GABIONS consist of rectangular units, fabricated from a double-twisted hexagonal mesh. Filled with stones, gabions become large, flexible and permeable elements from which a broad range of structures may be built. Gabions and mattresses are widely used for hydraulic and geo- technical control such as retaining walls, riverbank protections, weirs, channel linings etc.

GABIONS are divided into cells with diaphragms (usually spaced at 1 meter or 3’ intervals), whose function is to reinforce the structure. The mesh (except for the diaphragms) is reinforced on all edges with wires of a larger diameter to strengthen the gabions and facilitate the assembly and installation.

INTERNATION STANDARD TO FOLLOW:
ASTM 975 standard:
Style 1  galvanzied wire as per ASTM A 641, class 3 soft temper
Style 2  style 1 and overcoated with PVC
Style 3   Zn-5Al-MM coated wire as per ASTM A 856

EN 10223-3 standard:
Galvanzied wire meets EN 10244-2 and old BS 443
Tensile strength between 420N/mm2 and 500N/mm2 according to EN 10218-2

TOLERANCES:
On the hexagonal, double-twisted wire mesh opening shall not exceed ±10% on the nominal dimension
D values (see figure), as follows:

Mesh Type	Nominal Dimension D Values
8 x 10	83mm (3.25 in.)

Table 1 mesh characteristics

Characteristics	Gabion
	Metallic coated	PVC coated
Mesh type opening	8 by 10 83 by 114 mm(3.25 by 4.5 in.)	8 by 10 83 by 114 mm(3.25 by 4.5 in.)
Mesh wire	2.4/2.7/3.0mm	2.4/2.7mm
Selvege wire	3.0/3.4/3.8mm	3.0/3.4mm
Lacing wire	2.2mm	2.2mm
Fasteners	3.0mm	3.0mm
Stiffeners( using lacing wire )	2.2mm	2.2mm
Preformed	3.8mm	3.4mm
PVC coating thickness: Nominal	N/A	0.5mm
Minimum	N/A	0.38mm

Table 2 typical gabions size (m)

Length M	Width M	Height M	No. Of Cells	Volume M3
Meter	Meter	Meter	Each	Cu.meter
2.0	1.0	1.0	2.0	2.0
3.0	1.0	1.0	3.0	3.0
4.0	1.0	1.0	4.0	4.0
2.0	1.0	0.5	2.0	1.0
3.0	1.0	0.5	3.0	1.5
4.0	1.0	0.5	4.0	2.0
2.0	1.0	0.3	2.0	0.6
3.0	1.0	0.3	3.0	0.9
4.0	1.0	0.3	4.0	1.2

Table 3 typical gabions size (feet)

Length Feet	Width Feet	Height Feet	No. Of Cells	Volume Yd3
Feet	Feet	Feet	Each	Cu.Yard
6.0	3.0	3.0	2.0	2.0
9.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
12.0	3.0	3.0	4.0	4.0
6.0	3.0	1.5	2.0	1.0
9.0	3.0	1.5	3.0	1.5
9.0	3.0	1.5	3.0	1.5
12.0	3.0	1.3	4.0	2.0
6.0	3.0	1.0	2.0	0.67
12.0	3.0	1.0	4.0	1.33

Packing:
For easy handling and shipping, the gabions are supplied folded flat. A color stripe applied on the side of each folded gabion identifies the size.

Loading:
Usually, gabions will be loaded into 40ft containers to save cost.