16th July 2020

To All HSA Business Associates                                                              

We have recently become aware that products competing with Helix™ Micro-Rebar are attempting to enter the Australian market.

The Helix™ Micro-Rebar was originally developed for the US Military and has undergone a vast array of scientific, technical, quality control and field testing for more than 20 years.

The Helix™ Micro-Rebar has been used by our customers in virtually every type of commercial and domestic concrete project in Australia and around the world.

We are proud to say that our Helix™ Micro-Rebar is renowned for its dependability in the market and has an outstanding industry reputation with engineers, developers, builders, contractors, concrete supply companies, concreters and government agencies.

The Helix™ 

Micro-Rebar exceeds the requirements of Australian Standard 3600:2018, and is manufactured to our rigorous quality control specifications.  This process is unique to the Helix™ Micro-Rebar and has consistently proven to result in products of the highest possible standard.

When considering the concrete reinforcement options for your projects, we strongly recommend that you undertake a thorough assessment of the suitability and adequacy of any competing products.  For the best possible outcome, do not accept anything less than the time-tested excellence delivered by the Helix™ Micro-Rebar.

If you have any concerns or comments please feel free to contact us at any time at https://helixsteel.com.au/contact-us/.

Helix set to cause a revolution in reinforcing writes the HIA

The HIA likened Helix Micro-Rebar to a ‘REINFORCING REVOLUTION’ in its May 2016 issue of their Housing magazine. The article provides a snapshot of the development of this engineered, discontinuous reinforcing system. Helix is a revolution in reinforcing structural concrete with a proven track record in commercial construction and mining. This revolution in reinforcing is now set to provide significant benefits in the residential construction sector.

A “real game changer”

The article outlines how engineers can specify Helix as a replacement for conventional reinforcing steel in residential construction projects, starting with footings and including slabs and walls, making it a “real game changer”.

Using a smaller volume of steel has a number of benefits for a project, both from an economic and environmental perspective

Revolution in reinforcing and the BCA

The article concludes by illustrating how this revolution in reinforcing complies to the building codes of Australia.

HIA Housing magazine    or    Click here to download the article in full

Residential project examples

Engineers embrace the ‘revolution in reinforcing’

Engineers have specified Helix in a wide array of residential building projects. From pools to footings, slabs on grade to walls, suspended slabs to stairs; there is not a single application where Helix has not replaced the conventional reinforcing to reduce costs and expedite construction timelines.

Contractors find it easy to work with

Contractors appreciate this revolution because they are not spending their time placing reinforcing mesh and rebar. They are also pleasantly surprised how easy it is to place Helix reinforced concrete. This includes a range of finishes, from non-slip to highly burnished.

Builders derive efficiencies

The benefits of adopting Helix designs in their building projects allow builders to:

• reduce congestion on-site,
• eliminate reinforcing steel waste,
• limit the number of costly truck deliveries,
• increase the green credentials of their projects, and
• avoid future warranty claims because Helix makes concrete stronger.

Visit our ‘Residential Development’ page for more details

PRESS RELEASE – CONCRETE 2015 CONFERENCE

Helix Steel is proud to announce that our paper titled “Twisted Steel Micro-Reinforcement: Proactive Micro-Composite Concrete Reinforcement” will be presented at the Concrete 2015 Conference in Melbourne on Monday August 31st at 2.20pm

Read the full Press Release HERE

The full paper can be downloaded from the ‘Technical Information‘ page

Twisted Steel Micro-Reinforcement: Proactive Micro-Composite Concrete Reinforcement

Shopping Centre uses Helix Micro-Rebar:

The Broken Hill Plaza Shopping Centre utilised Helix Micro-Rebar for the structural concrete instead of conventional steel reinforcing.

Hutchinson Builders approached Helix to provide alternative designs for the structural concrete elements of this shopping centre. Because of its remote location, construction costs were of a particular concern, especially transporting steel reinforcement and using concrete pumps.

The Helix alternative designs allowed for the concrete to be chuted straight from the agitator trucks, eliminating the need for concrete pumps. The slabs could be completed with a highly burnished finish and were subsequently polished and lacquered.

Helix’s Victorian Agent worked with the concrete supplier, Mawsons, training and certifying their batch plant operators in the adding Helix Micro-Rebar to their concrete mixes.

ANCR Issue – April 2014 – Broken Hill Plaza Shopping Centre – Helix Feature

or

ANCR Issue - April 2014 - Broken Hill Plaza Shopping Centre - Helix Feature

Helix Micro-Rebar – Code Compliant:

Making it Code Compliant, Helix Steel recently earned IAPMO’s Uniform Evaluation Service (UES) Evaluation Report ER-279 on Helix 5-25 Micro-Rebar. This report accredits Helix Micro-Rebar 5-25 and its design method under ISO Guide 65 for use as an alternative to conventional rebar and wire mesh in concrete. Helix Micro-Rebar 5-25 is the only code compliant discontinuous concrete reinforcement product in the world that now has a ISO certified design manual that can be followed to design vertical applications (such as walls) with Helix as the primary concrete reinforcement.

ER-279 opens up more than 99 countries worldwide for the immediate use and design with Helix due to the MLA/MRA agreements in place under IAF (International Accreditation Forum). It recognizes Helix 5-25 Micro-Rebar under the 2009 and 2012 revisions of the International Building Code® (IBC), International Residential Code® (IRC) and 2011 ACI 318 concrete code. ER-279 documents the substantiating data provided as evidence that Helix 5-25 Micro-Rebar satisfies applicable code compliant requirements. This allows for the specification of Helix 5-25 Micro-Rebar by architects, contractors, and designers, and approval of installations by code officials. It also provides code officials with a concise summary of the product’s attributes and documentation of code compliance.

“With ER-279, building code officials have peace of mind that Helix 5-25 has been fully reviewed as an acceptable alternative to traditional reinforcement in concrete design; this accreditation is great validation for Helix, and a significant advantage for the market,” said Luke Pinkerton, Helix president. “Helix is a cost-effective, durable and easy-to-use alternative to conventional rebar and wire mesh. Having ER-279 assures engineers, code officials and others that they can rely on Helix for their concrete structures.”

Products recognized under UES have successfully undergone evaluation based on applicable requirements within the International Family of Codes, as well as codes published by other entities. UES staff thoroughly examined Helix 5-25 Micro-Rebar product information, test reports, calculations, quality control methods and other factors to ensure the product was code compliant.

The UES program is built upon IAPMO’s more than 70 years of experience in evaluating products for code compliance. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the program operates under ISO/IEC Guide 65, “General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.”

UES technical director Brian Gerber, PE, SE, explained why Uniform Evaluation Reports are so valuable: “Helix can now reference its ER-279 on Helix 5-25 Micro-Rebar to ensure that code officials quickly have the information, from a trusted third-party source, necessary for their quick decision on approval.”

Read the Full IAPMO Uniform ES Evaluation Report ER-0279 HERE

Read the Full Press Release from PRNewswire HERE