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Secutex® H Geotextile

Naue Secutex® H is a geotextile for separation and filtration in hydraulic engineering, coastal protection and waterway construction.

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  • Close-up of a Secutex® H geotextile nonwoven.
  • Aerial view of coastal construction where Secutex® H was installed, with dredging vessels, a rock breakwater, and machinery reshaping a shoreline near an industrial port.
  • Two excavators working along a riverbank, placing Secutex® H for a protection measure.
  • Secutex® H - nonwoven filter geotextile for hydraulic engineering (BAW certified)
  • Variants: H 501 (539 g/m²) | H 751 (772 g/m²)| HB 501 sand mat (~5,500 g/m², underwater)
  • BAW (TLG 2018), CE (DIN 18200), EN ISO 9001, EPD
  • Service life 100 years (pH 4-9, T ≤25°C)

Secutex® H is a nonwoven filter geotextile for hydraulic engineering. It is installed between riprap and fine-grained embankment soil as a filter and separation layer. The needle-punched polypropylene structure retains soil particles, prevents contact erosion and allows water to pass freely. The filter layer remains stable under wave action, current loads and dynamic perforation from stone placement.

Banks, canal beds and coastal structures face continuous hydraulic loading. Unprotected fine-grained subsoils erode progressively under riprap or wave action. Classical mineral filter layers require precise gradation, bulk haulage and multi-layer placement. Secutex® H replaces multi-layer stone filters with a single nonwoven layer. Secutex® HB extends this to direct underwater placement without dewatering.

Secutex® H eliminates mineral filter layers that require excavation, bulk haulage and multi-layer placement. Due to its low thickness, Secutex® H can be installed without excavation, reducing construction time and transport costs compared to mineral grain filter layers.

Secutex® H 501 achieves a characteristic opening size O90 of 0.08 mm (EN ISO 12956), water permeability VIH50 of 4.5 x 10⁻² m/s (EN ISO 11058) and static puncture resistance CBR of 6 kN (EN ISO 12236). Secutex® H 751 provides higher mass (772 g/m²) and greater CBR (10.6 kN) for more demanding hydraulic loading and coarser riprap. Both variants meet all requirements of TLG Edition 2018 of the Federal Institute for Waterway Engineering (BAW), Karlsruhe. Predicted service life: 100 years in natural soils (pH 4-9, T ≤ 25°C, per test method B.4.2.2).

Secutex® H geotextile functions:

  • Filtration

    Filtration

    Secutex® H retains fine soil particles while allowing water to pass freely under hydraulic pressure gradients.

  • Separation

    Separation

    Secutex® H prevents intermixing of adjacent granular layers with different grain sizes under hydraulic loading.

  • Protection

    Protection

    Secutex® H protects the subsoil from mechanical damage during riprap placement and absorbs dynamic loads from wave action and stone impact.

Secutex® H geotextile advantages: BAW certified, abrasion resistant, and fast to install

  • Safety

    Abrasion resistance

    Secutex® H maintains filter efficiency under permanent hydraulic loading, wave action and current velocities. Progressive erosion is prevented throughout service life.

  • Adapte to subsoil

    Adapts to bed deformations

    The nonwoven adapts to uneven bed surfaces, settlements and deformations without losing filter continuity.

  • Roll

    Fast installation

    Wide rolls reduce seam count as well as installation time. No excavation is needed. Secutex® HB sand mat installs directly underwater.

  • Function duration

    100 year service life

    Predicted service life of 100 years in natural soils (pH 4-9, soil temperature ≤ 25°C), verified for permanent hydraulic engineering applications.

  • Certificate

    BAW certified

    Secutex® H 501 and H 751 carry valid BAW basic test reports for German inland waterway projects. Accepted directly in public tender specifications.

Application areas

  • Filter and separation layer between fine-grained subsoil and riprap or stone armour in riverbank and canal revetments
  • Replacement of multi-layer mineral grain filter courses with a single nonwoven layer
  • BAW TLG 2018-compliant filtration matched to the subsoil grading (soil types A/B with H 501; A/B/C with H 751)
  • Direct underwater placement in flowing water with the self-sinking Secutex® HB sand mat; no dewatering or divers

Secutex® H is the BAW-certified filter geotextile for inland waterway and canal revetments, replacing classical multi-layer stone filters with a single nonwoven layer. For placement below the waterline, the self-sinking Secutex® HB sand mat stays positionally stable under current.

