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 ItemTraditional RebarHelix 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.
SizeDiameter 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.
InstallmentRequires manual placement on chairs and tying.Mixed directly into the concrete batch prior to concrete placement.
Team SupportFew rebar manufacturers have placement support.Support before, during and after concrete placement.
LaborLabor 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 PerformanceProvides strength in specific directions.Offers strength through every area of the concrete.
Crack ControlControls cracks along rebar lines.Distributes crack control throughout the concrete.
Material CostCost is lower but labor costs are high.Cost may be slightly higher, but labor costs are lower.
Construction TimeLonger due to placement and tying.Faster as Helix Micro Rebar is mixed into concrete at a batch plant.
Environmental ImpactMore 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 ShapesDifficult to reinforce complex geometries.Easily used for any shape due to pre-mixing with concrete.
Transportation & StorageRequires 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.
AvailabilityDepends on the needs of the market, with delays of up to weeks.Ready for delivery in as little as a few days.
Standards and CodesWell-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!

Let’s say you will be constructing another great building to support the American economy. Whether the structure is a warehouse, manufacturing facility, retail store or restaurant, you want to be certain that the project will be completed on time so that you can start achieving a return on your investment as soon as possible.

Many project elements are out of your control, but with a little digging, you keen developers learn that rethinking the products your contractor uses will deliver time and monetary savings like never before.

A key product that developers across America are using to achieve this is Helix Micro Rebar. It’s a one-inch twisted piece of metal that is mixed with concrete to provide your project with more benefits than you ever thought possible.

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.

Eliminate up to 100% of Your Rebar Placement Costs

How long does it take to place rebar on a large concrete slab? Far too long! Factor in the enormous amount of time required for laborers to lug, cut, bend and place rebar. You also need to worry about the rebar chairs (plastic or metal rebar supports) and the back-breaking work needed to tie the rebar in place.

Now, think about removing up to 100% of this time, labor and material cost with Helix Micro Rebar. It’s significant and can mean the difference between handing off a building on time or not. 

A New Way to Save Time and Money in Warehouse Construction - Helix Steel 01

A Concrete Reinforcement That’s Faster to Install

Since Helix Micro Rebar is mixed directly with concrete prior to placement, concrete pours can be accelerated by 20%. With the faster installation time and reduction in placement costs, it’s estimated that for every 10,000 sq. ft. of concrete slab, one full day of construction is saved by replacing rebar with Helix Micro Rebar.

One day may not seem like a lot, but it can quickly add up when you’re building a large fulfillment center, manufacturing facility or warehouse. Even one week can be a game-changer when your timeline is already tight and external factors have a tendency to get in the way of a well-executed plan.

Streamlined Concrete Reinforcement Inspections

Through a simplified design process and installation, inspections are easier and quicker to complete than if you were to use rebar or wire mesh. Traditional inspections require in-depth inspection of horizontal placements, chair height and rebar spacing.

Helix Micro Rebar is mixed directly with your concrete so it is evenly distributed to reduce the need for complex pre-placement inspections. This results in a more straightforward inspection with a reduced risk of human error in installing concrete reinforcements.

Increased Productivity in Other Areas of Your Development

Finding great people to work on your project has never been as difficult as it is today. Instead of the best members of your crew working on installing rebar, they can instead be used in other areas of your project, helping to expedite work and helping to finish your development on time and on budget.

Your contractor’s crew can pivot to masonry work, framing, steel wall installation, insulation material application, landscaping and much more.

Safer Construction Sites

With less rebar, a smaller labor force and reduced tripped hazards, your contractor and his crew will have a safer work environment that may even reduce time off due to accidents.

As you can imagine, handling rusty rebar requires many safety precautions. Apart from standard construction site techniques and PPE, heavy rebar can be difficult to move safely across sites and may even require team lifting. Cutting and bending rebar can also result in injury when used improperly.

Choosing Helix Mciro Rebar means that your concrete reinforcement comes in easier-to-carry cardboard boxes, which can be poured directly into concrete. Read more about this safe process here.

Helix Micro Rebar Helps Develops Save Time and Money – Find Out How

It’s not every day that you stumble upon an innovative project that has been used for decades and is proven to save you time and money on every development.

Helix Micro Rebar has more than 20 years of experience in not only keeping concrete together but also in expediting construction schedules and saving money for developers. If you’re interested, don’t stop now. Reach out.

