Abstract:
A prefabricated outdoor support pad is configured for transport from factory to field and above-grade installation on level ground to support a condenser or transformer. A flexible geosynthetic material is joined to the rigid platform along a perimeter and corners of the rigid platform. Upon installation, the geosynthetic material is inserted into the ground, forming an erosion-resisting barrier. Erosion control kits are also provided for outdoor condenser or transformer support pads. One type of the kit comprises a flexible geotextile soil retention barrier sized for attachment to the support pad and insertion into the ground and mechanical attachment members. Another type of the kit comprises a hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier configured to wrap around soil under at least a corner of the support pad when the support pad is placed on grade and mechanical attachment members configured to attach the soil retention barrier to the support pad.

Description:
RELATED DISCLOSURES 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/045,085, filed Mar. 10, 2011, entitled “Erosion Control Methods and Products for Equipment Pads, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/313,088, filed on Mar. 11, 2010, entitled “Erosion Control Methods and Products,” both applications of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to equipment support pads, and more particularly, to products and methods for repairing, preventing, and controlling erosion of ground underneath and around equipment pads. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Millions of homes and businesses are equipped with air conditioning and/or heating systems that include an outdoor unit or condenser  15 . These outdoor units are typically installed on an equipment pad  10  resting on a non-foundation grade  11 . In similar fashion, power companies install transformers on prefab equipment pads placed on grade. Very frequently, the soil beneath the pad begins to erode, as illustrated by the erosion  13  in  FIG. 1 . Average annual soil loss around an equipment pad in the U.S. may reach 0.9″/year, depending upon rainfall and soil conditions. Even if a pad is installed according to current industry norms, odds are high that the ground underneath its downslope edges will erode over time. 
     Eventually, the pad can become destabilized and begin to tilt. In any event, the result is unsightly. Repair frequently involves simply backfilling soil or rocks where the erosion has occurred, but this solution is temporary, as the backfilled soil soon erodes away. 
     Although installers and homeowners understand that “nature happens,” they are uneasy and displeased with the look of a dangling unit, which is an expensive system component. The result also reflects poorly on the contractor. But contractors and homeowners are daunted by the effort and cost—for example, excavating and placing a foundation or footer—that they believe would be required to prevent the problem. Little thought has been given to inexpensive, low-labor systems or methods to prevent the erosion from occurring in the first place. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a prefabricated outdoor support pad is configured for transport from factory to field and above-grade installation on level ground to support a condenser or transformer. The outdoor support pad comprises a rigid platform with a top surface for supporting a condenser or transformer and a flexible geosynthetic material joined to the rigid platform along a perimeter and corners of the rigid platform. The flexibility of the geosynthetic material facilitating its manipulation into an erosion-resisting configuration in the ground after the rigid platform is installed on grade. 
     In one version, the flexible geosynthetic material extends about 6 to 14 inches from a perimeter of the outdoor appliance support pad, although versions with other distances are also contemplated. The flexible geosynthetic material is preferably configured to form a soft soil retention barrier when inserted into the ground along the perimeter and corners of the pad, in order to resist soil from washing out from under the corners of the outdoor support pad. 
     The flexible geosynthetic material may be bonded to the rigid platform. The material may also be joined in a manner that prevents drainage from streaming between the flexible geosynthetic portion and the rigid platform at the place of attachment. In one version, the geosynthetic material also covers the underside of the pad and extends beyond edges of the pad, forming a portion configured for insertion into the ground. 
     In another embodiment, erosion control kits are provided for outdoor condenser or transformer support pads. One type of erosion control kit comprises a flexible geotextile soil retention barrier sized for attachment to the support pad along at least portions of two sides of the support pad, at or below a top edge of the pad, and further sized, upon attachment, to extend beyond a bottom edge of the pad so that it can be inserted about 6″ to 14″ into the ground and wrap around soil under a corner of the support pad. The kit also includes mechanical attachment members (such as clips) configured to attach the soil retention barrier to the support pad. Furthermore, a first section of the flexible geotextile soil retention barrier is configured for attachment to the support pad and a second section of the flexible geotextile soil retention barrier is configured for insertion into the ground, using downward force on an unattached edge of the flexible geotextile, around the outdoor support pad after the outdoor support pad is placed on grade. 
