Gabions are baskets manufactured from 8x10 double twisted hexagonal woven steel wire mesh, as per ASTM A975-97 Gabions are filled with stones at the project site to form flexible, permeable, monolithic structures such as retaining walls, channel linings, and weirs for erosion control projects. The steel wire used in the manufacture of the gabion is heavily Galfan (zinc-5% aluminum-mischmetal [Zn-5 Al-MM] alloy) coated soft temper steel. A PVC coating is then applied to provide additional protection for use in polluted, contaminated or aggressive environments: in salt, fresh water, acid soil or wherever the risk of corrosion is present. The PVC coating has a nominal thickness of 0.02 in. (0.50 mm). The gabion is divided into cells by diaphragms positioned at approximately 3 ft (0.9m) centers. To reinforce the structure, all mesh panel edges are selvedged with a wire having a greater diameter. Gabions shall be manufactured and shipped with all components mechanically connected at the production facility.
All tests on wire must be performed prior to manufacturing the mesh. All wire should comply with ASTM A975-97, style 3 coating, Galfan and PVC coated steel wire. Wire used for the manufacture of gabions and the lacing wire, shall have a maximum tensile strength of 75 000 psi (515 MPa) as per ASTM A856-03, soft temper steel.