To achieve longevity in the system it is essential that the structure is vegetated by one of the recommended methods. This will provide screening from UV exposure and degradation ensuring a long term solution is achieved.
When installed in perfect circumstances and protected from all possible ultraviolet light, Rootlok is designed to meet a project life expectancy of 120 years.
The Rootlok System
The Rootlok Vegetated Wall System consists of two primary elements that combine to form a solid yet flexible structure – a geotextile bag and interlocking plate.
Vegetating the Rootlok System
Rootlok’s segmental design allows the integration of many plant species within the structure. It creates an environment for vegetation to thrive*, resulting in a strong root system that enhances the structural integrity of the system and its green credentials.
*Special attention needs to be taken to the location of your application, ensuring a more sustainable green finish and successful biodiversity net gain.
There are several vegetation methods to ahieve this. Care must be taken when selecting the plant species, method for vegetating, as well as bearing in mind the maintenance required.
Hydroseeding – a seed mix is sprayed onto the bags after completion achieving an even establishment of vegetation across the structure.
Seeded Rootlok Bags – seed is inserted into the Rootlok bag during the filling process.
As standard, we use a Drought Tolerant Grass Mix incl. Clover and Legumes to hydroseed and pre-seed Rootlok bags, however we can tailor this mix to your requirements, including species such as wildflower and small shurbs.
Other seed mixes are available and can be found here.
Drought Tolerant Grass Mix incl. Clover and Legumes
30% Strong Creeping Red Fescue
20% Slender Creeping Red Fescue
10% Chewings Fescue
15% Crested Dogstail
10% Hard Fescue
7% Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass
3% Brown Top Bent
5% Clover & Legume Blend
(1% Small Leaved White Clover, 1% Small Leaved Red Clover, 1% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 2% Sainfoin)
Live Planting - plant plugs and live stakes can be inserted into the Rootlok bags or placed in-between the bags. Live planting can be completed during or after installation.
Turf Pinning – turf can easily be pinned to your Rootlok wall allowing for an instant green finish to be achieved.
The Rootlok bag
The Rootlok Bags are made from a permeable needle punched nonwoven geotextile. The fabric we use allows the bags to act as a filtration system, permitting moisture and plant roots free movement whilst eliminating sediment migration. Full structural strength is obtained on completion of installation. Before, during or following installation, a growing medium must be applied to the system. The face of the Rootlok system is designed to become vegetated within one growing season.
Once the vegetation is established, the foliage provides protection for the wall face while the root structure further increases the structural strength of the system. The soils used to fill the geotextile bags must be of reasonable quality to nurture and sustain vegetation.
We use a UV stabilised, permeable needle punched nonwoven geotextile to make our bags. The material is heat bonded on all sides to help maintain the shape of the bags when filled.
| Property | Mean value | Tolerance | Test standard |
| Tensile Strength Tmax MD | 11.5kN/m | -1.5kN/m | EN ISO 10319 |
| Tensile Strength Tmax CMD | 12kN/m | -1.56 kN/m | EN ISO 10319 |
| Elongation max MD | 60% | ±2.72% | EN ISO 10319 |
| Elongation max CMD | 60% | ±9.41% | EN ISO 10319 |
| Dynamic Perforation Re-sistance | 23.64mm | +5 | EN ISO 13433 |
| Static Puncture Resistance (CBR) | 2kN | -0.2 | EN ISO 12236 |
| Characteristic Opening Size | 61μm | ±18 | EN ISO 12956 |
| Water flow rate qN | 96 l/(m2s) | -29 l/(m2s) | EN ISO 11058 |
| Flow capacity in the plane Gradient q20/1.0 | 5.83*10-6m2/s | -30% | EN ISO 12958 |
| Flow capacity in the plane Gradient q200/1.0 | 1.6*10-6 m2/s | -30% | EN ISO 12958 |
| Thickness under 2 kPa | 1.48mm | ±21.6% | EN ISO 9863/1 |
| Oxidation resistance | Predicted to be durable for a minimum of 100 years in natural soil with 4<pH<9 and soil temperature <25°C | EN ISO 13438 | |
| UV Stabiliser | 2% addition to raw material | - | |
| UV Resistance | 72% retained tensile strength @ 500 hours Xenon | D 4322 | |
The Rootlok plate
The Rootlok plate provides a connection between the geotextile bags, joining the gap between the bags and locking each one into position to form a solid structure. The locking plate must be used throughout the system to provide the mechanical locking connection between the bags and geogrids if used.
The Rootlok plate is manufactured by injection moulding using talc filled polypropylene and uses wholly UK sourced recycled material. The result is a consistently high-quality product that has great resistance to naturally found alkalis’ and acids within the ground and exhibits high fatigue resistance.
| Property | Specification |
| Talc-filled Polypropylene | 65.6gm |
| Density | 0.957G/cc |
| Tensile strength | 18.6MPa |
| Elongation at break | 19.9% |
| Modulus | = 0.84GPa |
| Notched Izod | = 10.6 kJ/m² |
| Melting Point | = 124C |
Bag Fill Material
The material used to fill the Rootlok bags is a mixture of soils and sands that contain the right quantities of organic matter to sustain vegetation. Where used in a water application, bags below the average water level are filled with clean fine gravels. Full specification available on request.
In-House Technical Support
Our experienced in-house team are on hand to offer advice, from the beginning of the project right through to the end, providing expert technical, construction and vegetation guidance.
To learn more about our Rootlok systems please contact us to learn more
01543 224800
sales@geogrow.com