TF 206-R-03

TECH FACTS Excellence Set in Concrete

WIRE REINFORCEMENT INSTITUTE ® 942 Main Street • Suite 300 • Hartford, CT 06103 (800) 552-4WRI [4974]

When A Job Calls Out Metric, Soft Convert WWR

What do you do when a job specification calls out both ACI and AASHTO have considered WWR
metric styles of reinforcement but welded wire comparable to rebar for many years, and testing
reinforcement (WWR) is available only in U.S. requirements—i.e., tensile, yield strength at various
customary (inch-pound) styles? strain rates, and bend testing—are similar for both
products. WWR, moreover, adheres to additional
SOFT METRICATE required tests, such as reduction of area (ROA) and
One of the legacies of the decades-old and as-yet wrap and weld shear testing (with 50% of the samples
unrealized attempt to convert the U.S. measuring sys- having the weld in the center of the gage length).
tem to the metric system is that a small percentage of
jobs today specify metric styles of reinforcement. Yet,
even though few if any WWR producers possess the
necessary machinery to meet the metric specification,
this does not preclude taking advantage of the per-
formance and cost benefits of using WWR.
With its greater strength, generally higher ductility, and
significantly lower placing costs, WWR is a highly
practical and cost-efficient alternative to traditional
rebar concrete reinforcement.
WWR may be used in virtually any structural applica-
tion—buildings, bridges, highways, tunnels, pipelines
and precast component systems, for instance—that
typically would rely on rebar to fortify concrete. In fact, Structural WWR sheets in the foreground; base rod material in the background.

COMMON STYLES OF METRIC WELDED WIRE REINFORCEMENT (WWR) WITH EQUIVALENT US CUSTOMARY UNITS3
A1 Metric Styles Wt. Equivalent US A1 Wt
(mm2/m) (MW = Plain wire)2 (kg/m2) Customary Style (in2/ft) (lbs/CSF)
A1 & 4 88.9 102x102 - MW9xMW9 1.51 4x4 - W1.4xW1.4 .042 31
127.0 102x102 - MW13xMW13 2.15 4x4 - W2.0xW2.0 .060 44
184.2 102x102 - MW19xMW19 3.03 4x4 - W2.9xW2.9 .087 62
254.0 102x102 - MW26xMW26 4.30 4x4 - W4.0xW4.0 .120 88
59.3 152x152 - MW9xMW9 1.03 6x6 - W1.4xW1.4 .028 21
84.7 152x152 - MW13xMW13 1.46 6x6 - W2.0xW2.0 .040 30
122.8 152x152 - MW19xMW19 2.05 6x6 - W2.9xW2.9 .058 42
169.4 152x152 - MW26xMW26 2.83 6x6 - W4.0xW4.0 .080 58
B1 196.9 102x102 - MW20xMW20 3.17 4x4 - W3.1xW3.1 .093 65
199.0 152x152 - MW30xMW30 3.32 6x6 - W4.7xW4.7 .094 68
199.0 305x305 - MW61xMW61 3.47 12x12 - W9.4xW9.4 .094 71
362.0 305x305 - MW110xMW110 6.25 12x12 - W17.1xW17.1 .171 128
1
C 342.9 152x152 - MW52xMW52 5.66 6x6 - W8.1xW8.1 .162 116
351.4 152x152 - MW54xMW54 5.81 6x6 - W8.3xW8.3 .166 119
192.6 305x305 - MW59xMW59 8.25 12x12 - W9.1xW9.1 .091 69
351.4 305x305 - MW107xMW107 9.72 12x12 - W16.6xW16.6 .166 125
D1 186.3 152x152 - MW28xMW28 3.22 6x6 - W4.4xW4.4 .088 63
338.7 152x152 - MW52xMW52 5.61 6x6 - W8xW8 .160 115
186.3 305x305 - MW57xMW57 3.22 12x12 - W8.8xW8.8 .088 66
338.7 305x305 - MW103xMW103 5.61 12x12 - W16xW16 .160 120
E1 177.8 152x152 - MW27xMW27 3.08 6x6 - W4.2xW4.2 .084 60
317.5 152x152 - MW48xMW48 5.52 6x6 - W7.5xW7.5 .150 108
175.7 305x305 - MW54xMW54 3.08 12x12 - W8.3xW8.3 .083 63
317.5 305x305 - MW97xMW97 5.52 12x12 - W15xW15 .150 113
1 Group A - Compares areas of WWR at fy = 60,000 psi with other reinforcing at fy = 60,000 psi 2Wires may also be deformed, use prefix MD or D, except where only MW or W is required by building codes (usually
Group B - Compares areas of WWR at fy = 70,000 psi with other reinforcing at fy = 60,000 psi less than a MW26 or W4). Also wire sizes can be specified in 1mm2 (metric) or .001 in.2 (US Customary) increments.
Group C - Compares areas of WWR at fy = 72,500 psi with other reinforcing at fy = 60,000 psi 3For other available styles or wire sizes, consult other WRI publications or discuss with WWR manufacturers.
Group D - Compares areas of WWR at fy = 75,000 psi with other reinforcing at fy = 60,000 psi 4Styles may be obtained in roll form. Note: It is recommended that rolls be straightened and cut to size before placement.
Group E - Compares areas of WWR at fy = 80,000 psi with other reinforcing at fy = 60,000 psi

