There’s a crisis in the home construction industry, and it’s a combination of many different factors, from affordability to sustainability to a growing labor shortage. These urgencies have been compounded to make driving efficiency and innovation more critical than ever.

Fortunately, there’s a solution that’s proven, respected and the ‘not-so-secret’ solution to contractors across North America. It’s Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction, and it has become a sustainable, durable and affordable cornerstone of modern home construction.

But like all other concrete applications, the success of ICF depends significantly on the reinforcement material used within the concrete. Unfortunately, concrete reinforcement installation has been the bain of every laborer’s existence, that is until Helix Micro Rebar emerged. 

It’s a groundbreaking one-inch, twisted, all-steel reinforcement mixed with concrete prior to placement to create a singular durable material. Here’s why Helix Micro Rebar is such a game-changer for ICF while resulting in more sustainable homes.

Reduce Your New Home Construction Time

Rebar installation is an incredibly labor-intensive process involving tying and placing the bars before pouring the concrete. This can be particularly cumbersome in the confined spaces of ICF construction. 

Helix Micro Rebar reduces this issue by being mixed directly into the concrete, significantly reducing labor time and costs. And let’s be honest – rebar installation is the least fun aspect of ICF construction.

Contractors can now complete projects faster while also improving concrete’s durability and allowing installation crews to move on to the next phase of the project sooner. 
Helix Micro Rebar helped popular YouTube Handeeman replace all the horizontal and corner rebar for an ICF home. And the results were shocking!

Helix Micro Rebar Makes ICF Blocks Even Easier to Install

Traditional rebar installation requires lugging long lengths of rusty metal, careful placement and many hours of work. 

Helix Micro Rebar simplifies this process by mixing directly into the concrete mix, eliminating the need for manual tying and positioning. This not only reduces the workload for crews but also decreases errors. For contractors, this means a smoother workflow and simpler job site logistics.

Listen to what other ICF professionals are saying about Helix Micro Rebar with a listen to the recent “Build With ICF” podcast, joined by Helix Steel’s very own Erica Marr.

Improve Job Site Safety

Storing, handling, cutting and installing traditional rebar is ripe for safety risks, including cuts, strains and other injuries from working with heavy and long steel materials in awkward positions. 

Helix Micro Rebar is mixed directly into the concrete at your batch plant, allowing your crews to work more efficiently and safely, keeping your job site safer while removing a major safety issue.

The Concrete Reinforcement That Adapts to ICF Complexities

ICF construction can involve unique layouts, which can make traditional rebar placement challenging.

Since Helix Micro Rebar is uniformly integrated into the concrete mix, it can adapt to any angle/design/size, no matter the complexity. This means that you will receive the same amount of strength, safety, sustainability and support without requiring custom configurations.

Increase Crew Satisfaction and Resource Allocation

Crews love building with large Lego blocks but not so much installing rebar. By eliminating the bending, cutting and tying of rebar, Helix Micro Rebar reduces the physical strain on installation crews. 

Contractors can then also use their resources more effectively, focusing their construction crew on other aspects of the build instead of labor-intensive rebar tasks. Additionally, the reduced workload on physically demanding tasks can contribute to higher job satisfaction and retention.

Learn more about the ‘how-to’ of Helix Micro Rebar for ICF here.

Sustainability Benefits

All of these benefits are great on their own, but there’s yet another powerful reason to choose Helix Micro Rebar. It reduces your overall steel use, minimizes waste, and, thus reduces the carbon footprint of the entire home.

And as you may know, if you’re already an ICF convert, ICF is a far more efficient way to build, lowering household heating and cooling costs by a large margin for the entire lifespan of the building. Let’s make a difference for our environment together!

Contractors Who Know Trust ICF With Helix Micro Rebar

For contractors and installation crews, Helix Micro Rebar offers a totally new and jobsite-alterign way to complete ICF construction. By saving time, simplifying installation, increasing sustainability and improving safety, it allows projects to be completed better in every way.

For your next ICF project, trust the ICF experts and use Helix Micro Rebar makes the job easier, safer, and more cost-effective—helping you deliver high-quality results every time.

American engineers have ever-demanding tasks involving concrete while making the structures they design stronger, more durable, and overall ‘better’ than ever before. To accomplish this, engineers need to embrace innovation and rethink processes. They need to consider a better way to build with concrete.

