Reference · Standards · Geotechnical + Geosynthetics
Standards reference for Malaysian geotechnical and geosynthetics work.
A working reference for engineers, consultants, QS, and authority reviewers in Malaysia. Covers the standards stack actually used in design, specification, and construction submission across slope works, soil nailing, retaining walls, geosynthetics, hydraulic structures, gabion, and landfill liner systems. British (BS), European (BS EN, Eurocode), American (ASTM, AASHTO, FHWA, USACE, NCMA, GRI), International (ISO), and Malaysian (JKR-SPJ Section 7, JPS Drainage Manual, DOE Garis Panduan, MS standards) frameworks. Free reference, no registration. Citation in design submissions is welcome where the design engineer judges the content appropriate.
200+
Standards indexed
11
Issuing bodies
JKR + JPS + DOE
Malaysian authorities
Free
No registration
Engineering note
For project-specific standards compliance (JKR submission, JPS river-corridor approval, DOE landfill spec, federal corridor specification), your point of contact is the Infraconcrete engineering desk. Send the project specification or just the application. Same-day acknowledgement of standards-stack alignment. CIDB G7 + ISO 9001:2015.
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01 / Malaysian authority frameworks
Standards published or referenced by Malaysian authorities.
| Reference | Issuing body | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| JKR-SPJ Section 7 | Jabatan Kerja Raya (Public Works Department) | Earthworks and Slope. Federal works specification covering earthworks, slope stabilisation, retaining walls, geosynthetics for highway and government building projects. |
| JKR Slope Engineering Manual | Jabatan Kerja Raya | Slope investigation, design, construction, and monitoring for federal road and government slope works. |
| JPS Drainage Manual | Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (Department of Irrigation and Drainage) | Hydraulic design for river training, flood mitigation, drainage works. Reference for gabion mattress, channel lining, scour protection. |
| DOE Garis Panduan for Solid Waste Disposal Facilities | Jabatan Alam Sekitar (Department of Environment) | Landfill design including basal composite liner (HDPE plus clay), cap liner, leachate collection, leak detection, regulatory submission protocols. |
| DOE Garis Panduan for Hazardous Waste Landfill | Jabatan Alam Sekitar | Hazardous waste containment, double-liner systems, leak detection requirements. |
| MS 1759 | Standards Malaysia (Jabatan Standard Malaysia) | Woven geotextile for separation. Malaysian standard aligned with international ISO references. |
| MS ISO 10318 | Standards Malaysia | Geosynthetics terminology, aligned with ISO 10318. |
| CIDB Code of Practice | Construction Industry Development Board | Contractor grading (G1 to G7), category eligibility, code of practice for construction works in Malaysia. |
| UBBL (Uniform Building By-Laws 1984) | Ministry of Local Government Development | Building works framework, slope and retaining wall provisions for development approval. |
| Garis Panduan Cerun | JKR Slope Engineering Branch | Cerun (slope) management guideline for federal and state slope assets. |
02 / British Standards (BS)
BS series most cited in Malaysia.
