Folks,

Want to hear from "real world" people with the use of Helix.  Minimizing steel certainly improves the pour.

Thanks,

Leonard

This was discussed here.

http://www.greenbuildingtalk.com/Forums/tabid/53/forumid/4/postid/28466/view/topic/Default.aspx

IK2- Pouring a Helix job either late this week or next. Will report our experience.

Dave

I'm very interested in this product also. I read the other thread with interest. Is this product approved by code by not using rebar, just the helix? I don't think this was mentioned on that thread.

If you do a search on this forum for Structural fibers, Macro fier, or just fibers in general, you will se discussions as far back as 2002.
Specific discussions and product evaluation in 2004
Macro fibers are aviable productbut, alas, just like rebar they must be used in a pertinent manner.
look also at LINK

Poured 48 yds. with 15lbs. Helix jper yard for six inch core basement walls today in Wyoming temperatures. Form used was one of our "top three" favourites.

Helix engineering papers were sufficient for the initially very skeptical Building Inspector to review, ask a few questions, then approve. Helix was professional enough to make the homeowner feel confident also. We have decided the client will always know and approve our use of fiber reinforcement as an option vs. conventional steel rebar.
Delivery of Helix was on time and shipping was fairly well coordinated for a first encounter. For reference, Helix stated that they operate on a substantial ordering lead time so be sure to order plenty of time- ideally 4 weeks -in advance of your needs. (In the future, I'd hate for someone else to get my order because they need it "yesterday"....)

A basement with 30 corners, 4 t- intersections, step footings and 3 windows poured easily and effectively. The first clue was "the sound" during the pour, it is much quieter without rock rattling off rebar. Higher visibility of concrete flow in the cavity also resulted. Its always nice to pour from the "bottom up" and a straight shot to the bottom of the walls makes this even more easily possible.
Internal consolidation was a breeze without any steel in the way.
At the end of the pour, there was only two "clumps" of fiber beside the pump that were pulled off the pumps' screen. They were each about the size of a smaller cell phone. I pour with a flexible hose, and did not feel any clumps coming through it, nor were any bouncing off webs....Evidence of the fiber in the mix was immediately seen in each truck's load (or felt if you grabbed a handleful and squeezed, cotton gloves are not the best)
It would seem the concrete doesn't "flow" with quite the same viscosity, and needs more water/other to flow as we usually see it with the same mix, but the verdict is not out on this, we'll address this specifically on the next round and do some research in the meantime. Because yes, we will use it again...
It would seem there is less form pressure using Helix also, as the 4 T intersections had no zip ties, wire, or other to keep them in place. First we pour through the T, then later come back and pour each intersecting wall into the the T. The back side of the T's were double turnbuckled though as we use aluminum strongbacks that will flex under the pressure of a one sided form..... We also had 4 "off angles" about 65 degrees, which were custom formed and poured without much additional shoring. They poured excellent.
One of the guys commented on how hard the odd "clumps" of concrete were to break up in comparison to "normal" concrete. (These clumps were the small splashes/clumps here and there on the edges of the ICF wall.

Hope this helps abit,
Kevin

Kevin, glad to hear you poured ahead of us. We have about 4k in rebar to burn up and have only had a few starts in Dec that where under 9' with 8" walls that didn't work out as far as cost comparison. We still feel this is the only way to go and hope to burn up that steel soon so we can try it.

I'm glad to hear things went good so far and we can't wait to pour soon ourselves. Keep in touch!

Dave

Thanks for sharing the pour experience with helix!. Looks like it works well with flatwork as well.

LINK


Bunt

Kevin,

So would you use it again? Seems like a big step forward for ICF construction.

Leonard

I'm still trying to get an engineer here in CA to give me the go ahead and reduce steel with this stuff, but can't seem to find one who will give me a straight answer or should I say the answer I want, which is to go ahead. Anyone have experience on the west coast with this product?

Kevin,

Thanks for the report. Couple follow-on questions.

How are walls fastened to footings? (The conventional answer is vertical rebar ... did you make those go away too?)

Did you embed any conduit or other interferences in the wall?

Leonard:
Yes, we will use it again, unless someone can convince me the science is not there to continue using it....So far I am convinced, and we are sure the clients are aware of its use before I utilize the fibers...In the past, my personal experience is that other fiber manufacturers have not seemed to want to pursue the ICF market, but is has been a refreshing experience with Helix to date, also the willingness of our ready mix to store and add the fibers as needed.

Budden: We had dowells from the footer to tie into the walls, as we normally do, as per ACI 318...Sometimes we use a keyway.

We did not embed any conduit or interferences in this job.

I stripped a few sections today in different areas of the wall, consolidation is excellent, even where we had a "dry" load.

Cleaning up small clumps/splatters sure seems to be a lot more of a pain...(I know, there shouldn't be any "splatters")

Thinking about it, I think it makes sense for the mix design to require more viscosity to actually "flow" because the fibers will naturally resist the tendency for the concrete to fall, or flow. But I'm not yet a mix designer, hopefully those with more experience can shed some information on this area....

The fibers will attach themselves to a magnet, I just checked for interest sake.

Kevin