As contractors seek new ways to do more with less while providing superior results, there is one strong reinforcement product that is leading the charge: Helix Micro Rebar.

It’s a small one-inch twisted piece of metal that packs a mighty punch. When mixed with concrete prior to placement, it can create a composite material that is stronger than what any other concrete reinforcement can deliver. 

Here are eight ways that Helix Micro Rebar is leading the way in making concrete stronger, more durable for contractors, developers and engineers throughout North America.

Increases Tensile Strength

As you know, concrete has high compressive strength, but lacks tensile strength. To help out Earth’s mighty construction material, reinforcement is needed. 

Helix Micro Rebar is evenly distributed throughout your concrete to greatly spread out the stress of the concrete and increase tensile strength. It’s an essential part of applications that require higher structural strength and long-term durability.

Improves Crack Resistance

No one likes seeing concrete cracks. When Helix Micro Rebar is mixed with concrete, a network of crack prevention is created to stop cracks at the smallest level.

How does it work? Just like a screw does a better job at keeping wood together than a nail, Helix Micro Rebar’s screw-shaped profile keeps cracks from even starting. 

Creates Multidirectional Reinforcement

Standard concrete reinforcement like rebar and mesh are rigid in the direction that they work, often running either horizontally or vertically. Helix Micro Rebar’s distribution throughout concrete in every direction imaginable helps to ensure that there is uniform strength throughout, withstanding forces at whichever angle they originate.

Reduces Shrinkage Cracking

As concrete cures, reducing shrinkage cracking is a major challenge. Helix Micro Rebar’s unique design helps to mitigate concrete stresses in this crucial stage while also establishing long-term concrete strength.

Helix Steel’s team of engineers is here to help you determine the exact dosage of Helix Micro Rebar for your specific application. This fully engineered approach will reduce shrinkage cracks at no additional cost.

A New Way to Save Time and Money in Warehouse Construction - Helix Steel - Featured

Improves Load-bearing Capacity

Whether you’re constructing a warehouse with Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems or a slab-on-grade concrete parking lot for heavy transport trucks, Helix Micro Rebar’s dose can be customized to deliver reinforcement results that are superior to anything else. 

By creating concrete with more load-bearing capacity, you’re helping to make structures that are safer and require less maintenance.

Enhances Impact Resistance

For concrete applications that may result in significant impacts, like roads, parking structures and industrial facilities, Helix Micro Rebar has been shown to hold concrete together better.

In third-party explosion tests, we have seen Helix Micro Rebar perform far better than rebar. For concrete projects that make an impact, trust us to support you best!

Increases Flexural Strength

Helix Micro Rebar greatly improves concrete’s ability to resist bending forces. This is incredibly useful for applications like slabs on grade, slabs on metal decks, and other concrete elements that have bending stresses. 

For slabs on grade, this means better resistance to heavy loads from heavy equipment and vehicles, reducing the risk of cracks and extending the lifespan of the pavement.

Reduces Concrete Pours

In many applications, Helix Micro Rebar’s benefits in strength and durability allow for a reduction in the amount of concrete required for your project. That means fewer concrete pours, which can significantly cut down on your concrete costs, labor costs and placement timeline. 

Helix Micro Rebar Makes Concrete Stronger – and Much More!

Added strength is just one of the many benefits of Helix Micro Rebar. You also get concrete design services from Helix Steel’s in-house engineering team, delivery to your local batch plant, significant time savings and project cost reductions.

Ready to learn more? Reach out to our American engineering team to talk about your upcoming project and how Helix Micro Rebar helps. 

Whether your civil engineering project needs concrete that withstands stress, can last longer or is more cost-effective, Helix Steel is here to help. 

Civil engineering includes buildings, bridges, dams, towers and other types of concrete infrastructure, such as water supply systems. Civil engineers are here to ensure these structures are safe and functional and have a huge responsibility.

Helix Steel’s Helix Micro Rebar is a concrete reinforcement that is transforming how engineers approach civil engineering challenges. Although only one inch in length, the tiny twisted piece of metal is mixed with concrete to create a long-lasting composite material. 

The Durango-Mazatlán Highway tunnels in Mexico were built in a mountainous area using Helix Micro Rebar in shotcrete applications.