     The soil retention barrier may include reinforced attachment areas to facilitate mechanical fastening of the soil retention barrier to the support pad. Also, the kit may include one or more leveling support members for leveling the support pad, wherein the leveling support members are placed under the support pad and above sloped, eroded soil. 
     Another type of erosion control kit comprises a hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier configured to wrap around soil under at least a corner of the support pad when the support pad is placed on grade and mechanical attachment members configured to attach the soil retention barrier to the support pad. The hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier includes one or more sections configured to form a soil-impermeable corner under the support pad corner. The kit configured to be installed—and the hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier to be driven and inserted into the ground—after the support pad is placed on grade. 
     In one version of the erosion control kit, the hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier comprises a plurality of rigid sections that overlap. Furthermore, the hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier may include both planar and corner pieces. The rigid sections may have fastening holes to facilitate attachment to the support pad. 
     The kit may also include additional implements. For example, the kit may include at least one gasket configured to seal at least a portion of the hard-walled ground-insertable soil retention barrier against the support pad. The kit may also or alternatively include an insertion tool that facilitates insertion of the soil retention barrier into the soil alongside the support pad when it is resting on grade. The kit may also or alternatively include one or more leveling support members for leveling the support pad, wherein the leveling support members are placed under the support pad and above sloped, eroded soil. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings are not to scale, and like numbers are used throughout. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an air conditioning unit or condenser on an outdoor equipment pad. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an equipment pad on eroded grade, being prepared for remediation. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an equipment pad surrounded by a substantially vertical skirt of silt fabric tucked or inserted downwardly into the surrounding soil. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an equipment pad surrounded by a skirt of percolating fabric resting over the surrounding soil. 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded view diagram of a multi-layered fabric skirt installed into and over ground prepared for supporting an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of an equipment pad surrounded by a two-layer assembly of percolating and silt fabric. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a roll of a multi-layered fabric assembly specially configured for use in minimizing soil erosion under and proximate an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a multi-layered fabric assembly suitable for erosion control laid out next to a side of an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the multi-layered fabric assembly of  FIG. 7  after attachment points proximate the pad corners have been severed. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a loosely-connected multi-layered fabric assembly. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a multi-layered fabric assembly with a pin inserted through an attachment point. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined by a landscape pin under an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined by a landscape pin mounted to an attachment strip configured for attachment to the equipment pad. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined by a landscape pin mounted to a bracket configured for attachment to the equipment pad. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a toothed clip mounted on a landscape pin, the toothed clip being configured to mount the landscape pin to an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined to an attachment strip joined to a plurality of toothed clips for mounting the multi-layered fabric assembly to an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross sectional view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined to a toothed clip. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of a multi-layered fabric assembly coupled to the foam core of an equipment pad through a toothed clip. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross sectional view of a multi-layered fabric assembly coupled to the side of an equipment pad via a mechanical fastener. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross sectional view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined to a toothed clip clamped on an outside edge of the pad and anchored with a screw. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of a multi-layered fabric assembly joined to a toothed clip clamped to an internal rib of the pad and anchored with a screw. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a corner stake used to form part of a hard-walled soil erosion barrier. 
         FIG. 22  is an inside perspective view of the corner stake of  FIG. 21   
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a hard-walled soil retention apparatus comprising a plurality of corner stakes and side wall pieces attached to an equipment pad. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a corner stake and percolating fabric assembly. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an erosion control apparatus comprising a combination of a hard-walled soil retention apparatus and a flexible percolating fabric. 
         FIGS. 26 and 27  are perspective views of one embodiment of an equipment pad with pre-attached corner and side wall pieces. 
         FIG. 28  illustrates one embodiment of an installation tool to facilitate insertion of a soil retention barrier into the ground. 
         FIG. 29  illustrates the installation tool of  FIG. 28  bent at a 90-degree angle along a hinge line. 
         FIG. 30  illustrates another embodiment of an installation tool to facilitate insertion of a soil retention barrier into the ground. 
         FIG. 31  illustrates an embodiment of an equipment pad support member. 
         FIGS. 32-33  illustrate embodiments of an equipment pad support member attached to an erosion control apparatus. 
         FIG. 34  is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of installing a new equipment pad with a multi-layered fabric assembly. 