Helix Steel is leading the way in showcasing to engineers that Helix Micro Rebar, a revolutionary concrete reinforcement, is ‘paving’ the way to success for engineers and the remarkable projects they design.

Why Upgrade Concrete Reinforcement?

Concrete is literally the foundation of modern infrastructure, from roads and bridges to buildings and tunnels. However, traditional concrete reinforcement, such as rebar, has significant issues.

Rebar is heavy, corrodes and is challenging to install. Although it is used throughout the construction industry as a standard way to keep concrete together, it is impossible to reinforce every square inch of concrete, which can result in premature cracking. 

Engineers love concrete and already embrace remarkable admixtures to form the perfect mix, and more recently, they are flocking to Helix Micro Rebar, the advanced reinforcement alternative that is transforming the industry.

Why is Helix Micro Rebar the Answer to Engineers’ Dilemmas?

Helix Micro Rebar is a high-strength, twisted steel micro-reinforcement mixed into concrete to create concrete that can increase concrete’s fatigue resistance by up to 300% and flexural strength by up to 33%.

Helix Micro Rebar gives greater flexibility in design and construction. Engineers’ designs can be greatly optimized, whether it’s to create stronger concrete or even reduce the amount of concrete needed, such as in slabs-on-grade applications.

“Our experience with Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement sets us apart from our competition. It has helped to grow my business more than I could have possibly imagined.”

— Omar Abu-Yasein, PhD, PE, CEO

A&A Engineering

Engineering a Stronger, More Resilient Future

Helix Micro Rebar’s unique twisted design makes the difference. The helical form and large quantity create a uniform network of reinforcement throughout the concrete, improving the resistance to cracking and deformation. 

Helix Micro Rebar applications are better equipped to withstand the tests of time. This not only improves the performance of buildings and infrastructure but also reduces the frequency and cost of repairs and maintenance, leading to long-term savings for builders and owners.

Code to the Core

The first to market with approval for structural applications, Helix Micro Rebar meets ACI, the IBC and IRC through its two evaluation service reports from ICC-ES and IAPMO-ES.

Evaluation Report (ER-279)

Helix Steel 5-25 Evaluation Report (ER-279) specifically addresses both above and below-grade walls built in accordance with the IBC, IRC, ACI 318 and ACI 332. 

The ISO/IEC 17065:2012-compliant ER-279 provides engineers, contractors, code officials and owners assurance of Helix Steel code compliance and design, installation and field quality assurance instruction.

Simplified Design with ICC-ES

Helix Steel and ICC-ES have developed a design that uses linear elastic design along with simple flexural testing (ASTM C78). ICC-ES ESR-3949 provides an alternative approach for structural concrete and should be used for Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement design when it is specifically required by building jurisdictions. This approach is applied to structures that meet the limitations of ACI 318-14, Chapter 14.

Concrete Reinforcement Built for Engineers

Helix Steel doesn’t just deliver a better product for engineers, but we’re here to back it up with everything we have.

A Team of Concrete Experts to Back You Up

We have in-house engineers who provide technical support for designers and engineers who want to use Helix Micro Rebar. We will convert drawings and provide suggestions, and (depending on your location and project scope) we can be on site for pour days. We also have a team of industry and application experts.

Dosage Calculator

We have a web application that helps engineers identify dosage rates for Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement. Remember that our team is always here to help with design.

Online Training

Our courses can give you RCEP-accredited Continuing Education credits and cover Helix Micro Rebar best practices across all aspects of completing a project. We also host engineer-focused Lunch & Learn sessions to give deep into customized presentations on your unique business and needs. (Plus, we cover the food cost!) 

Publications for Engineers

We’ve assembled papers and articles detailing how Helix Micro Rebar has been proven in testing labs and in the field. Read more.

Making Construction Practices Easier

You’ve heard it all before – construction projects need to be more efficient. A major product leading the charge in this efficiency is Helix Micro Rebar, which can be incorporated directly into the concrete mix, simplifying the job site by having the mixing take place at your batch plant. This not only speeds up project timelines but also reduces labor costs and logistical challenges.

It’s also easier to use in a wide range of concrete applications, from ICF homes and foundations to warehouse slabs and multi-storey slabs, enabling architects and engineers to create designs without being constrained by traditional reinforcement methods.