Three Major Benefits of Helix Micro Rebar Reinforcement in Civil Applications

More Durability and Strength

Traditional rebar and mesh result in weak points and can begin to rust even before installation, resulting in corrosion. Helix Micro Rebar, composed of intricately designed twisted steel, is uniformly distributed throughout the concrete, providing a more uniform reinforcement. 

This distribution, combined with the twisted steel, significantly reduces cracks and greatly increases the tensile strength of the concrete, making structures like concrete bridges and roads more durable.

Increased Construction Process Efficiency

Mixing Helix Micro Rebar with concrete at the batch plant prior to delivery to the construction site helps reduce site complications and reduces the time spent placing and tying rebar

This simplified option reduces labor on this aspect, which allows them to be better spent on other elements of the project. Depending on the application, there could be additional efficiency gained by placing less concrete and finishing the project aspect sooner.

Reduced Construction Costs

Pivoting your crew to work on other tasks instead of tying rebar will reduce your labor costs.  On average, every 10,000 sq. ft. of rebar/mesh replaced with Helix Micro Rebar saves one full day of construction.

Depending on the size of your civil engineering project, the savings can be a game-changer, and help to give your business a step ahead in the bidding process, while others can’t compare.

Civil Engineering Case Studies

Route 76 Bridge

Cape Fair, Missouri

In Cape Fair, Missouri, the bridge over Table Rock Lake, built in 1957 and carrying more than 4,000 vehicles daily, was in desperate need of repair.

Precast panels were designed to replace the main sections of the bridge. A combination of FasTrac rapid-setting concrete and Helix Micro Rebar reinforcement was used to provide connections between each precast panel. The concrete was mixed on-site in ½-yard batches with a barge being used to safely install the precast panels over the Lake below.

Read more about the Route 76 Bridge

Metro Transit Authority tunnel

Metro Transit Authority East Side Access Tunnel

Manhattan, New York

The Metro Transit Authority’s East Side Access project was the nation’s largest public transportation project and the first expansion of the Long Island Rail Road in more than 100 years. It connects the rail line via underground tunnels to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Helix Steel provided Helix Micro Rebar for cast-in-place tunnel lining and shotcrete applications.

Read more about the East Side Access Tunnel

Lake-Havasu-City

Lake Havasu City Pavement Rehabilitation

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Lake Havasu City in Northwest Arizona faces serious issues with its asphalt roads due to the extremely high desert temperatures. 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.

Read more bout the pavement rehabilitation

Civil Engineers Trust Helix Micro Rebar

It’s time that you consider alternatives to rebar and mesh to make your civil engineering projects more efficient, whether they are roads, dams, towers or bridges.

Take a moment to read more detailed case studies and then reach out to Helix Steel’s in-house engineers to maximize your civil engineering project today. 

Engineers at EPC/Design-Build firms have plenty on their minds. Think of all the regulations, potential project delays, cost overruns, contractual disputes, and the constant need to satisfy ever-demanding clients.

It’s about time suppliers come around to make their work lives easier. Enter Helix Steel, which is helping to make things better and easier for EPC/Design-Build firms.

Reinforcement for Duct Banks and Pipe Encasements

You’ve already made the decision to build smarter by encasing your pipes in concrete, which makes new cable installation faster and less expensive. Now it’s time to take the next step.

Our patented micro reinforcement is the perfect concrete reinforcement for below-grade applications. Helix Micro Rebar is a one-inch twisted piece of steel mixed with concrete in a mixer before placement. This innovation can remove up to 100% of your rebar from duct banks, pipe encasements, and many other concrete structures, saving you time, reducing steel, and lowering your project costs..

Why Do Duct Banks and Pipe Encasements Need Reinforced Concrete?

In most cases, concrete provides the most stable and durable environment for keeping pipes and the fragile cables within them safe.

Not only does concrete help prevent extreme cold and hot temperatures from damaging the contents, but it also provides additional strength to the PVC pipes and corrosion resistance.

What does that mean for owners? It results in less maintenance, higher durability and reduced downtime.

How to Install Duct Banks and Pipe Encasements with Concrete (Infused With Helix Micro Rebar)

This task involves surrounding your underground utilities with a layer of concrete, forming a protective barrier that increases the contents’ durability and longevity.

  1. Dig the trench
  2. Install the PVC pipes and necessary spacers or racks
  3. Build the concrete forms
  4. Mix Helix Micro Rebar with your concrete (as per the instructions Helix Steel provides)
  5. Place the concrete (with the concrete reinforcement)
  6. Allow to set
  7. Remove the concrete forms
  8. Cover the trench

Sure, it’s more complex than this simplified list, but we hope this will help you determine the steps to properly install these systems and ways you can reduce the time it takes to make it happen.