| Standard | Coverage |
|---|---|
| BS 8006-1:2010+A1:2016 | Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils and other fills (basal reinforcement, MSE wall, RSS, embankments on piles) |
| BS 8006-2:2011 | Code of practice for soil nailing |
| BS 8002:2015 | Code of practice for earth retaining structures |
| BS 8004:2015 | Code of practice for foundations |
| BS 8081:2015+A2:2018 | Code of practice for grouted anchors |
| BS 6031:2009 | Code of practice for earthworks |
| BS 8000-23 | Workmanship on building sites, geomembrane installation |
| BS EN 1997-1:2004+A1:2013 (Eurocode 7) | Geotechnical design, general rules |
| BS EN 1997-2:2007 | Ground investigation and testing |
| BS EN 12063:1999 | Execution of special geotechnical works, sheet pile walls |
| BS EN 14490:2010 | Execution of special geotechnical works, soil nailing |
| BS EN 14679:2005 | Execution of special geotechnical works, deep mixing |
| BS EN 1537:2013 | Execution of special geotechnical works, ground anchors |
| BS EN ISO 10318-1:2015 | Geosynthetics, terms and definitions |
| BS EN ISO 10319:2015 | Geosynthetics, wide-width tensile test |
| BS EN ISO 11058:2019 | Geosynthetics, characteristic of water permeability normal to the plane |
| BS EN ISO 12236:2006 | Geosynthetics, static puncture test (CBR test) |
| BS EN ISO 12956:2010 | Geosynthetics, characteristic opening size |
| BS EN ISO 13431:1999 | Geotextiles and geotextile-related products, tensile creep and creep rupture |
| BS EN ISO 13438:2018 | Geosynthetics, screening test for oxidation resistance |
| BS EN ISO 10722:2019 | Geosynthetics, index test for installation damage |
| BS EN 13249 to 13257 | Geotextiles and geotextile-related products characteristics required for use in various applications (road, railway, drainage, erosion, reservoir, landfill, tunnel) |
| BS EN 10223-3:2013 | Steel wire and wire products for fences, hexagonal woven mesh gabion products |
| BS EN 10223-8:2013 | Steel wire and wire products for fences, welded mesh panels |
| BS EN 10244-2:2009 | Steel wire and wire products, non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire (zinc / zinc alloy) |
| BS EN 10245:2011 | Steel wire and wire products, organic coatings on steel wire (PVC) |
03 / American Standards (ASTM, AASHTO, FHWA, USACE, NCMA, GRI)
US-origin standards widely cited.
ASTM International (geosynthetics test methods)
| Standard | Coverage |
|---|---|
| ASTM D4595 | Wide-width tensile strength of geotextile |
| ASTM D4751 | Apparent opening size of geotextile |
| ASTM D4491 | Permittivity of geotextiles |
| ASTM D4632 | Grab breaking load and elongation of geotextiles |
| ASTM D4533 | Trapezoid tearing strength of geotextiles |
| ASTM D6241 | Static puncture strength of geotextiles and geosynthetics (CBR test) |
| ASTM D5261 | Mass per unit area of geotextiles |
| ASTM D5199 | Nominal thickness of geosynthetics |
| ASTM D5101 | Soil-geotextile clogging potential (gradient ratio) |
| ASTM D4355 | Deterioration of geotextiles by exposure to light, moisture, and heat (UV resistance) |
| ASTM D6637 | Tensile strength of geogrids by single or multi-rib method |
| ASTM D6706 | Measuring geosynthetic pullout resistance in soil |
| ASTM D6638 | Determining connection strength between geosynthetic reinforcement and SRW units |
| ASTM D6244 | Vertical impact testing of waterproofing membranes |
| ASTM D7864 | Long-term collapse stress of cellular confinement systems (geocell) |
| ASTM D5397 | Evaluation of stress crack resistance of polyolefin geomembranes |
| ASTM D5994 | Thickness of geomembranes (smooth and textured) |
| ASTM D6392 | Determining the integrity of nonreinforced geomembrane seams produced using thermo-fusion methods |
| ASTM D7466 | Determining the integrity of nonreinforced geomembrane seams produced using extrusion methods |
| ASTM D7007 | Electrical methods for detecting and locating leaks in geomembrane seams (geoelectric) |
| ASTM D5641 | Geomembrane seam evaluation by vacuum chamber |