A Highlight of Superior American Engineering Applications

Helix Micro Rebar has already been successfully implemented in a variety of projects across the globe. From roads and airports to industrial plants and commercial buildings, Helix Micro Rebar is proving its worth as a sustainable, cost-effective, and durable alternative to traditional reinforcement.

The Future is Here! Trust the #1 Alternative to Rebar

The future of construction here in America lies in more efficient, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and Helix Micro Rebar is at the heart of this transformation. 

We’re eager to continue working with engineers to create a future when concrete lasts longer, is easier to design and is easier to place.

Our patented Helix Micro Rebar concrete reinforcement is a bold step forward for engineers today for the applications of tomorrow. Are you joining the movement? There’s really nothing to lose. Send your project specs to our own in-house engineers to learn more about how there has never been a better time to think differently.

You can also easily specify Helix Micro Rebar. Learn more about this here, and access our CSI-formatted specification template.

In times of great economic uncertainty, there is no better way to keep your business humming than by trusting America to deliver.

Helix Steel produces the world’s most innovative concrete reinforcement: Helix Micro Rebar. This one-inch, twisted steel product can benefit every aspect of your next project – reducing costs, cutting timelines, improving durability, etc. – and just happens to be produced right here in America. 

If you’ve ever wanted to source products locally and reap the rewards our reinforcement will bring to your next concrete project, keep reading. Here are some key reasons why you should bring your business back to America.

Six Benefits of Reshoring Your Concrete Reinforcement With Helix Micro Rebar

Increased Slab Durability

Easier isn’t always better, especially when supply chains have so many unknowns. This is why minimizing your future risk by trusting American manufacturers just makes sense. In doing so, you will reduce your risk of supply delays, stabilize price fluctuations and make your project’s timeline more predictable.

Support American Job Creation

Every time you order from Helix Steel, you are supporting local jobs that believe in domestically produced products. Whether you’re speaking with our account executive, plant manager, engineer or delivery driver, you are directly changing lives here in America.

Increase Your Business’s Economic Resilience

Geopolitical turmoil can bring vulnerability to your business and the projects that are relying on you. By bringing manufacturing and production home to America, you’re less susceptible to global issues that can halt the best laid plans.

Reduce Steel Consumption

Dosing Helix Micro Rebar in your concrete instead of 100% relying on rebar will reduce the quantity of steel you need. Not only does this reduction in steel help the environment, it’s simply a better use of our natural resources. There’s only a limited amount of resources for our projects and it’s our responsibility to make the best of what we’ve been given.

Reduce Your Costs and Keep Your Money in America

Where do you want your money to end up? If you like it in your own pocket right here in America, then it’s time to make the switch to Helix Micro Rebar. By shrinking your timeline and reducing your labor requirements, you’re keeping your money while reducing repair and replacement costs.

Ongoing Customer Support Before, During and After Each Project

Do you have a question? Need a test trial? Want to learn more? Helix Steel’s American staff is here to walk you through the benefits of our product when you need it. This local support, combined with a superior product, ensures a truly American experience every time.

Bring Your Operations and Supply Networks Back to America

Helix Steel is here to help bring your business’ supply chains back to America, making it easier than ever before. It’s never too early to consider the logistics of this major decision – reach out to our team to discuss the benefits outlined in this article and many other insights specific to your industry. 

In the meantime, you’re welcome to enjoy a Lunch & Learn supported by our sales engineer. Simply click the link and fill out the form, and you will experience the all-American Helix Steel difference in no time.

Precast concrete structures are essential components for water management systems throughout America. By using precast concrete, these vital systems are more resilient and capable of handling large volumes of water. 

As our built environment continues to increase, so does the demand for increased efficiency in our water management solutions. And that starts with the construction of the precast elements themselves. 

Using Helix Micro Rebar as your precast concrete reinforcement can provide your precast business and your clients’ water systems with benefits that only the tiniest of reinforcements can provide.

What are Precast Concrete Structures?

These concrete components are built offsite using reusable forms in manufacturing facilities. The structures are then delivered to the job site for more efficient installation. 

Popular precast concrete structures for water management systems include pipes, vaults, manholes, box culverts, catch basins, flared ends and septic tanks.

The streamlined construction process makes concrete water system components faster to build than traditional on-site methods, saving significant money. However, innovative business owners still have plenty of opportunities to build smarter.

Why Should Precasters Care About Helix Micro Rebar?

Because it removes one of the annoyances of precast production: rebar installation. 

