VertiGreen Modular Living Wall System Installation Instructions (VGM-06 and VGM-10 Wall Mount) This instruction is a guide to installing the VertiGreen Modular Living Wall System on a wall or support structure. PARTS/HARDWARE LIST VertiGreen Module (VGM-06 or VGM-10) MBK (Mntg Bracket Kit) 1 kit per VGM (2 front/rear, 2 sides, 2 top/bottom) (2 right brackets, 2 left brackets, 4 bracket covers) VGMR End Rail Mount VGMR Double Mounting Rail (based on configuration) (based on configuration) Tools Required: TBD by the type of anchor required by Project Engineer, Rubber Mallet
STEPS 1) Prior to mounting modules to any wall, sufficient time must be allowed for plants to become established in the modules. This requires assembling the modules, adding growing medium, and plants. To begin, identify which VertiGreen Modules are to be used in your wall (VGM-06 6 depth, VGM-10 = 10 depth), the number of modules, and the layout of the wall system (e.g. 6 modules wide by 10 modules tall, etc.). This is essential to planning not only the installation, but what plants will be located where in each module. 2) Begin the module assembly. No matter the size, the construction and assembly of each is very similar. There is a front, back, bottom, top and two sides. Locate and identify one of the side panels, the front and rear. There are five mating tabs on the front and rear panels that will mate with each side panel. Multiple pockets denote interior. Smooth surface denotes exterior. Fig. a) Side Panel Orientation Fig. b) Front and Rear Panel Orientation For proper orientation, check the sides, front and rear panels. One side will have multiple pockets and the other side will be smooth. The smooth side will be the outside of the module. Also note that there is a small yellow arrow on the outside of the front and rear panels. This also indicates the top of the module and should be pointing in the same direction on both.
Yellow arrow denotes top or up position. Fig. c) Sides, Front & Rear Fig. d) Assembled Sides, Front & Rear 3) Assembly of the front and back to the sides can begin once the orientation is properly identified. Start by pressing the front and then the rear into one of the side panels by inserting the tabs into the slots. It is best to place the side panel on a flat and stable surface. It may take some force and a small rubber mallet may be required to assist inserting the tabs of the front and rear panels into the pockets on the side panels. With the front and rear panels attached to one of the sides, repeat the step for the other side panel. 4) Assemble the sides, front and rear to the bottom panel. As with the other panels, the bottom has an orientation. This can be identified where the side with the multiple pockets is the interior and the smooth side is the exterior. Multiple pockets denote interior. Note the tab assembly slots. Fig. e) Bottom Panel Orientation
As with the side panels, it is a good idea to place the bottom panel on a flat, stable surface to assemble the front, rear and sides. Again, press the tabs of those panels into the slots of the bottom panel. Additional force may be needed with the use of a small rubber mallet. Be careful not to damage the mating tabs on the top of the panels. Using something between the mallet and the panels (e.g. 2 x 4 plank) may help distribute the force over a larger area. Arrow denotes top or up. Fig. f) Placement of Bottom Panel Fig. g) Assembled Bottom 5) With the assembly to the point of creating a five-sided box with an open top, the liner and planting medium can be placed inside. Insert the soil medium container. The medium container will depend on the type of plants to be installed, the geographic location, the medium to be used, preferences by landscaper, etc. Fig. h) Soil Medium
6) Once the medium container and the medium are in place and closed, install the top panel to secure the medium in place. As with the other panels, remember the orientation and use a rubber mallet and force distribution device to attach the top panel. Fig. i) Top Panel Assembly 7) With the module complete, it is time to install the plants so that they can be established prior to installing the module on the wall. This is done with the modules lying flat on the back side for typical plant growth. Cut the soil retention bag, or particular medium container that is being used, and insert the plants based on the overall growth plan (consult the landscape architect for particular plants and locations within individual modules). Approximately 3 months is a typical period to establish the plants. Fig. j) Establishing Plants
Coordinating the delivery of the modules prior to establishing plants and the delivery of established modules to the installation site is important to insure that there is enough time in between to produce sufficient plant and root growth. 8) Once the plants are established, it s time to complete the assembly of the modules and mount them to the wall. This can be done on the installation site rather than transporting the modules with the brackets in place. Start by verifying that you have the correct number of brackets for the installation. There are four brackets (2 left, 2 right) for each module. Each module will require installing the hanger brackets when the module is ready to hang. When the module is full of soil and plants, care must be taken to not damage the plants and caution should be used in handling due to the increased weight of the modules themselves. Fig. k) Bracket Orientation and Installation There are two distinctly different brackets for the left and the right sides. Note the orientation of the module and place the brackets accordingly. Refer to the up arrow on the front and rear of the module. The brackets should be in the orientation shown relative to the up direction. Begin by placing the two tabs on the bracket into the two slots on the front of the module (top or bottom). With the tabs in the slots, pivot the bracket until it snaps into place capturing both the top and sides of the module. Repeat this step for all four corners of the module. The module is now ready to hang onto the mounting rails.
Mounting Rails and Wall Mounting All VertiGreen Modules require the VertiGreen Mounting Rails. The rails are designed to accommodate various configurations of horizontal and vertical quantities of modules. If an installation requires only a single module wide, then only two rails will be needed, but typical installations will require one more rail than there are vertical columns of modules. The size and quantity of rails in the vertical column will depend on your installation. 1-Module Rail 2-Module Rail 4-Module Rail Mounting rails are available in 4-Module, 2-Module, and 1-Module lengths. Depending on your particular installation, it may require a combination of these to address the appropriate set-up. When more than one rail is required to meet the vertical module requirements, all rails are mounted end-to-end. The horizontal spacing of anchor points for mounting the rails is shown below. Fig. x) Sample 4 x 4 Module Mounting Rail System The spacing between modules is 50cm (19 11/16 ) on center. The outside rails provide the option to maintain that spacing or reduce it depending on whether the installation calls for the rail to overhang the outside of the edge module or if that overhang is minimal.
The vertical placement of mounting points for the rails has two suggested options, but the rule of thumb is to provide two anchor points on each rail for each module. Below shows the two suggested options for the vertical placement of rail mounting. 1) Installing mounting rails should be done with 5/16 stainless steel anchor bolts. The type of anchor will depend on the substrate to be attached to. For the appropriate anchor system, consult with your structural engineer or use the type specified by the project structural engineer. The anchors should be sufficient to hold a minimum of the total weight across all modules. An estimate of approx. 50-60 pounds per module including box and frame is a good rule-of-thumb, but will vary depending on the depth of the module, soil and plants.
2) When not anchoring the rails directly to the wall, alternative methods may be available to create the structure necessary. One such option is to mount Uni-Strut members to the wall and mount the VGM rails to the Uni-Strut. The Uni-Strut would need to have the same vertical placement as the anchor points of the VGM rails. Whatever mounting system is used, consult with the project structural engineer for details and available plans. Fig. y) Sample of Uni-Strut Mounting Adaptation 3) Irrigation for the VertiGreen wall should be installed prior to installing the modules onto the mounting rails. The actual irrigation system installed will vary depending on the types of plants, the depth of the module and soil matter installed, the available water supply, etc.
A typical irrigation system will utilize multiple points per module. With the mounting rails (1) installed, put in an irrigation main which can consist of ¾ PVC pipe (2) which will have irrigation laterals (3) extending between the mounting rails. A multi-port (six) emitter should be installed (4) in the laterals to feed two horizontally adjacent modules (three lines each). Insert lines and bug caps (5) for each module. Fig. z) Typical VGM System Irrigation Installation