Rockfall containment
Draped HDG steel-wire netting and high-tensile TECCO mesh, anchor-pinned to the face, to contain loose rock and debris on cuttings, rock faces and quarry slopes. Mesh type and anchor pattern engineered to BS 1722 / EOTA TR026.
Soil nailing, rock anchors & rockfall mesh installation
Slope stabilisation, rock anchors and rockfall mitigation on rail, highways and infrastructure cuttings — delivered by IRATA + RISQS-accredited geotechnical teams.
What is soil nailing uk?
Geotechnical rope access stabilises steep cuttings, embankments and rock faces using engineered soil nails, rock anchors and rockfall netting — installed by IRATA-certified technicians working directly on the slope rather than from scaffolded platforms below. The technique is the standard approach on the UK's rail and highway estate, where slope failure threatens the line or carriageway and conventional plant access is impossible. Apex teams install passive rockfall protection (draped mesh, TECCO mesh, anchor-pinned panels), active stabilisation (soil nails grouted into the slope with geotextile or mesh covers), and rock-bolted reinforcement of weathered rock faces. Every installation is engineered to project-specific pull-out tests and signed off with full geotechnical records — load-test certificates, drilling logs and photographic survey. RISQS accreditation lets us deliver under Network Rail possession; National Highways traffic-management protocols handle the highway side.
Part of Environmental Division.
How we deliver.
Slope stabilisation
Engineered stabilisation of over-steepened or failing soil and rock slopes — soil nails, rock anchors and reinforced facing combined to the slope's failure surface and design loads. The core remedial package on rail cuttings, highway embankments and infrastructure slopes.
Soil nailing
Hot-dip galvanised steel nails grouted into the slope and pinned through geotextile or steel mesh facing — nail length, density and inclination designed to the failure surface, then proof-load tested and signed off with drilling logs and certificates.
Catch fencing
Dynamic rockfall catch fences and barrier systems installed below or across the slope to intercept falling rock before it reaches the line, carriageway or working area. Energy-rated to the expected rockfall and anchored to engineered foundations.
Descaling
Manual and mechanical scaling of loose, weathered or fractured rock from faces and cuttings — removing the hazard at source. Rope-access teams work the full face where plant can't reach, often the first phase before mesh, netting or fencing.
Where we deliver.
Geotechnical rope access is the standard delivery method for slope stabilisation on the UK's rail and highway estate, plus infrastructure, utility and quarry faces where conventional plant can't reach.
- Network Rail (RISQS-accredited)
- National Highways
- Transport Scotland & Welsh Government
- Local authority highways
- Quarries & mineral extraction
- Water & utility infrastructure
- Coastal & cliff stabilisation
- Tier-one civil engineering contractors
FAQs.
What is soil nailing?
Soil nailing is a slope stabilisation technique where steel rods are drilled and grouted into an over-steepened soil slope to hold the soil mass together. The nails work in tension as the slope tries to fail, transferring load to deeper, stable ground. A geotextile or steel mesh facing then prevents surface erosion. Soil nailing is widely used on rail cuttings and highway embankments to prevent slip failure.
How long does a soil nail installation take?
Productivity depends on slope length, nail density, ground conditions and access. A typical rope-access rig installs 20-40 nails per shift in good ground. A complete slope of 100-200 nails usually takes 1-2 weeks on site, including drilling, grouting, testing and mesh installation.
Do you carry out load testing?
Yes — every contract includes proof-load testing of designed nail / anchor types to verify pull-out capacity. Working-load and design-load tests are witnessed and certified, with results issued in the handover pack alongside drilling logs and photographic records.
What's the difference between draped mesh and TECCO mesh?
Draped mesh (hot-dip galvanised steel wire) is a passive rockfall protection — hung loosely down a rock face to contain any loose rock as it falls. TECCO mesh is a high-tensile woven mesh anchored to the slope with rock bolts and bearing plates — actively pinning the rock face in place. TECCO suits slopes with active instability; draped mesh suits stable slopes with occasional loose-rock risk.
Are you RISQS-accredited for Network Rail work?
Yes — Apex holds current RISQS accreditation for Network Rail framework supply, including geotechnical works under possession. Our teams carry PTS, COSS, IWA and IRATA Level 3 certifications, and we work routinely on cuttings, embankments and rock faces across the rail estate.
Can you handle the full slope stabilisation project end-to-end?
Yes. Apex delivers slope stabilisation as a single-team contract: vegetation clearance, loose-rock scaling, soil nailing / rock anchoring, mesh installation, drainage, finishing and proof-load testing — all in-house under one programme. This avoids the procurement overhead of multiple specialist subcontractors and keeps a single accountable party throughout the works.
Talk to our Environmental team about geotechnical
Contact our Environmental team today about your project. We aim to respond within 24 hours.