Slurry Wall Ventilation Requirements

Slurry Walls

• Slurry walls exist below ground level. Construction projects use them to prevent water and other subterranean fluids from flowing from one area to another. For instance, a project built in an area with lots of ground water may install a slurry wall around the project perimeter to prevent ground water from leaking into the building site. Slurry walls also appear in tunnels, subways and similar subterranean structures. Some construction projects use slurry walls to contain contaminated water.

Slurry Wall Venting

• Slurry walls themselves require ventilation only when they exist in an area with gas flow. For instance, a construction project may build slurry walls in an area with natural gases in the ground. A buildup of such gases could cause an explosion or result in enough built-up pressure to rupture or destroy the slurry wall. In such instances, a slurry wall needs a ventilation system that allows natural vapors to move in their standard patterns. Oil companies in particular deal regularly with volatile gases and therefore must properly vent all slurry walls.

Vent Structure

• The structure of slurry wall ventilation systems ultimately depends upon the construction company that makes it. Keller Geotechnique, a UK-based engineering and construction firm, installs ventilation shafts for slurry walls. These shafts allow for the natural movement of vapors in the earth. They also use a filtration system to prevent potentially harmful vapors from escaping into the air as a result of slurry wall construction. If you plan to build a slurry wall on your property, you should consult an engineer or local builder for specifics about ventilation needs – unless you have construction or engineering experience, this project goes beyond acceptable difficulty levels for DIY projects.

Slurry Walls in Vent Systems

• Slurry walls in large underground structures may contain ventilation system elements. However, these systems do not technically constitute slurry wall ventilation. For instance, the Big Dig project in Boston led to the creation of an enormous underground road system aimed at de-congesting traffic at street level in the center of the city. The project contained numerous slurry walls, some of which contained elements of a ventilation system that helped construction workers and commuters breathe. Presumably you won’t be installing a subway in your backyard; but if you construct a subterranean habitat of some kind, your slurry walls may require ventilation. You should seek assistance on such a project unless you really know what you’re doing.