| ASTM D5820 | Pressurized air channel evaluation of dual seamed geomembranes |
| ASTM D5321 | Determining the shear strength of soil-geosynthetic and geosynthetic-geosynthetic interfaces by direct shear |
| ASTM D4716 | Constant head hydraulic transmissivity (in-plane flow) of geocomposites |
| ASTM D4647 | Identification and classification of dispersive clay soils by the pinhole test |
AASHTO (highway works)
| Standard | Coverage |
|---|---|
| AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications | Bridge design including MSE wall and reinforced soil applications on highway infrastructure |
| AASHTO M288 | Standard specification for geotextile specification for highway applications (separation Class 1, 2, 3, filtration class) |
| AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures | Pavement design methodology including geogrid base reinforcement |
FHWA (Federal Highway Administration)
| Reference | Coverage |
|---|---|
| FHWA-NHI-14-007 | Soil Nail Walls Reference Manual |
| FHWA-NHI-10-024 | Design and Construction of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes |
| FHWA-NHI-07-092 | Geosynthetic Design and Construction Guidelines Reference Manual |
| FHWA-NHI-15-067 | Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System reference |
| FHWA-HEC-15 | Hydraulic Engineering Circular 15, Design of Roadside Channels with Flexible Linings |
| FHWA-HEC-23 | Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures, Experience, Selection, and Design Guidance |
| FHWA-NHI-13-005 | Geotechnical Engineering Handbook, geotechnical aspects of pavement design |
USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers, hydraulic structures)
| Reference | Coverage |
|---|---|
| USACE EM 1110-2-1601 | Hydraulic Design of Flood Control Channels |
| USACE EM 1110-2-2502 | Retaining and Flood Walls |
| USACE EM 1110-2-1913 | Design and Construction of Levees |
NCMA (National Concrete Masonry Association)
| Reference | Coverage |
|---|---|
| NCMA Design Manual for SRW | Design methodology for segmental retaining walls (modular block walls with geogrid) |
GRI (Geosynthetic Research Institute, geosynthetic-institute.org)
| Standard | Coverage |
|---|---|
| GRI-GM13 | Test Methods for HDPE Smooth and Textured Geomembranes |
| GRI-GM17 | Test Methods for LLDPE Smooth and Textured Geomembranes |
| GRI-GM19 | Seam Strength and Related Properties of Thermally Bonded Polyolefin Geomembranes |
| GRI-GM14 | Selecting Variable Site-Specific Conditions for Geomembrane Installations |
| GRI-GT7 | Geotextile and Geomembrane Welds Quality Control |
| GRI-GT12 | Test Methods and Properties for Nonwoven Geotextiles Used as Protection (Cushioning) Material |
04 / International ISO standards
ISO standards aligned with British and European.
| Standard | Coverage |
|---|---|
| ISO 10318 | Geosynthetics, terms and definitions |
| ISO 10319 | Geosynthetics, wide-width tensile test |
| ISO 11058 | Geotextiles and geotextile-related products, water permeability characteristics normal to the plane |
| ISO 12236 | Geosynthetics, static puncture test (CBR test) |
| ISO 12956 | Geotextiles and geotextile-related products, characteristic opening size |
| ISO 13431 | Geotextiles and geotextile-related products, tensile creep and creep rupture behaviour |
| ISO 13438 | Geosynthetics, screening test for oxidation resistance |
| ISO 10722 | Geosynthetics, index test for installation damage |
| ISO 13427 | Geosynthetics, abrasion damage simulation (sliding block test) |
| ISO 12957 | Geosynthetics, determination of friction characteristics (direct shear) |
| ISO 13426 | Geotextiles and geotextile-related products, strength of internal structural junctions |
| ISO 14688 | Geotechnical investigation and testing, identification and classification of soil |
| ISO 22282 | Geotechnical investigation and testing, geohydraulic testing |
05 / Standards by application
Which code stack per scope of work.