The sand mat can replace fascine mattresses and stone filter layers and resists placed stones of up to one tonne in flow velocities of 0.6–0.9 m/s.

Two excavators working along a riverbank, placing a geotextile filter nonwoven for a protection measure.

To the application:

Hydraulic engineering

  • Filter layer between seabed sediment and rock fill or riprap at breakwaters and groynes
  • Scour protection at harbour quay walls and marine structures
  • Prevention of fine-sediment migration through armour stone under wave and current action
  • Underwater placement of the Secutex® HB sand mat in harbour and breakwater foundations

Under wave and current loading, Secutex® H provides long-term filter stability with high resistance to abrasion and dynamic perforation, and can be covered directly with heavy rock armour. Secutex® H is installed against breakwaters, predominantly to prevent sand from filtering through the rock fill.

For installation below the waterline, the Secutex® HB sand mat is placed directly from a work vessel, using a long-arm excavator. Fender piles can be driven through the mat.

Aerial view of coastal construction with dredging vessels, a rock breakwater, and machinery reshaping a shoreline near an industrial port.

To the application:

Hydraulic engineering

Technical properties

PropertyUnitSecutex® H 501Secutex® H 751Secutex® HB 501Secutex® HB 751
Product build-up
Product type—Single-layer, mechanically bonded filter nonwovenSingle-layer, mechanically bonded filter nonwovenMulti-layer, mechanically bonded filter nonwoven with quartz sand layerMulti-layer, mechanically bonded nonwoven with quartz sand filling
Raw material—Polypropylene (PP)Polypropylene (PP)Polypropylene (PP)Polypropylene (PP)
Colour—WhiteWhiteWhiteWhite
Complete product
Mass per unit area (DIN EN ISO 9864)g/m²5397725,5005,750
Thickness, nominal / minimum (DIN EN ISO 9863-1)mm5.0 / ≥ 4.56.7 / ≥ 6.011.011.5
Max. tensile strength, md / cmd (DIN EN ISO 10319)kN/m≥ 20 / ≥ 25≥ 45 / ≥ 50≥ 25.0 / ≥ 45.0≥ 35.0 / ≥ 60.0
Elongation at max. tensile strength, md / cmd (DIN EN ISO 10319)%60 / 4060 / 4550 / 4070 / 40
Static puncture resistance, CBR (DIN EN ISO 12236)kN610.646
Dynamic perforation resistance (DIN EN ISO 13433)mm8.04.0——
Characteristic opening size O₉₀ (DIN EN ISO 12956)mm0.080.070.070.07
Water permeability normal to the plane, VI(H50) index (DIN EN ISO 11058)m/s4.5 x 10⁻²2.5 x 10⁻²1.7 x 10⁻²1.2 x 10⁻²
Flow rate (H50) (DIN EN ISO 11058)l/(s·m²)45251712
Layer build-up of the sand mats
Cover nonwoven – raw material, colour, mass per unit area———PP, white, 300 g/m²PP, white, 300 g/m²
Sand layer – mass per unit area———Quartz sand, 4,700 g/m²Quartz sand, 4,700 g/m²
Carrier nonwoven – raw material, colour———PP, whitePP, white
Carrier nonwoven – mass per unit areag/m²——500750
Carrier nonwoven – thickness, nominal / minimummm———6.7 / ≥ 6.0
Carrier nonwoven – max. tensile strength, md / cmdkN/m———≥ 35.0 / ≥ 55.0
Carrier nonwoven – characteristic opening size O₉₀mm——0.080.07
Carrier nonwoven – water permeability VI(H50) / flow rate————2.8 x 10⁻² m/s / 28 l/(s·m²)
Requirements acc. to RPG and TLG 2018 of the BAW
Hydraulic filtration efficiency against soil type—A and BA, B and CA, B and CB and C
Resistance to dynamic perforation by ripraps, drop energyNm1,800 – fulfilled1,800 – fulfilled1,200 – fulfilled1,800 – fulfilled
Resistance to abrasion loads—FulfilledFulfilledFulfilledFulfilled
Valid RPG test certificate of the BAW to be submitted with the tender—For the nonwovenFor the nonwovenFor the sand matFor the nonwoven
Delivery form, installation and certification
Roll dimensionsmWidth 6.0Width 6.0Width x length 4.80 x 30Width x length 4.80 x 30
Covering after installation—Within one monthWithin one monthOn the day of installation; immediate covering may be requiredOn the day of installation; immediate covering may be required
Installation—Overlap or sew panels at the joints; secure against wind suction and flow attackOverlap or sew panels at the joints; secure against wind suction and flow attackOverlap panels at the jointsOverlap panels at the joints
Monitoring and certification—DIN 18200, EN ISO 9001, CE marking, product group EPDDIN 18200, EN ISO 9001, CE marking, product group EPDDIN 18200, EN ISO 9001:2015, CE marking, product group EPDDIN 18200, EN ISO 9001:2015, CE marking, product group EPD
Durability acc. to Annex B, test procedure B.4.2.2, natural soils pH 4–9, ≤ 25 °Cyears≥ 100≥ 100≥ 100≥ 100
Underwater cross-section showing loosely placed riprap above a fine sandy and silty subsoil, separated by a white Naue Secutex® H geotextile for hydraulic engineering.
Underwater cross-section showing loosely placed riprap above a fine sandy and silty subsoil, separated by a white Naue Secutex® H geotextile for hydraulic engineering.
Exemplary illustration. Naue Secutex® H geotextile provides filtration and separation beneath riprap in hydraulic engineering, allowing water to pass while preventing the fine subsoil from mixing with the protection layer.
Exemplary illustration. Naue Secutex® H geotextile provides filtration and separation beneath riprap in hydraulic engineering, allowing water to pass while preventing the fine subsoil from mixing with the protection layer.