Helix Micro Rebar is an all-steel one-inch concrete reinforcement that is twisted to increase the durability and strength of concrete greatly. By mixing Helix Micro Rebar with your concrete and having it evenly dispersed throughout your precast structures, you end up with a product that is stronger than rebar without the headaches that come with rebar.

Precasters Get it All With Helix Micro Rebar

Time Savings

Less time spent installing reinforcement. This process can be almost entirely removed.

Faster Stripping Times

This allows for more production with the same number of forms.

Engineering Support

At no additional cost, our in-house team can provide stamped designs.

Cost Savings

The purchase price is similar to rebar, but time and labor savings greatly reduce costs per structure.

Less Steel Usage

By cutting rebar, you can use thousands of pounds of less steel in a single vault, helping to make your client’s project more sustainable.

Stronger Structures

Micro Rebar® has been certified by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) and Uniform Evaluation Service (IAPMO-ES).

It all starts with trusting America’s #1 twisted-steel concrete reinforcement, the Helix Micro Rebar.

American Precasters Trust Helix Micro Rebar Micro Reinforcement

Helix Micro Rebar is the go-to secret weapon for precast manufacturers across America, from Nebraska to New York to Wisconsin and beyond.

Panhandle Concrete Products

Using a hybrid design with 30 lb/yd³ of Helix Micro Rebar, the flared ends and box culverts built at Panhandle Concrete Products are engineered to specific loading requirements and fill depths while meeting ASTM and AASHTO standards. 

Each box culvert is constructed of a 7,000 PSI (28 days) concrete mix. This mix has a day-one strength of 3,000 PSI. The seven-day strength is 5,000 PSI.

Read more

A&R Concrete

These inlet basins use 15 lb/yd³ of Helix Micro Rebar in its four-inch-thick sections. This tiny addition makes a big difference in the concrete, with an increase of 192% in shear strength, 30% increase in durability and 21% increase in the modulus of rupture.

Read more

Dalmaray Precast Concrete Products

By adding Helix Micro Rebar steel reinforcement, Dalmaray creates stronger reinforced manholes and reduces hours from the overall manufacturing time.

“The process is just much more efficient with Helix Micro Rebar,” says David Rasmussen, Technical Sales/QC, for precast business Dalmaray Concrete Products in Wisconsin. “We used to have mesh that we would have to cut to the right size, then bend each section using a bender. Then we’d take the four straight pieces and tie each corner in. It took a lot of time.”

Read more

Request Your Helix Micro Rebar Trial Today

We are strong supporters of doing trials of Helix Micro Rebar. We’ll work with your engineering team on the mix design and support a test pour at your facility with ongoing guidance and advice. This is a no-obligation way to see the benefits of Helix Micro Rebar firsthand.

There’s really nothing to lose when you choose our reinforcement except the significant time your team spends building precast structures. 

Download our essential guide on Helix Micro Rebar for precasters to learn more about how Helix Micro Rebar can improve your business in ways you can only imagine.

Documents & Data

Data SheetSpecify HelixEVALUATION REPORTS

Your business may rely on a steady stream of online sales, but it’s your concrete reinforcement that’s holding your physical business together. For that reason, it’s essential to build your next fulfillment center or warehouse with the concrete reinforcement that rules them all: Helix Micro Rebar.

It’s also important to note that the demand for well-built and maintained fulfillment centers and warehouses is rising as the number of people who shop online continues to skyrocket. 

These vast facilities with hundreds of thousands of square feet of floor space require durable, high-performance concrete slabs capable of withstanding heavy loads, high traffic and constant operational pressures.

Why Traditional Concrete Slabs Can’t Handle the Pressure

As you know, concrete slabs in fulfillment centers and warehouses take a beating. They’re exposed to extreme conditions, such as forklifts and pallet racks, and even the construction process itself has issues. Traditional concrete reinforcements, such as rebar and mesh, can be very challenging for your contractor and crew.

• Difficult rebar installation. Designing, installing, tying and working around rebar when placing concrete for large slabs is time-consuming and frustrating, requiring highly skilled labor and precise placement.
• Cracking and Shrinkage. It’s going to happen eventually, but it’s important to delay things as long as possible. Concrete slabs reinforced with rebar or mesh often crack sooner than those reinforced with Helix Micro Rebar.
• Rusty rebar. (Must we say more?) Sitting outside waiting for installation, rebar can corrode, leading to weakened structural performance and eventual slab failure.
• Costly repairs. As cracks form and joints weaken, the cost to do a slab replacement continues to rise. Stopping operations in your busy fulfillment center is not an option.

