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Rolls of double-twist, hexagonal mesh are often used to
prevent rock and debris from falling onto roads and railways.
Hexagonal wire mesh has long service life and high strength to meet the
strict requirements for this type of work. The double twist weave is strong enough to
withstand the force of falling rock and,
unlike chain link mesh, will not unravel should some of the wires break. The rolls or panels
also feature a selvedge wire of larger diameter than that
used for manufacturing the mesh.
There are two primary methods for deploying the rolls of netting over the project area.
The first method consists of transporting the rolls to the top of the face and,
after aligning them, attaching them at the edge and allowing
them to unroll downhill. The second method involves leaving the roll at the foot of the face,
coupling a bar to it and lifting it to the top of the face where it is to be affixed.
To promote
vegetation growth while providing rockfall protection, the mesh can be combined with a wide
variety of erosion control mats to form a composite product (like
the MacMat-R®) that after installation can be hydroseeded.
Hydro-seeding: Hydro-seeding is performed with a pump for dense liquids, which
sprays on to the rock surface to be greened a mixture consisting of mixed seeds, fertilizer,
soil improvement substances, a binder and water.
Complete vegetative cover: a complete covering of vegetation involving the placing
of a layer of soil against the face.
Partial vegetative cover: this system can be used for steeper slopes up to a
maximum of 60 to 65 degrees without any limit as to height, provided consideration is given
to the strength of the mesh being used. The seeded soil allows the growth of a vegetation which
contributes to the consolidation and protection of the rocky slope.
Planting vegetation in wire mesh pockets: The technique consists of building
pockets of double twist wire netting lined on the inside with synthetic geomesh. These bags
are sewn to the external wire netting already fastened to the rocky slope in the conventional
manner. By filling them with earth followed by seed, bushy species and those with grass like
roots can become established in the outer subvertical part as well.
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