         FIG. 35  is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of repairing erosion underneath an equipment pad. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In describing preferred and alternate embodiments of the technology described herein, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-35 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The technology described herein, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. 
     Several embodiments of erosion control apparatuses are provided in this disclosure. All involve a soil retention apparatus driven or tucked into the ground, a percolating fabric overlaying the adjoining graded soil, or a combination of the two. In some embodiments, accessories are provided for attaching the erosion control apparatus to the equipment pad  10  and/or anchoring a portion of the erosion control apparatus into the ground. The embodiments preferably use durable, geosynthetic materials such as plastic and other geocomposites. In particular, the soil retention apparatus that resides in the ground preferably will last for the life of the equipment pad. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of an equipment pad  10  on an eroded grade  11 , being prepared for remediation in accordance with one embodiment. A primary backfill  22  of soil and/or other materials is made between the eroded grade and the overhanging portion of the pad  10 . A slender, low-porosity soil retention barrier  25  is inserted or tucked into the ground near the perimeter of the pad  10  along at least the downhill edge(s) of the pad. A secondary backfill  24  is then made against the soil retention barrier  25 . This remediation is accomplished without excavation of soil. 
     In one embodiment, the soil retention barrier  25  is a soft-walled barrier. In a more detailed embodiment, shown more particularly in  FIG. 3 , the soil retention barrier  25  is a permanently-installed silt fence  35  made of a woven or non-woven geotextile fabric. The silt fence  35  includes a plurality of pore spaces or openings between the fabric fibers that are too small for soil to pass through but that are large enough to allow water to penetrate. The silt fence  35  serves to retain dirt. In one embodiment, the bottom edge of the silt fabric  35  is configured with barbs  37  that are readily grasped by an insertion tool and which serve to further anchor the silt fabric  35  in the ground. 
     In another embodiment, the soil retention barrier  25  comprises a rigid, “hard-walled” barrier, as described more fully below in connection with  FIGS. 21-27 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an equipment pad  10  completely surrounded by a skirt of four rectangular sections of percolating fabric  40  resting over the soil or ground surrounding the pad  10 . The percolating fabric  40  is a porous, three-dimensional matrix of water-trapping voids meant to mimic river stone and allow water to percolate down and away from the pad  10  and fill dirt. The percolating fabric  40  may be embedded with grass seeds (not shown) or include corner attachment pins  43  to anchor the fabric to the ground. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict an equipment pad  10  surrounded by a two-layer assembly  50  of a silt fence  35  tucked into the ground and a percolating fabric  40  overlaying the ground. The silt fence  35  acts as a barrier to retain soil behind the fence and thereby resists erosion under the pad. The percolating fabric  40 , which has larger pores than and is not as dense as the silt fence  35 , causes water to seep and spread slowly or gradually in an unsteady pattern. Thus, the water moves outward and away from the pad, minimizing erosion underneath and around the fabric  40 . 
     In operation, the assembly  50  is laid out about the perimeter of an existing or to-be-placed equipment pad  10 . The top layer of percolating fabric  40  is folded up, providing access to the bottom silt fence  35 . The bottom silt fence  35  is tucked into the ground. The bottom silt fence  35  provides a continuous wrap around the soil under the corner of the equipment pad  10 , such that soil does not wash from the corner. If necessary, dirt is backfilled against the silt fence  35 . Then, the top layer of percolating fabric  40  is folded back down, over the fill dirt. 
     A standard installation designed to surround a 36″×36″ pad  10  will call for about 20 lineal feet (i.e., 4 sides times 5 feet for each side) of the assembly  50 . Typical equipment pads have dimensions in the range of 16″×36″ to 60″×67″, with base heights ranging from 2″ to 4″. The silt fence  35  should be tucked into the ground 6″ to 1′ deep and have an attachment strip  52  under the pad of about 1-2″, for a total fabric width of 8″ to 1′ 2″. The top layer of percolating fabric  40  should extend 6″ to 1′ beyond the pad and have an attachment strip  52  under the pad of about 1-2″, for a total fabric width of 8″ to 1′ 2″. 