The Five BIG Ways How Helix Micro Rebar Improves Concrete Slabs in Fulfilment Centers and Warehouses

Here are some of the key ways that Helix Micro Rebar benefits fulfillment centers and warehouses.

Still today, the logistical complexity of ordering, transporting and storing bulky steel rebar means that you need to dedicate significant time, personnel and project coordination, leading to increased project costs. 

Increased Slab Durability

Each piece of Helix Micro Rebar is twisted to keep your concrete together, just like a screw used in two pieces of wood. Since the reinforcement is disbursed throughout the entire slab, weak points are addressed.

Faster Construction

Rebar requires time-consuming installation, but Helix Micro Rebar is simply mixed into the concrete at your batch plant. This reduces onsite construction time and helps to build your slabs faster. 

Long-Term Crack Resistance

Our evenly distributed steel reinforcement reduces shrinkage cracking and improves the slab’s resistance to load-induced cracks. The result is a concrete slab that can handle high traffic and heavy equipment.

Lower Costs on Your Fulfillment Centers and Warehouses

By reducing the amount of rebar and labor required, choosing Helix Micro Rebar lowers your upfront construction costs.

Corrosion-Resistant Concrete Reinforcement

Helix Micro Rebar arrives in convenient cardboard boxes and is not stored outdoors where elements can reduce its effectiveness. Also, unlike traditional rebar, it is corrosion-resistant, even in high-moisture environments, ensuring the longevity of the slab.

Sustainable Development

Let’s reduce the damage we do to our natural environment. Helix Micro Rebar reduces the need for steel by up to 50% compared to traditional rebar reinforcement. Also, its long-lasting performance means fewer repairs and replacements, reducing the environmental impact over its entire lifespan.

Sustainable Development

Let’s reduce the damage we do to our natural environment. Helix Micro Rebar reduces the need for steel by up to 50% compared to traditional rebar reinforcement. Also, its long-lasting performance means fewer repairs and replacements, reducing the environmental impact over its entire lifespan.

Helix Micro Rebar Has Proven Success in Fulfillment Centers and Warehouses

Here are just a few of the thousands of projects that Helix Micro Rebar has been used in.

Distribution Warehouse

Livonia, Michigan

Helix Steel replaced all of the WWM reinforcement for each SOG application with a Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement dosage of 9 lb/yd³.

Learn more

Dynarex Warehouse

Middletown, New York

By utilizing Helix Steel’s design, over 290 tons of steel were eliminated from the new Dynarex Warehouse in Middletown, NY. The original slab was thinned by 1.5″ while the foundation walls were optimized with a 100% replacement of the double layer of rebar.

Learn more

Park Avenue Warehouse – Gamas Customs & Logistics

Larado, Texas

Park Avenue Construction built this 300,000-square-foot logistics center similar to a previous project they had completed for Allied Properties. To ensure the highest efficiency of the slab, Helix Micro Rebar was used at two different doses: 9 lb/yd³ for the parking area and 13.5 lb/yd³ for the drive aisles.

Learn more

You can see many more success stories for warehouses and other applications using our Project Finder.

Build Smarter. Contact Helix Steel.

Interested in learning more about how Helix Micro Rebar will improve so much about your next warehouse or fulfillment center? 

Speak with one of our project managers, and we’ll walk you through the benefits, answer questions and, if you’re still unsure, we’ll work out the logistics to get a test performed based on your dosage and requirements.

It all starts with a no-obligation email right now. If you have specs ready to share and would like an equivalent Helix Micro Rebar dosage, use our Submit a Project form.

If you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past 20 years, you may be delighted to know that the construction industry is pushing toward greener practices. This is great news, as many of the resources that the industry relies on are simply not renewable or are responsible for harm to our natural environment.

Game-changing products are now reaching the minds of contractors, engineers and developers – and approved for use throughout North America – that not only help to make our planet a tad more green but also help those who build the infrastructure humans rely on.

Helix Micro Rebar is such an innovation. It’s a one-inch concrete reinforcement that can reduce hundreds of thousands of pounds of steel in a single concrete slab. The tiny twisted-steel shape is the anti-rebar, the ultimate reinforcement that cuts costs, saves time, and as you could guess by the title of this article, reduces your project’s effects on the environment.

