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.

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

As the world continues to increase its digital footprint and generate content, data centers (also known as server farms and data warehouses) are essential to North America’s technological infrastructure.

Engineers are entrusted to design these mammoth facilities and take on countless challenges to not only exceed the needs of the future but also do so with innovation and sustainability.

Helix Steel is well aware of its critical role in eco-conscious construction and continues to promote its evolutionary product, Helix Micro Rebar™, as an integral part of new North American data centers through a tiny twisted idea.

Innovating Data Centers With Structural Superiority

Conventional concrete reinforcement options often fall very short when it comes to meeting the requirements of data centers. In the case of rebar, concrete cracks are often the norm and installation is complex and time-consuming.

Helix Micro Rebar™ is a groundbreaking solution that literally inhibits groundbreaking like no other concrete reinforcement. Its tiny twisted design does far more to keep concrete from cracking, increasing fatigue resistance by up to 300% and flexural strength by up to 33%.

The Product to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint

Data centers consume vast amounts of energy, contributing significantly to carbon emissions. Reputable engineers reduce our carbon footprint by finding new ways to design and construct slabs, metal decks, foundations, duct banks, generator/transformer pads, and pavements.

Helix Micro Rebar™ aligns perfectly with these sustainability goals. By enhancing the strength and durability of concrete, Helix Micro Rebar™ reduces the amount of rebar and total steel required for reinforcement, resulting in lower carbon emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.

Accelerated Construction Timelines

Time is of the essence in the fast-paced world of data center development, whether it’s at the design stage or construction stage. Delays can translate into significant financial losses and missed opportunities. 

With Helix Micro Rebar™, engineers can expedite construction timelines while increasing the final product’s quality and removing safety hazards from rebar removal.

The weeks of rebar installation saved on a single building allow data centers to become operational sooner, thereby accelerating return on investment (ROI) for developers.

Throughout operations of the data center, owners will experience improved durability and concrete longevity, translating into long-term cost savings, further bolstering ROI.

The Concrete Reinforcement that Embraces Innovation for Data Centers

If you want to stay ahead of the curve in data center innovation, you need to constantly think of ways to improve every aspect of construction. 

Helix Micro Rebar™ is the industry shift to better strength, durability and sustainability. Sure you can continue to work with old, rusty rebar that accepts cracks and installation frustrations, or you could also do something different for the betterment of every aspect of your project. 

There has never been a better time to consider the alternative than today.

Data Centers’ Future is Solid with Concrete Reinforced with Helix Micro Rebar™

Helix Micro Rebar™ is a game-changer for engineers who want to build data centers with innovation, sustainability, speed and efficiency. 

With the power of the tiny, twisted Helix Micro Rebar™ concrete reinforcement, engineers can do more.

Plus, it has never been easier for engineers to specify Helix Micro Rebar™ in their drawings. That’s why we’re introducing Helix Steel’s free Specification Tool. With frequently asked questions answered, a quick start guide, application guides and technical references, you can start specifying the better way to build today.

Helix Steel’s sales and engineering team can even look at your project design and suggest an alternative for you to fully understand the significant value of Helix Micro Rebar™. Simply submit your project details here, and we will follow up shortly.