     In one embodiment, the weight of the equipment pad  10  alone anchors the assembly  50  to the ground along a pad attachment strip  52  of the assembly  50 . In another embodiment, mechanical fasteners (e.g., screws) are used to attach the pad attachment strip  52  to the underside of the pad  10 . In yet another embodiment, the pad attachment strip  52  is folded up and attached, with fasteners, to the sides  16 ,  17  of the equipment pad  10 . In yet another embodiment, the assembly  50  includes a long rectilinear plastic or metal section  151  ( FIG. 15 ) along the pad attachment strip  52  to facilitate mechanical fastening of the assembly  50  to the pad  10 . 
     In each of the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 5B , the erosion control apparatus may come pre-attached to the equipment pad  10 . For plastic pads, the erosion control apparatus may be molded, welded, glued, chemically bonded, and/or mechanically attached to the pad during production. For concrete pads, the erosion control apparatus may be tucked into foam or cemented in place. 
     For pads with a pre-attached dual-layer fabric assembly  50  as shown in  FIG. 5B , the portions of fabric assembly  50  extending beyond the pad edges are not attached to each other, so that the bottom layer or silt fence  35  may be tucked into the ground without tucking or wadding the top layer of percolating fabric  40 . In one embodiment, the top layer of percolating fabric  40  is formed across the entire underside of the pad  10  to provide additional ground support. Assuming there are no gaps between the pad edge and fabric  40 , a drainage path is not likely to form under the pad  10 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a roll of a multi-layered fabric assembly  60  specially configured for use in minimizing soil erosion under and proximate an equipment pad  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric assembly  60  comprises a fabric silt fence  35  attached at regularly spaced and linearly arranged stitch, weld, or pin attachment points  62  along an adjoinment strip  61  to a porous, percolating fabric  40 . The adjoinment strip  61  is spaced approximately 1 to 2 inches from the inside edges of the silt fence  35  and percolating fabric  40 . In the exemplary embodiment, the adjoinment strip  61  is not continuously melted or stitched together. Rather, regularly spaced and linearly arranged spot welds, stitches, or pins are provided to attach the layers together so that the contractor can easily detach the layers at the pad corners. 
     This fabric assembly  60  may be easily carried to a jobsite and cut to fit any size or brand of equipment pad  10 . In operation, the fabric assembly  60  is unrolled, cut to length, and placed around and under the perimeter of the pad  10 . To install, the top layer of percolating fabric  40  is folded up, the lower fabric layer or silt fence  35  is tucked into the ground, and the top layer of percolating fabric  40  is then placed back on the ground and pinned at the corners. 
     In a further embodiment, the two fabrics  35  and  40  are joined loosely as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . Stitches with slack, or welded areas that have been pulled and elongated while still melted, provide a space  71  of 1/32″ to ⅛″. An installer can quickly and easily run a blade through that space  71  to sever attachment points near the pad corners. This frees the distal ends  81  of the bottom fabric  35  to be tucked into the ground without inserting or wadding the top layer. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , pins  100  (preferably 3-4″ long, and made of plastic or metal) are pre-placed on the fabric assembly  60 , forming part of the spot attachment of the two fabrics  35  and  40 . In one particular embodiment, as the plastic fabric is heated/welded/tacked at certain points, a pin  100  is attached at the same time. In another embodiment, the pins  100  form the only source of attachment of the two fabrics  35  and  40 . 
     During installation, an installer turns the pin  100  down into the ground to anchor the fabric assembly  60 . To detach the fabric assembly  60  at the pad corners, the installer removes the necessary pins  100 , using them to anchor the outside corners of the upper layer of percolating fabric  40  at the end of the installation. 
     Several embodiments are contemplated for attaching the fabric assembly  60  to the pad  10 . In one embodiment, depicted in  FIGS. 10-12 , the pin  100  comprises a pin head  101  narrowly attached to a pin body  102  in a manner that forms a gap between the pin head  101  and the pin body  102 . In  FIG. 12 , the pin  100  includes an attachment strap  123  configured to be folded up against the side of the pad  10  and mechanically fastened thereto with a screw or other fastener  124 . In yet another embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 13 , the pin  100  includes a bracket  133  configured to abut the side of the pad  10  and be mechanically fastened thereto with a screw or other fastener  124 . 
