Introduction to BauGrid®

BauGrid® Reinforcement, also known as BauGrid®  Welded Reinforcement Grid (WRG™) is used as lateral or transverse reinforcement in lieu of conventional ties, cross-ties, hoops or stirrups in concrete structures. It is manufactured from high strength cold-drawn steel wire conforming to ASTM A82. It is manufactured in accordance with ASTM A185 from wire of 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" & 3/4" diameters within a tolerance of +/- 1/8" (3mm).

BauGrid® Reinforcement is a proprietary product patented in Canada, EU, Japan and the United States (US Patent No. 5,218,809 & 5,392,580).

Introduction to Delta Building Systems

Our company, Delta Building Systems (DBS) has an exclusive license from BauTech to manufacture and distribute BauGrid® in North America and Asia. DBS has custom designed and invested in all of its equipments, using the latest technology. Currently 6-250KVA welding systems are in operation in Asia with an annual capacity of over 4000 tons.

Our facility is audited by Smith Emery Laboratories of Los Angeles on a quarterly basis.  DBS’ contract manufacturing associates and suppliers have been selected through rigorous evaluation. They maintain the highest levels of experience and qualification in the welded wire industry and meet or exceed standards set out by ICC, ISO and BauTech.

DBS intends to increase its annual production capacity in Asia by setting up new centers in Shanghai, China;  Mumbai, India;  and Manila, Philippines. In addition, DBS is in the process of establishing new contract manufacturing centers in North America.

BauGrid & Concrete Construction

BauGrid® is in compliance with the latest building codes in the United States, in accordance with the ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-2352. This report is widely recognized and accepted by Structural Engineers and Building Departments in the U.S., as well as other countries, such as Canada, Mexico, Philippines, UAE, and Costa Rica.  For over 15 years BauGrid® has been used as transverse reinforcement in shear walls, columns and beams of many mid and high rise concrete structures. It has proven to be a reinforcing solution that can both improve structural performance and constructability.

Particularly with respect to Seismic engineering, there have been a number of studies and papers written that indicate the importance of reliable ductility in the design of earthquake resistant reinforced concrete structures. On that point, there are a number of tests undertaken which show reinforcement with BauGrid® have significantly increased ductility of the concrete structures as compared to reinforcement with conventional ties, stirrups and hoops. 

From an Environmental and Economical standpoint, a single BauGrid® manufactured with high strength steel, replaces several ties, stirrups and hoops, reducing the quantity and weight of steel required to achieve the engineer’s design goal.  By eliminating the end hooks and overlaps in conventional ties, stirrups and hoops, and by using the higher strength material, a 20 to 50% reduction in material weight can be achieved.    

From a Constructability perspective, the pre-fabricated, accurate, fixed and uniform nature of the layers of transverse reinforcing inherent to BauGrid®, results in a reduction of labor required to assemble and install the rebar cages. The "cork-screwing" of cages in the field is all but eliminated with the use of BauGrid®, reducing crane time required for installation of cages.

BauGrid Projects and Approvals

The recently completed 60-story Millennium Tower in San Francisco, the tallest reinforced concrete structure in California, set several milestones for BauGrid® application, such as the use of the product with High Strength 10ksi (70MPa) Concrete. Also, this is the highest structure with BauGrid® in the most severe Seismic region, as of to date.

BauGrid® provides a solution to an increasingly common constructability issue for heavily congested concrete structures. The taller the structure, the more reinforcement required by code, and the more applicable the BauGrid® is as a reinforcing solution. 

BauGrid® has been approved for use in California with projects constructed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, Oakland and Daly City.  It has also been approved and used in projects across the U.S., i.e. Phoenix (AZ), Eugene (OR), Long Island (NY) and Kauai, (HI).  It has also been approved by Dubai Municipality, Dubai, UAE (Middle East).

Testimonials

BauGrid has an established clientele of Specialty Sub-Contractors, General Contractors, Engineers, Architects and Owner/Developers. Within each of these industry echelons, there are advocates of the BauGrid system and testimonials of the benefits of implementing the system:

• The rebar subcontractor benefits reduction of time and labor in rebar cage assembly and installation.
• The concrete subcontractor benefits by reduction of time and labor during form installation and concrete placement due to uniform and fixed cages and reduction in rebar congestion that allows for easier vibrator access. The improved vibration access reduces "honeycombing" which in turn reduces the need for patching.
• The general contractor benefits by lower crane time and improved schedule adherence.
• By incorporating the system at the design phase, the engineer and architect can benefit by increasing their design flexibility and controlling their owners cost of construction.
• The owner benefits by increased construction speed and thus earlier tenant occupancy. In the event of an earthquake there are indications that an owner will also benefit from reduced repair costs under such seismic stress.