# Weep Holes in Retaining Walls

**URL:** <https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/weep-holes-in-retaining-walls/7560>\
**Category:** Project Planning & Design\
**Tags:** practice-quiz\
**Created:** [November 12, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/weep-holes-in-retaining-walls/7560 "2025-11-12T21:28:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bmeekins16](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/26.png) [@bmeekins16](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/bmeekins16)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/weep-holes-in-retaining-walls/7560/1 "2025-11-12T21:28:41Z")

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I just took one of the practice exams and came across this question:

An architect is designing a new boat house by a lake. The site slopes down from the boat house towards the lake with a significant 2’ drop in one location that is being shored through the use of a 2’ high brick retaining wall.

Which of the following components may be omitted from the design of the retaining wall?

The answer is Weep Holes, as they are not needed in walls less than 2’-0” in height. The source from this was apparently BCI 6th Edition on 1.35 - so I double checked. I couldn’t find that anywhere in the retaining walls section. Further, on 1.37, there is a Brick Veneer retaining wall shown at less than 2’-0” (judging by the brick courses) that specifically shows weeps.

Can anyone please clarify?

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**Author:** ![kiaragalicinao](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/kiaragalicinao/32/1607_2.png) [@kiaragalicinao](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kiaragalicinao)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/weep-holes-in-retaining-walls/7560/2 "2025-11-25T19:28:36Z")

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@bmeekins16 Thanks for writing in! I’m happy to review this and provide some clarification, however, I do need additional context. Could you please let me know which PPD exam Form # you are referring to, a well as the item ID # (5-7 digit number located on the bottom-right of your question screen).

Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB  
Product Coordinator  
**[Black Spectacles](https://www.blackspectacles.com/en-us/)**