Why BAW approval and O90 matter for certified hydraulic engineering

Secutex® H acts as a geotechnical filter between fine-grained soil and a coarser protection layer such as riprap or gravel: it retains soil particles under hydraulic flow while letting pore water pass, and keeps the two granular layers from intermixing under wave action and current — continuously and under cyclic loading.

Engineering detail

The critical parameter is the characteristic opening size O90 (EN ISO 12956), the sieve opening below which 90 % of the geotextile pores lie: 0.08 mm for H 501, 0.07 mm for H 751, matched to the adjacent grain size distribution via the BAW's RPG filtration criteria. A wrong O90 causes clogging (blocked pore water drainage, rising hydraulic pressure) or piping (progressive erosion of the fine subsoil until failure) — both irreversible. BAW certification goes beyond CE marking: the basic test report confirms filtration efficiency for defined soil types, resistance to dynamic perforation from riprap at defined fall energy, and abrasion resistance. H 501 covers soil types A and B, H 751 types A, B and C. Permeability is equally critical — VIH50 4.5 x 10⁻² m/s (H 501) and 2.5 x 10⁻² m/s (H 751), flow rates H50 of 45 and 25 l/(s·m²) — and must exceed the natural soil permeability tenfold to prevent filter cake formation.

What it means for your project

H 501 for standard inland waterway revetments and canal filter layers with soil type A or B; H 751 for higher hydraulic loads, coarser riprap or type C conditions, with extra margin from its higher CBR (10.6 vs 6.0 kN) and lower O90. For underwater installation without dewatering, specify the Secutex® HB 501 sand mat — all soil types A, B and C, 1,200 Nm fall energy per BAW RPG. Classify the soil by sieve analysis before specification.

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Secutex® H geotextile projects: waterway, canal and harbour case studies

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Frequently asked questions

Secutex® H is a single-layered, needle-punched nonwoven filter geotextile manufactured from polypropylene (PP) for application as a filter and separation layer in hydraulic engineering. It is installed between riprap or stone armour and fine-grained subsoil to retain soil particles, prevent contact erosion and allow water to pass freely. Applications include riverbank revetment, canal bed protection, coastal breakwater lining and harbour construction.