So, what’s the big deal with Helix Micro Rebar, and how does it contribute to a more sustainable America?

The Efficiency is in the Design

Helix Micro Rebar is mixed directly into the concrete prior to placement, providing multi-directional strength and creating a solid composite solution that greatly reduces the need for traditional rebar. 

This ‘tiny’ shift in approach reduces material use, transportation needs and labor costs—all of which contribute to a reduced carbon footprint. 

By improving the tensile strength of concrete, Helix Micro Rebar allows builders to use less material while maintaining high performance, reducing the volume of concrete needed for each project.

Project Highlight: Lake Havasu City Pavement Rehabilitation

Lake Havasu City in Northwest Arizona faces serious issues with its asphalt roads due to the extremely high desert temperatures. Since asphalt temperatures are 40 to 60 degrees hotter than the temperature of the air, damage to roads is frequent, especially in places where vehicles are braking and turning.

Seeking a more durable solution for one road in particular, Lake Havasu City chose Protek Construction to replace straight sections of asphalt with new asphalt, while high-wear-and-tear intersections would be replaced with concrete reinforced with Helix Micro Rebar. 

Each pour included a heavy dosage of 22-1/2 lb/yd of Helix Micro Rebar, ensuring enhanced durability and crack resistance for decades to come.

The switch to Helix Micro Rebar also resulted in a carbon footprint reduction of over 30%!

Doing a job faster and better with Helix Micro Rebar is one thing, but Protek greatly valued working with the Helix Steel professionals who understand the importance of putting their all into every project.
Read more about this fascinating infrastructure project here.

A Concrete Reinforcement That’s More Durable and Lasts Longer

Sustainable construction isn’t just about reducing immediate environmental impacts—it’s about creating structures that last. 

Buildings and infrastructure reinforced with Helix Micro Rebar benefit from superior crack resistance and increased durability, leading to a longer lifespan with less maintenance. 

This reduces the need for repairs and building replacement, further cutting down on resource consumption and waste over the concrete’s life.

Project Highlight: Pier 57 Ferris Wheel

Pier 57 is a Seattle waterfront location that’s favored by tourists and locals. It was lengthened to construct a 156 ft diameter Ferris wheel which opened in 2012. Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement was incorporated into the project design to fully replace the #6 rebar cages inside 53 piles. This application allowed the owner a significant reduction in material and labor cost.

A total of 980 yd³ of concrete was placed by Manson Construction and pumped by Conco Pumping with concrete supplied by Cal Portland of Seattle. There were 23,420 lb of Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement added into the concrete at the batch plant that replaced all of the structural rebar cages.

Check out our project profile to learn more about the Pier 57 Ferris Wheel. 

An American Product That Expedites Construction and Improves Sustainability

The efficiency gained from specifying Helix Micro Rebar goes beyond reducing materials. By eliminating the need for rebar and mesh, concrete projects can significantly cut down on construction time. 

This not only saves labor but also reduces the emissions associated with longer construction schedules—less time on-site means less fuel consumed by machinery and fewer emissions from transportation.

Lower Your Project’s Carbon Footprint

Concrete production is one of the largest contributors to CO₂ emissions in the construction industry. By enabling thinner concrete slabs and reducing your steel reinforcement needs, we will help you to decrease the carbon footprint of your projects.

Implementing a product like this fits nicely with programs that guide and certify the sustainability and environmental performance of your project, like LEED, BREEAM, WELL Building Standard and Green Globes.

Helix Micro Rebar is More Than a Product; It’s a Rethinking of Concrete Innovation

Helix Micro Rebar is more than just a reinforcement product—it’s an essential tool for building a sustainable future through the construction industry.

We can need to do a better job of taking meaningful steps toward a greener, more efficient future. Reach out to Helix Steel to learn more about the benefits of innovative thinking.

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, but it is imperfect, with challenges that only reinforcement can overcome.

Unfortunately, even concrete reinforcement has its challenges! Traditional reinforcement materials, like steel rebar, have been a mainstay for over a century, but they corrode, are difficult to manage and can cost far more than it’s worth.

It’s time for construction professionals (like you!) to embrace an American-made solution that helps improve concrete while simplifying the construction processes.

Let’s explore these challenges and solutions that are embraced by contractors, engineers and developers alike.