Soil nailing
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Design | BS 8006-2, FHWA-NHI-14-007, Eurocode 7, JKR Slope Engineering Manual |
| Execution | BS EN 14490, BS 8081 (for grouted anchors) |
| Materials | BS 4449 (reinforcing steel), BS EN 14199 (micropile), corrosion protection per BS EN 14490 |
MSE wall
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Design | BS 8006-1, FHWA-NHI-10-024, AASHTO LRFD, Eurocode 7 |
| Geogrid | BS EN ISO 10319, ASTM D6637, D6706, D6638, ISO 13431, NCMA SRW manual |
| Connection | NCMA SRW manual, manufacturer connection capacity certification |
Reinforced soil slope (RSS)
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Design | BS 8006-1, FHWA-NHI-10-024, Eurocode 7 |
| Reinforcement | BS EN ISO 10319 (tensile), ISO 13431 (creep), ISO 10722 (installation damage) |
Geotextile (separation, filtration, drainage)
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Test methods | ASTM D4595, D4751, D4491, D6241, D5261, D5101, D4355 (or BS EN ISO equivalents) |
| Specification | AASHTO M288, BS EN 13249 to 13257, JKR-SPJ Section 7, FHWA-NHI-07-092 |
| Design | FHWA-NHI-07-092 (filter criteria), BS 8006 (reinforcement) |
Geogrid (reinforcement, road base)
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Test methods | ASTM D6637, D6706, D6638, ISO 13431, ISO 10722 |
| Design (wall, slope) | BS 8006-1, FHWA-NHI-10-024, NCMA SRW manual |
| Design (road base) | AASHTO Guide, Giroud-Han 2004, BR 470 (TRL) |
Geomembrane (containment liner)
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Material | GRI-GM13 (HDPE), GRI-GM17 (LLDPE), ASTM D5994, D5397 |
| Seam QA | GRI-GM19, ASTM D6392, D7466, D5641 (vacuum), D5820 (air channel), D7007 (geoelectric leak) |
| Design | DOE Garis Panduan (landfill), GRI-GM14 (site selection), BS 8000-23 (workmanship) |
Geocell (cellular confinement)
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Test methods | ASTM D7864, D5994, D5397, ISO 13426 |
| Design (slope facing) | Manufacturer design manual, BS 8006 |
| Design (channel lining) | FHWA-HEC-15, USACE EM 1110-2-1601 |
| Design (load support) | AASHTO LRFD, Giroud-Han 2004 (unpaved), K-factor framework |
Gabion wall
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Material (mesh) | BS EN 10223-3 (woven hexagonal), BS EN 10223-8 (welded), BS EN 10244-2 (zinc coating), BS EN 10245 (PVC coating) |
| Design (retaining) | BS 8002, Eurocode 7, USACE EM 1110-2-2502 |
| Design (hydraulic) | USACE EM 1110-2-1601, FHWA-HEC-23, JPS Drainage Manual |
| Design (bridge scour) | FHWA-HEC-23, AASHTO LRFD |
Sheet pile and excavation support
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Design | BS EN 1997 (Eurocode 7), BS 8002, BS EN 12063, CIRIA C760 |
| Execution | BS EN 12063 (sheet pile walls), Eurocode 3 (steel design) |
Landfill liner
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Regulatory | DOE Garis Panduan (Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste), Akta Kualiti Alam Sekeliling 1974 |
| Material | GRI-GM13, GRI-GM17, GRI-GM19, ASTM D5994 |
| QA | GRI-GT7, ASTM D5641, D5820, D7007 |
River training and scour
| Aspect | Codes |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic design | JPS Drainage Manual, USACE EM 1110-2-1601, FHWA-HEC-23 |
| Materials (gabion, rip-rap) | BS EN 10223 family, USACE rip-rap gradation specs |
06 / Code interaction notes
How the standards stack together.
In Malaysian practice, a typical project specification cites multiple codes in parallel rather than relying on one. A federal road MSE wall might reference BS 8006-1 for design methodology, AASHTO LRFD for load factors aligned with the bridge structure, JKR-SPJ Section 7 for materials and workmanship, AASHTO M288 for any geotextile separation layer, and the manufacturer's connection certification under NCMA SRW for the facing-to-grid connection. The consulting engineer's design report typically opens with a code register laying out the applicable standard stack and the precedence order (which code governs in event of conflict).
Conflict precedence is usually: (1) regulatory framework (DOE for landfill, JPS for river works, JKR for federal roads) overrides design code, (2) contract-specific specification overrides default design code, (3) most stringent code in event of equivalent-status conflict (typically the British BS 8006 / Eurocode 7 in Malaysian federal practice). The design engineer documents the resolution in the design report.