Learn More About Encasing Your Duct Banks and Pipe Encasements

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to understanding more effective ways to install your below-grade concrete.

And keep in mind that Helix Micro Rebar can be used in these and many more applications, such as slabs, slabs on metal decks, ICF walls, and more. Reach out to our team right now and we’ll help answer any questions you may have.

Before you submit a bid proposal, you need to spend considerable time making your submission as thorough as possible, with details that will help you win the work.

Suppliers and subcontractors like your own need to balance cost efficiency, quality, speed, innovation, environmental consciousness, and much more. Even a small adjustment on one line item can make or break the entire submission.

Having worked with thousands of North America’s leading developers, engineers, and contractors over an endless list of projects, Helix Steel has developed a comprehensive list of ways to make your submission stand out from your competitors.

Here are some recommendations:

1. Understand the Project Requirements

The most important thing is to carefully review all of the documentation to ensure that you’re not missing important details for the project. Understanding the project requirements is crucial to ensuring that you put together the best submission possible.

If you have questions about the project, don’t be afraid to ask! A project built on ambiguities can make a simple task into a never-ending nightmare.

2. Include Accurate Cost Control Measures

Although pencil and paper still have their place in the world, using estimating software helps to ensure accuracy in costs and timing related to materials, labor and equipment.

Use data from past projects and rely on data given to you by your suppliers. A time-saving addition like Helix Micro Rebar can help reduce shipping costs and labor requirements and condense your construction timeline, reducing costs on your bottom line. 

Although Helix Micro Rebar is often ready to ship in just a matter of days, many other project supplies may not be. For that reason, it’s still important to make a contingency plan and cover potential cost overruns in other areas of the project.

3. Competitive Pricing Strategies

The most challenging part of any construction bid submission, whether it is a construction tender, bid, RFP, RFQ or pre-qualification documentation, you need to break down your costs to show the value that the developer is getting, while also ensuring you make money on the project. 

For this reason, every estimator should consider alternative materials or methods to reduce costs without compromising quality. In the case of concrete projects, Helix Micro Rebar can not only reduce costs and shrink your timeline, but it can also help give your concrete more strength than if you were to use only rebar. 

4. Include Relationships with Like-Minded Subcontractors

You have likely worked in this industry for a long time. Highlight your past and current relationships with suppliers, other subcontractors, developers and engineers who appreciate your business and work with you to make projects exceptional experiences.

5. Emphasize Project Efficiency

In today’s construction industry, which is focused on working smarter than ever before, it’s important to incorporate lean construction practices to reduce waste and help the project last longer. 


You can also include how modern technology like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and project management apps can be used by your team. However, as these technologies become more common, it’s becoming more important to focus on truly unique technologies that make your submission stand out.

6. Focus on Safety

The most important part of any job site is safety, so including how you plan to make job sites safer with safety protocols to minimize accidents and ensure a safe working environment will only help your case.

Focusing on safety also makes business sense. It will reduce lost-time incidents, reduce insurance costs and help to promote productivity.

7. Stand Out With Innovative Practices & Products

Alternatives to Rebar Concrete Reinforcement - Helix Steel - Featured Image

Take a look around you. Your competitors are doing things that were not possible just a few years ago. That means you too need to stay on top of innovation in the construction industry and dig deep into new practices and products that are tried, tested and true. 

Helix Steel’s innovative concrete reinforcements have been around, and have been used in some amazing structures. Not only do some of the world’s biggest brands trust Helix Micro Rebar, but it helps to make buildings stronger and more durable while reducing our dependent on steel. 

Stay updated with the latest construction technologies by joining webinars, subscribing to e-newsletters (at the bottom of our home page), visiting our LinkedIn page and talking with like-minded professionals.

Trust Helix Steel to Help You Stand Out With Your Construction Bid

Whether you’re responding to construction tenders, bids, RFPs, RFQs or pre-qualification documentation, trust Helix Micro Rebar and the team at Helix Steel to improve your chances of getting the work that helps to grow your business and build smarter than ever before.

Reach out to our project team members to help you understand much more about the Helix Micro Rebar difference.

If you want concrete to perform its duties to the fullest, you must not only specify correctly, but you have to follow the specifications exactly as presented.