Corrosion of Rebar Leads to Concrete Failure

Steel rebar’s main challenge is corrosion, especially when concrete is exposed to moisture and other earthly elements that encourage water penetration, like salt. 

Over time, concrete cracks will form, leading to expensive and inconvenient repairs or even total failure. This is especially certain when contractors use rebar that is already corroding. The bond between concrete and rebar is important, and rust on the surface of the rebar could be damaging. 

Helix Micro Rebar is a one-inch twisted steel reinforcement that is dispersed through concrete. Its design and strength reduce cracks and corrosion. This hands-free reinforcement is stored indoors to reduce water saturation prior to concrete placement.

Rebar Delivery and Installation Delays

If you remember the logistical nightmares of the global pandemic, you understand how securing materials for a project is often the leading cause of headaches. 

Still today, the logistical complexity of ordering, transporting and storing bulky steel rebar means that you need to dedicate significant time, personnel and project coordination, leading to increased project costs. 

Depending on your scope of work, Helix Micro Rebar is often ready for delivery within just a few days and conveniently shipped in compact 45-pound boxes, allowing for faster installation and fewer logistical challenges. 

Helix Micro Rebar not only shortens delivery timelines but also diverts your labor, meaning all of those hours can be spent working on other elements of your project. As a result, your construction project can stay on schedule – or even cut your timeline by weeks!

Rebar Design Complexities

Traditional rebar and mesh are rigid shapes that limit designability. Creating intricate configurations of these reinforcements can be labor-intensive and cause placement errors. 

Since Helix Micro Rebar is disbursed in your concrete prior to placement, there’s often no need to spend extra time on reinforcement – it conforms to even the most stubborn geometries. This allows engineers and architects to enjoy the strength and stability of concrete without rebar complexities.

Concrete Crack Complications

Whatever application concrete is needed in, there’s always the concern that concrete will crack. Sure, it’s a science to reduce concrete cracks, but even in the best-case scenarios, they will eventually happen.

For more than 20 years, America’s concrete slabs, homes, bridges, and even tunnels have been reinforced with Helix Micro Rebar to reduce cracks even under extreme conditions.

Helix Steel’s twisted steel reinforcement resists cracking unlike any other by providing multidirectional support throughout the concrete. This reduces weaknesses and helps distribute loads. For higher loads, dosages can be formulated to increase the amount of Helix Micro Rebar.

Cost Efficiency

If you work in the construction industry, you know that money is the bottom line. Not only does Helix Micro Rebar reduce the need for steel reinforcement, but it also minimizes the amount of concrete and labor needed to complete the project. 

Helix Micro Rebar has resulted in countless savings for developers and contractors seeking to reduce their costs while using a superior product.

Overcome Rebar’s Challenges – Learn More About Helix Micro Rebar

The incredible challenges of concrete reinforcement – whether it’s corrosion, delivery delays, design issues or cracking – require different thinking that improves performance, saves money and reduces complexities for construction leaders like you.

Helix Micro Rebar is the answer to the rebar blues. Check out our recent project profiles, learn more about benefits for your occupation and reach out to our project team to learn more about how we can help on your next project. We are here to help!

The future of humanity’s information and communication is riding on engineers’ ability to design data centers that are constructed wisely and operate efficiently.

Engineers are now thinking more “outside of the box” and recognize the importance of exploring alternatives to the standard processes and materials that their predecessors used.

One such alternative is a tiny, one-inch solution called Helix Micro Rebar. Combined with thousands of others like it, this concrete reinforcement transforms concrete into a solid mass that reduces cracks and has many other efficiencies.

How Does the Helix Advantage Help to Engineer Better Data Centers?

Footings and Slabs That Can Take the Weight

Helix Micro Rebar improves the structural integrity of concrete used in data center construction. Its twisted steel design, dispersed throughout the concrete slabs and footings, offers far better crack resistance and load-bearing capacity than mesh or standard rebar.

For engineers, this means data centers can be built without sacrificing strength, leading to more efficient designs.

Data Center Construction Completed Sooner

As engineers are well aware, time is always a critical factor in data center construciton. By eliminating the need for traditional rebar placement, Helix Micro Rebar allows for faster construction.

Engineers, developers and contractors can have quicker completion times. This also means fewer delays, reduced labor costs and the almost unheard-of ability to meet tight deadlines.

