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