       FIGS. 14-20  illustrate several embodiments utilizing a plastic or metal clip  141  to attach a multi-layered fabric assembly  60  to an equipment pad  10 . The plastic or metal clip  141  includes two biased tabs  145  and  147  for clamping an equipment pad edge or rib. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14, 16-17, and 19-20 , the clip  141  also includes outwardly facing foam-gripping teeth  143  along tab  145 . In another embodiment, not shown, the tabs  145  and  147  include sharp, inwardly facing teeth configured to be closed by pliers to bite into a plastic edge or rib of the equipment pad. In yet another embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 18 , the teeth are entirely omitted from the tabs  145  and  147 . In another embodiment, not shown, the clip  141  includes a toothed tab  145  without a cooperating clamping tab  147 . 
     In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 16-20 , the clip  141  is mounted to a multi-layered fabric assembly  60 . In one embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 14 , the clip  141  is also mounted on the head  101  of a landscape pin  100 . In  FIG. 15 , a row of clips  141  is joined to a solid (e.g., plastic or metal) attachment strip  151  for mounting a large section of multi-layered fabric assembly  60  to a side of the equipment pad  10 . 
     The clip  141  is configured to mount the fabric assembly  60  to an equipment pad in one or more of many different ways. In  FIG. 17 , the clip  141  is inserted into the foam core  171  of an equipment pad  10 . In  FIG. 18 , the clip is coupled to the side of an equipment pad  10  via a screw or other mechanical fastener  181 . In  FIG. 19 , the clip  141  is clamped around an outside edge  191  of the equipment pad  10 . In  FIG. 20 , the clip  141  is clamped around an internal rib  201  of the equipment pad  10 . In both  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the clip is optionally further coupled to the equipment pad  10  with an anchoring screw or other mechanical fastener  181 . 
       FIGS. 21-27  illustrate various embodiments and interlocking pieces of a hard-walled soil retention barrier. The pieces are tapered for easy insertion into the ground and interlock to form a continuous wall and rigid barrier. Although not shown in the drawings, the wall may include decorative features (e.g., faux stone) along the top. 
       FIGS. 21 and 22  illustrate a corner stake or anchor  210  with dimensions of approximately 4″×4″×12″. The corner stake  210  is substantially continuous at the corner, such that soil will not wash out from under the corner of the equipment pad  10 . This design is an improvement over corners that are open or highly porous. One side of the corner stake  210  includes a channel  211  for receiving a cooperating tab or projection of an interlocking side wall piece  231 . The other side of the corner stake  210  includes a tab or projection  212  for inserting into a cooperating channel of a side wall piece  231 . The channel  211  and tab  212  may extend along all of or less than the full length of corner stake  210 . 
     An alignment shelf  214  is provided along the backside of the corner stake  210  to rest under the pad edge. A gasket or sealing boss  213 , which may be shaped like a wiper blade, is provided along the top of the backside of the corner stake  210 . The sealing boss  213  seals the corner stake  210  against the side of the equipment pad  10 , blocking the flow of water therebetween. Also, the sealing boss  213  accommodates a variety of corner radii and side slopes. A fastening hole  215  is provided for inserting a machine screw, concrete screw, nail, or other mechanical fastener. The hole  215  may be located such that two adjacent wall portions  231  are attached to the pad  10  with one fastener. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , a plurality of sidewall pieces  231  of varying widths (e.g., 1″, 2″, 4″, 8″, 16″) is also provided. Although not shown in the drawings, the sidewall pieces  231 , like the corner stakes  210 , include a channel along one vertical side and a projecting tab along the other vertical side. In this manner, the corner pieces and sidewall pieces can be assembled to interlock with each other, and be driven into the ground. Also like the corner stakes  210 , the sidewall pieces  231  include an alignment shelf or protrusion (not shown) to facilitate alignment of the interlocking pieces. The sidewall pieces  231  may also include gaskets or sealing bosses and fastening holes  215 . 
     In one embodiment, the sidewall pieces are also ribbed and scored at 1″ increments so a contractor can cut to length and still interlock the cut piece with the piece next to it. The sidewall pieces  231  may also be shaped, thinned, or perforated between the ribs  233  or along the scored sections to aid driving them into the ground. 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  depict an embodiment in which percolating fabric sections  241  are pre-attached to the corner stakes  210  and sidewall pieces  231 .  FIG. 25  depicts several of these corner and sidewall pieces assembled together and installed on an equipment pad  10 . The fabric sections  241  may be pre-attached above or below the fastening holes  215 . 