Also expediting the timeline is that Helix Micro Rebar is often added at the ready-mix plant, reducing costs, limiting storage needs and saving valuable time. Clients of Helix Steel say they save one day of construction for every 10,000 square feet of rebar they replace with Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement. In the case of a large data center, those valuable days could expedite the entire project!

Reduced Steel Reinforcement and a Smaller Carbon Footprint

Not only can engineers enjoy a higher-quality concrete solution, but depending on the dosage of Helix Micro Rebar, the shear amount of steel reinforcement will also be reduced.

Traditional rebar contributes to significant carbon emissions during production and transportation. American-made Helix Micro Rebar, with its lower steel requirements, helps engineers to design ‘greener’ data centers that align with sustainability goals.

Engineers designing with sustainability top of mind can use Helix Micro Rebar to help achieve eco-certifications such as LEED and the WELL building standard.

Less Maintenance on Concrete Cracks

Engineers need to have a two-pronged approach to design: consider the needs of today while being proactive in addressing the concerns of tomorrow.

This is especially true for data centers, which must be reliable and cost-effective to maintain. Helix Micro Rebar increases the durability of the concrete, reducing cracking and corrosion. For engineers, this translates into longer-lasting facilities with lower maintenance needs.

Fewer repairs = fewer disruptions = long-term savings!

Data Center Engineers Wanted

Using Helix Micro Rebar in your data center design is an easy approach that supports concrete durability, project efficiency and environmental sustainability. 

If you want to lead the way in building better, stronger and greener data centers, let us know. Even better, register for a lunch and learn – we’ll connect you with a personal presentation best suited for your needs

If you’re in the construction industry, you know about rebar – its good, its bad and its ugly. What you may not know is that there is an all-steel concrete reinforcement that takes much of the “bad” and “ugly” out of the mix.

It’s called Helix Micro Rebar, and as construction projects increase in complexity, cost and time, more industry professionals are relying on this tiny one-inch twisted reinforcement more than ever before.

In the spirit of transparency and friendly competition, here is a comparison outlining the facts and figures on traditional rebar and Helix Micro Rebar. Have a look and see the difference for yourself.

Helix Micro Rebar is an engineered solution that has been trusted for decades to reduce your timeline and costs. Ready to learn more? Let’s dig in.

Comparison Item	Traditional Rebar	Helix Micro Rebar
What is it?	A steel bar that is used to improve concrete strength and structural integrity.	A twisted steel micro reinforcement that is mixed with concrete to create a composite concrete solution with strength.
Size	Diameter from ⅜ inch to 2.257 inches, with lengths up to 60 feet. #8 rebar can be almost three pounds per foot.	Twisted pieces of metal one inch in length and 0.02 inches in diameter. Arrives in 40-pound cardboard boxes.
Installment	Requires manual placement on chairs and tying.	Mixed directly into the concrete batch prior to concrete placement.
Team Support	Few rebar manufacturers have placement support.	Support before, during and after concrete placement.
Labor	Labor is required to store and move rebar, align chairs, place rebar and tie rebar.	Labor is required for minimal rebar placement in specific applications, but otherwise can be used elsewhere onsite.
Strength Performance	Provides strength in specific directions.	Offers strength through every area of the concrete.
Crack Control	Controls cracks along rebar lines.	Distributes crack control throughout the concrete.
Material Cost	Cost is lower but labor costs are high.	Cost may be slightly higher, but labor costs are lower.
Construction Time	Longer due to placement and tying.	Faster as Helix Micro Rebar is mixed into concrete at a batch plant.
Environmental Impact	More waste from cut-offs and overlaps.	Less waste due to uniform mixing. Helix Micro Rebar also reduces the amount of steel required in concrete.
Compatibility with Complex Shapes	Difficult to reinforce complex geometries.	Easily used for any shape due to pre-mixing with concrete.
Transportation & Storage	Requires significant space for transportation and storage.	Easier to transport due to compact packaging and lighter weights. Also, Helix Micro Rebar is only made in America.
Availability	Depends on the needs of the market, with delays of up to weeks.	Ready for delivery in as little as a few days.
Standards and Codes	Well-established in building codes.	Assurance in various applications through the following:  Uniform Evaluation Services ICC-ES

Rethink Reinforcement. Consider Helix Micro Rebar.

Our team is here to show you how we can make concrete better while saving time and money. Trust the product with decades of experience and a team of engineers and product managers backing it up every day across North America.

Move your projects forward with Helix Micro Rebar – contact us today!