While using rebar as a reinforcement is a familiar method, there are significant short—and long-term issues when modern alternatives are not chosen. Mistakes can happen and depending on the job site they can be far too frequent.

Here are just a few common mistakes to avoid when specifying concrete reinforcement to ensure its 100% effectiveness for many years to come.

Incorrect Structural Design

An engineer’s structural design must take into account the absolute maximum load, including dead loads, live loads, wind loads and seismic loads. The best concrete designs ensure that a structure can handle high stress without failure, which is why trusting a qualified structural engineer to develop a comprehensive design (meeting all codes and standards) is essential.

For those seeking the convenience and knowledge found in pre-approved structural reinforcement designs, trust the engineering team at Helix Steel. We have decades of experience in designing Helix Micro Rebar for a wide range of concrete applications.

Wrong Concrete Reinforcement Materials Specified

Using the incorrect rebar or mesh can compromise the integrity of the entire concrete structure. As you know, rebar comes in various grades, each with different yield strengths. Added to this complexity is that rebar is often stored outdoors and subjected to harsh elements over long periods of time, resulting in corrosion, which is one of the leading causes of deterioration in concrete.

If you are seeking an alternative, let Helix Steel help with its screw-shaped reinforcement that’s coated to reduce corrosion. Helix Micro Rebar can increase fatigue resistance by up to 300% and flexural strength by up to 33%

Improper Rebar Placement

Designs are essential, but if rebar or mesh is placed incorrectly, the concrete will not perform as intended. Whether there is not enough time built into the schedule, an inexperienced crew, or distractions, the reasons for placement errors are endless. Common errors include incorrect horizontal/vertical placement, insecure rebar ties and misalignment, and are seemingly always issues that need to be addressed when using mesh and rebar.

Take time to review specifications and communicate effectively to ensure placement errors are minimized.

Inadequate Concrete Cover

Concrete cover protects mesh and rebar from environmental factors that can cause deterioration. Without the right cover, your concrete will have issues

You can follow the minimum cover requirements specified in the design codes and hope things turn out in your favour or you could trust a tiny twisted reinforcement that is mixed with concrete to create a composite concrete solution. With the second option, you don’t need to worry about the concrete cover as the reinforcement is evenly dispersed throughout the concrete.

Skipping Detailing Requirements

If your detailing is not precise and completed by a qualified engineer, you could have specifications that do not fully describe instructions on the size and placement of rebar or mesh.

Helix Micro Rebar has pre-approved specifications for many standard applications, including slabs and walls, that can be accessed through Helix Steel’s own online Specification Tool. This helps to reduce the threat of mistakes since these exact specifications have been used countless times before. Simply following the instructions will reduce construction errors and structural deficiencies.

Another bonus when using Helix Micro Rebar is that we have a team of project managers and in-house engineers who work with you to ensure every step of the concrete placement process goes smoothly.

Improper Rebar Support During Concrete Placement

Reinforcement bars and mesh require support to maintain their position and alignment during concrete placement. Adequate bar supports, such as chairs and spacers, must be used to hold the rebar in the correct position, or the longevity of the concrete will be greatly reduced. (Unless you use Helix Micro Rebar of course.)

Improper Rebar Support During Concrete Placement

Helix Steel is always striving to make changes when it comes to code – to move the industry forward. More people than ever are realizing that ICF is the future, with some American school districts choosing to exclusively build with ICF. And Helix Micro Rebar is playing a big role in making this happen.

Lack of Placement Coordination

Communication is a key unsung hero in any concrete placement project. Being able to confirm information quickly and efficiently with designers, contractors and construction workers is vital to every project’s success.

Coordination issues often lead to mistakes and delays, and create an unhealthy work environment. Be sure to have frequent meetings and clear communication on specifications, approvals, site safety, trade coordination, concrete placement and finishing.

Reduce Placement Errors & Make Concrete Better With Helix Micro Rebar

Together, let’s do what we can to avoid mistakes. Many of those you just read can be avoided simply by changing a key material in your project: concrete reinforcement.

Helix Micro Rebar’s pre-specified designs and team to assist you throughout the process certainly help to reduce errors and create a better end product. It starts with better specifications, created by Helix Steel and code-approved in many structural applications throughout North America.

Reach out to our project management teams to learn more about Helix Micro Rebar and how our team of professionals is passionate about moving the concrete industry forward.