     Hard walls may also come pre-attached to a pad  10  at the factory.  FIGS. 26 and 27  are perspective views of one embodiment of an equipment pad  10  with pre-attached corner and side wall pieces. When the pad  10  is at a jobsite, a contractor may simply set the pad  10  on the ground, aim the corner and side wall pieces  210  and  231  straight down, and hammer them. When hammered, the pieces break free from the pad  10  and go into the ground. 
     In one embodiment, not shown, equipment pads  10  are provided that have dovetail notches formed on the bottom edges. The dovetail notches facilitate attachment of the corner and side pieces of the hard-walled soil retention barrier. The corner and side pieces may have corresponding protrusions to allow dovetailing, snapping, or “locking” in place. In another embodiment, not shown, the equipment pads  10  have spikes or fingers, shaped like picture hangers, along the bottom edges. An erosion control apparatus is mounted over these spikes and held in place. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates one embodiment of an installation tool  280  to facilitate insertion of both soft-walled and hard-walled soil retention barriers into the ground. The installation tool  280  comprises a force distribution upper member  281  joined to substantially planar, wedge-shaped lower member  282 . The upper member  281  is preferably triangularly shaped or arc shaped to distribute the force of a hammer blow across the full width of the wedge-shaped lower member  282 . As shown in  FIG. 29 , the installation tool  280  may be folded along a thinned vertical midsection  283  for inserting soil retention barriers proximate to the corners of an equipment pad. The installation tool  280  is constructed of metal, wood, or plastic, or some combination thereof. 
     To insert a rigid side wall piece, the side wall piece is hammered partway into the ground. Then the installation tool  280  is placed on top of the side wall piece against the side of an equipment pad. To insert a rigid corner piece, the installation tool  280  is folded approximately 90 degrees along its midsection  283  before being placed along the corner of an equipment pad. A hammer, mallet, or other tool is then used to pound the rigid piece into the ground, such that the hammer does not strike the pad  10  as the rigid piece is driven below the top surface of the pad and close to grade. The rigid side wall or corner piece may be driven into the ground with the installation tool  280 , or after the installation tool  280  has been pounded into the ground. To insert a soft-walled, fabric-based erosion control barrier, the wedge-shaped lower member  282  is pinned against the fabric and used to drive it into the ground. Thus, the walls may be installed without traditional trenching, even around corners. 
       FIG. 30  illustrates another embodiment of an installation tool  300 . This installation tool  300  comprises first and second substantially planar, wedge-shaped bottom members  302  and  304 , with second bottom member  304  projecting out perpendicularly from one side (but not the other) of the first bottom member  302 . The installation tool  300  also includes a force distribution top member  301  that distributes the force of a hammer blow across the full extents of the first and second bottom members  302  and  304 . 
     To insert a side wall piece, the side wall piece is hammered partway with a hammer or mallet. Then the installation tool  300  is placed on top of the side wall piece with the flat side  303  of the installation tool  300  facing toward the side of an equipment pad, and then the side wall piece is pounded into the ground via the installation tool  300 . To insert a corner piece, the first and second bottom members  302  and  304  are laid on top of the corner piece, with the corner facing the corner of an equipment pad, and then the corner piece is pounded into the ground. 
     It is contemplated that the installation tool  280  or  300  may be packaged as part of a kit that includes components of any of the erosion control apparatuses described herein. 
       FIGS. 31-33  illustrate various embodiments of an equipment pad support member in the form of a wedge-able bracket  310 , used to repair erosion underneath an equipment pad  10  and level the pad  10 . The bracket  310  comprises three pivotally attached segments or bars  311 ,  312 , and  313 . The horizontal segment  311  and angle segment  313  may be hammered underneath the pad edge, wedging the vertical or prop segment  312  underneath the pad  10  to push the pad  10  up. It is contemplated that several such brackets  310  be used at spaced-apart intervals to support the pad  10 , in order to prevent the pad  10  from cracking or bowing. 