Secutex® H is certified specifically for permanent hydraulic contact under the BAW Technical Delivery Conditions for Geotextiles in Waterways (TLG, Edition 2018). It is tested for hydraulic filtration efficiency, dynamic perforation resistance under riprap loading and long-term abrasion resistance in flowing water. Standard Secutex® is designed for road, railway and landfill separation applications. Always specify Secutex® H when the geotextile is in direct contact with flowing or wave-driven water.

Secutex® H 501 and H 751 hold CE marking per DIN 18200, valid BAW basic test reports from the Federal Institute for Waterway Engineering (BAW), Karlsruhe, confirming compliance with TLG Edition 2018 (Technical Delivery Conditions for Geotextiles in Waterways). An EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is available.

Use Secutex® H 501 (539 g/m², CBR 6 kN, O90 0.08 mm) for standard inland waterway revetments and canal filters where soil types A and B apply. Use Secutex® H 751 (772 g/m², CBR 10.6 kN, O90 0.07 mm) for higher hydraulic loads, coarser riprap, demanding soil conditions or where soil type C coverage is required. H 751 provides greater abrasion and puncture resistance for heavy-duty applications.

Secutex® HB 501 is a multi-layered sand mat consisting of a PP cover nonwoven, a quartz sand filling (~4,700 g/m²) and a carrier layer (Secutex® H 501). The sand weight makes it self-sinking, so that it can be installed directly underwater from a work vessel without dewatering. It is used where dry installation is impractical: canal rehabilitation in flowing water, harbour foundations, scour protection at water depths beyond manual reach. Roll dimensions: 4.80 m x 30 m.

O90 is the characteristic opening size, measured per EN ISO 12956. It represents the sieve opening through which 90% of geotextile pores are smaller. Secutex® H 501 has O90 = 0.08 mm. H 751 has O90 = 0.07 mm. This value is matched against the grain size distribution of the adjacent soil using the RPG filtration criteria of the BAW. A wrong O90 causes either clogging (builds hydraulic pressure) or piping (progressive erosion of the fine subsoil) - both are structural failure modes.

Yes. Secutex® H is used in coastal protection applications including breakwater lining, groyne construction and scour protection. The BAW certification covers filter stability and abrasion/perforation resistance under marine hydraulic loading conditions. For offshore or underwater installation, Secutex® HB sand mats are the preferred solution as they are self-sinking and maintain positional stability on the seabed under current.

Secutex® H has a predicted service life of 100 years in natural soils with pH 4-9 and soil temperature not exceeding 25 °C, based on test method B.4.2.2. This is stated in the BAW specification documents and applies to both H 501 and H 751.

Secutex® H 501 achieves a CBR static puncture resistance of 6 kN (EN ISO 12236) and elongation of 60% MD (EN ISO 10319). H 751 provides CBR of 10.6 kN for greater robustness under heavy stone placement. Both variants resist abrasion and dynamic perforation loads per RPG of BAW, tested for riprap fall energy of 1,800 Nm on soil type B. The product must be covered within one month after installation per TLG requirements.

Yes. Secutex® H replaces classical multi-layer mineral grain filter courses. Due to its very low thickness, installation does not require excavation of additional substrate. This reduces construction time and transport volumes.

Secutex® H must be unrolled and overlapped at joints. Rolls must be secured against wind uplift and flow forces during placement. The product must be covered within one month after installation per TLG Edition 2018 requirements. Roll width is 6.0 m. Secutex® HB 501 sand mat (4.80 m x 30 m) must be covered on the day of installation; project-specific conditions may require immediate coverage.

In hydraulic engineering systems, Secutex® H is often used alongside Carbofol® geomembranes (sealing function in impermeable revetment systems) and Secutex® Soft Rock (scour protection mattresses for offshore and coastal works). In complex embankment systems, Secugrid® geogrid reinforcement may be used in the embankment fill above the revetment.

Proposed specification texts for Secutex® H 501 and H 751 are available. Please see the download section above or contact us via the request form below for any assistance. Technical consultants are available for project-specific filter design and BAW compliance review.

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