07 / FAQ
Engineers and consultants usually ask:
Which standard governs if my JKR project also references AASHTO? +
JKR-SPJ Section 7 takes precedence on JKR contracts because it is the contracting authority specification. Where Section 7 is silent or refers to international standards (e.g. AASHTO M288 for geotextile), the international standard fills the gap. Where there is conflict, JKR-SPJ governs. The consulting engineer documents the resolution in the design report submitted to JKR. Same logic applies for LLM (Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia) on tolled federal expressways.
Is BS 8006 still current after Brexit? +
Yes. BSI continues to maintain BS 8006-1 (2010 plus 2016 amendment) and BS 8006-2 (2011) post-Brexit. The standards remain in regular use in the UK, Commonwealth countries including Malaysia, and the wider international engineering community. Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997) is the European counterpart maintained by CEN; in Malaysian practice both are commonly referenced in parallel, with the design engineer choosing the primary basis per project.
Do I need to reference MS standards in my consultant submission? +
Not typically. MS standards (Malaysian Standard, published by Standards Malaysia) are aligned with their international parents (BS EN ISO, ASTM, ISO) and most Malaysian projects accept the parent international standard with optional MS reference. Specific public works projects may require MS compliance statements; the consulting engineer confirms the requirement at design brief stage. MS 1759 (woven geotextile separation) and MS ISO 10318 (geosynthetics terminology) are the most-cited MS standards in geosynthetics.
Where can I download these standards? +
BS standards: bsigroup.com (paid subscription). ASTM: astm.org (paid per-standard download or subscription). ISO: iso.org (paid). AASHTO: transportation.org (paid subscription). FHWA references: fhwa.dot.gov/engineering (free PDF download for most). USACE Engineering Manuals: usace.army.mil (free PDF). GRI: geosynthetic-institute.org (free for GRI series, paid for full membership). JKR-SPJ: jkr.gov.my (free download for some, paid for printed editions). DOE Garis Panduan: doe.gov.my (free download). MS standards: jsm.gov.my (paid). University libraries often hold print copies of BS, ASTM, ISO collections.
How current is this reference page? +
Updated when major code revisions are issued. Last update logged in the page footer dateModified. For project-specific currency verification, check directly with the issuing body or engage Infraconcrete's engineering desk for the current code stack applicable to your scope.
Can Infraconcrete help with code interpretation on a specific project? +
Yes. As CIDB G7 contractor with project experience across federal corridors (EKVE, ECRL) and township developments, we routinely interpret code requirements against project specifics. Engineering desk consultation is available; WhatsApp +60 16-428 1214 with the project context and the specific clause or requirement in question. Detailed code-interpretation queries are answered same day; complex multi-standard alignment queries may take 1 to 3 working days.
08 / Related references
Where this page connects.
Hub
All resources →
52 design guides, comparison guides, specification guides, and engineering references.
Design guide
Geotextile design guide →
BS 8006, FHWA-NHI-07-092, ASTM test references applied to filter, separation, reinforcement, drainage.
Design guide
Geogrid design guide →
BS 8006, FHWA-NHI-10-024, NCMA SRW, ISO 13431 reduction factors.
Design guide
Geomembrane design guide →
GRI-GM13/17/19, DOE Garis Panduan, ASTM seam QA suite.
Design guide
Geocell design guide →
ASTM D7864, FHWA-HEC-15, USACE EM 1110-2-1601, AASHTO LRFD.
Spec guide
Geotextile specification guide →
MARV vs DV, AASHTO M288 Class 1/2/3, JKR-SPJ Section 7 BoQ alignment.
Spec guide
Geosynthetics specification guide →
Cross-category framework, common spec errors, function attribution.
Blog
JKR-SPJ Section 7 explained →
How Section 7 references geosynthetic properties and what it means in submission.
09 / Contact and visit
Engineering desk and standards consultation.
Infraconcrete Construction Sdn Bhd8B, Jalan SS22/25, Damansara Jaya
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Phone: +60 16-428 1214
WhatsApp: +60 16-428 1214
Email: ifrconcrete@gmail.com
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Standards-stack alignment for your project?
Send the specification or just the project context. Same-day acknowledgement on standards alignment. CIDB G7 + ISO 9001:2015 + sole STRATA Geosystems distributor in Malaysia.