     In  FIGS. 32-33 , the bracket  310  is pre-attached to an erosion control apparatus. In  FIG. 32 , the erosion control apparatus comprises a soil retention fabric section  35 . In  FIG. 33 , the erosion control apparatus comprises a multi-layered fabric assembly  60 . In  FIG. 33 , only the top segment  311  of the bracket  310  is shown. 
       FIG. 34  is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of installing a new pad  10  with a multi-layered fabric assembly  60 . In step  340 , clear the installation area of leaves, mulch, and loose topsoil until firm ground is reached beyond the edges of the where the pad  10  is to be located. In step  341 , level and compact the ground. Backfill, if necessary, to ensure that the pad  10  will sit on substantially level ground. In step  342 , place the multi-layered fabric assembly  60  on the leveled ground, with the silt fence  35  on the bottom and the 3D percolating fabric layer  40  on top, and insert landscape pins through the percolating fabric layer  40  into the ground. Alternatively, attach the multi-layered fabric assembly  60  to the pad  10  prior to placing the pad  10  on the ground. 
     In step  343 , place the pad  10  on the ground so that the fabric of the multi-layered fabric assembly  60  extends 6″-12″ beyond each side of the pad. In step  344 , remove any landscaping pins that are visible from the corners of the multi-layered fabric assembly  60 , and save them for later use. In step  345 , attach the multi-layered fabric assembly  60  to the pad  10 . It is desirable to take care that all walls are held in place by the weight of the pad  10  and/or attached to the pad  10 . Otherwise, the walls may give way over time. In step  346 , lift the top percolating fabric layer  40  and drive the silt fence fabric layer  35  straight down into the ground, using the installation tool  280  or  300 , all around the pad  10 . The fabric mimics the soil retaining effect of landscape timbers. In step  347 , backfill soil outside of the fabric up to the bottom of the pad  10 . Compact the soil and repeat until the ground level is flush with the pad bottom. 
     In step  348 , place the top percolating fabric layer  40  flush with the ground, thus mimicking the percolating effect of river rock. Using the pins saved in step  344 , drive pins through the percolating fabric corners into the ground to secure the percolating fabric layer  40  in place. Finally, in step  349 , landscape around the pad  10  to hide the multi-layered fabric assembly  60 . 
       FIG. 35  is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of repairing erosion underneath a pad  10  using the support brackets  310  of  FIG. 31  and a multi-layered fabric assembly  60 . In step  350 , align one support bracket  310  under an edge of the pad  10 , with the multi-layered fabric assembly  60  sticking out from under the pad  10 . Drive the support bracket  310  into the earth parallel to the edge of the pad  10 . In step  351 , place the prop segment  312  of the support bracket  310  under the pad corner and tension until the pad  10  is level. In step  352 , repeat steps  1  and  2  with additional brackets. In step  353 , attach the support brackets  310  to the pad  10 . In step  354 , drive anchors (e.g., pins) through the bracket corners into the earth. 
     In step  355 , attach the fabric assembly  60  to the pad  10 . Take care that the multi-layered fabric assembly  60  is held in place by the weight of the pad  10  and/or attached to the pad  10 . Otherwise, the fabric assembly  60  may give way over time. In step  356 , lift the upper percolating fabric layer  40  on the downslope side of the pad  10  and drive the silt fence  35  into the ground, using installation tool  280  or  300 , until the corners are in place. In step  357 , backfill under the pad  10 . From the sides, fill in any dirt or concrete to support the pad  10 . Place bricks, rocks, dirt, soil socks, etc. under the pad  10 . Pack the dirt. Also, lift the upper percolating fabric layer  40  and backfill dirt against the silt fence  35  on the downslope side of the pad  10 . In step  358 , place the upper percolating fabric layer  40  flush with the ground around the pad  10 . In step  359 , insert landscape pins through the corners of the percolating fabric layer  40  into the ground. Finally, in step  350 , landscape around the pad  10  to hide the multi-layered fabric assembly  60 . Be careful not to add landscaping that is high enough to interfere with the pad height or the inflow of air to the unit. 
     In both  FIGS. 34 and 35 , many of the steps are optional, and the order of the steps may in many instances be re-arranged. Instructions for installation of hard wall solutions are similar. 
     It will be understood that many modifications could be made to the embodiments disclosed herein and in the incorporated provisional application and its appendix without departing from the spirit of the invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the disclosures contained in the drawings are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.