www.wirereinforcementinstitute.org © Wire Reinforcement Institute, Inc. 2003

 Page 2 • TF 206-R-03

TECH FACTS Excellence Set in Concrete

WIRE REINFORCEMENT INSTITUTE ® 942 Main Street • Suite 300 • Hartford, CT 06103 (800) 552-4WRI [4974]

When specifying WWR in metric styles, convert the

U.S. Equivalent Customary (in-pound) styles to Metric
styles and round to whole numbers. The balance of this
Tech Fact discusses this soft conversion technique
and provides examples.

*Metric wire sizes can

be specified in 1mm2
increments.

**U.S. customary sizes

can be specified in
WWR rolls and bundles of structural sheets ready for shipment. .001 in2 increments.

Note ✩ – For other

available wire sizes,
STRUCTURAL WELDED WIRE REINFORCEMENT METRIC consult other WRI
STYLES (styles with wire areas from MW or MD26 to MW or MD290) Publications or discuss
with WWF manufactur-
will have both wire spacings and wire areas rounded to ers.
whole numbers. Note ★ – Wires may
be deformed, use pre-
BUILDING FABRIC STYLES / METRIC STYLES fix MD or D, except
(styles with wire areas less than MW or MD26), where only MW or W
is required by building
as with the structural WWR styles, wire spacings and codes (usually less
wire areas will be rounded to whole numbers. than MW26 or W4).

Pipe fabric styles and wire sizes will be published in LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
another tech fact. It is important for design professionals, contractors, dis-
EXAMPLES* tributors and fabricators to know they can specify and
1. A typical metric structural WWR style is: order the exact area of steel required for their individual
305 x 305 - MD 71 x MD 71 projects. Therefore, for some time in the future, most
wire sizes will be available in 1 mm2 (.001 in2) increments.
The equivalent inch-pound structural WWR style is:
12 x 12 - D11 x D11 A table of 24 metric wire sizes and properties along with
the equivalent inch-pound units and also a conversion
2. A typical metric building fabric style is: table on WWR styles are reproduced in this tech fact
152 x 152 - MW 19 x MW 19 sheet. The intent of the tables are to have design pro-
The equivalent inch-pound building fabric style is: fessionals begin specifying welded wire styles in 5 and
6 x 6 - W2.9 x W2.9 10 square millimeter increments above an MW or MD
26. Below that size WRI will list the typical standards
Note: Wire spacings are in millimeters (mm) and wire (MW 9, MW 13, MW 19 and MW 26), as well as the
areas are in square millimeters (mm2). The MD (metric) 5mm2 increments in between (MW 10, MW 15, MW 20).
or D (inch-pound) prefixes designate deformed wire.
The MW (metric) or W (inch-pound) prefixes designate In addition to this information WRI has soft converted
plain wire. tables in the current “Manual of Standard Practice for
Structural WWR” (WWF 500), commonly referred to as
To determine sheet sizing, soft convert width of sheets the MSP.
from inches to millimeters and lengths of sheets from
feet to meters. An example is: 2438 mm x 6.1 m equals ADDITIONAL DATA INCLUDED IN THE MSP
96” x 20’ Building fabric rolls are figured similarly, for Along with discussion on nomenclature, manufacturing
example: 1524 mm x 45.7 m equals 60” x 150’ and availability, specifications, handling and placing,
there are these subjects as well:
For mass (weight) calculations use: wire area in mm2 x Design Aids—Tables on cross sectional areas of welded wire
0.00784 = mass (kg/meter). For the inch-pound unit for (51 mm to 457 mm) 2 “ to 18 “ wire spacings are included.
equivalent use: wire area in in2 x 3.4 = weight
(Ibs./foot). Development and Splice Lengths—Tables for wire areas from
MW or MD 26 to MW or MD 290 (W or D 4 to W or D 45).
*Conversion faclors: 25.4 mm = 1 inch, 645 mm2 = 1 Mass (Weight) Calculations—There are tables to determine
inch2, 304.8 mm = I foot. A reminder, the inch-pound metric units (kg per meter) or inch-pound units (Ibs. per foot)
wire areas in the examples are in2 multiplied by 100. for efficient calculations.
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