Riving knife (avalanche)

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Residential building with avalanche splitting wedge

A riving knife is used to protect against avalanches .

It is a wedge-shaped structure that stands on the mountain side behind the object to be protected. It can also be attached directly to it. Due to the wedge shape, the avalanche is split and led sideways past the object. These objects can be farms, churches, mountain huts , but also power pylons . An example of an attached riving knife is the Reformed Church of Davos Frauenkirch , which was probably equipped with it as early as the 16th century.

Freestanding riving knife can consist of masonry or bulk material.

  • Riving knife of the Davos Frauenkirch church

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Florian Rudolf-Miklau and Siegfried Sauermoser (eds.): Handbuch Technischer Avalanche Protection , Ernst & Sohn 2011, p. 17 (Davos Frauenkirch), p. 371 (heavy current pylons)
  2. ↑ gra-nat.ch: Avalanche splitting wedge at St. Placidus Church in Disentis ( memento of the original dated December 8, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (Short definition with example), accessed on December 7, 2017 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.gra-nat.ch
  3. ↑ Martin Treberspurg: Building protection measures against natural hazards in the Alpine region , section: Measures to protect against mudslides and avalanches . Forum Neues Bauen - Energy Facility Sustainability. P. 15 (accessed December 7, 2017)

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