MESH

Welded wire mesh — also referred to as reinforcement mesh, concrete mesh, or welded fabric — is a prefabricated reinforcement product consisting of steel wires welded together at every intersection to form a rigid, flat panel. ULAMEX supplies welded wire mesh panels in steel grades B500A and B500B per EN 10080, with wire diameters from 4 mm to 12 mm and mesh spacings from 50 x 50 mm to 200 x 200 mm. Standard panel sizes are held in stock for immediate dispatch to construction sites, precast plants, and reinforcement fabricators across Europe. As a wholesale supplier with over 38 years of B2B steel trading experience and EN 1090 certification, ULAMEX is your reliable partner for concrete reinforcement mesh in volume quantities at competitive wholesale conditions.

Material Grades and Standards

All welded wire mesh from ULAMEX is manufactured from ribbed reinforcing steel wire in accordance with EN 10080, the European harmonised standard for steel for the reinforcement of concrete. This standard specifies the requirements for weldable reinforcing steel delivered as bars, coils, welded fabric, and lattice girders. We stock two principal grades that cover the full range of structural reinforcement requirements:

• B500A — Cold-worked reinforcing steel with a characteristic yield strength of 500 MPa (f_yk), tensile-to-yield ratio (f_t/f_y) ≥ 1.05, and elongation at maximum force (A_gt) ≥ 2.5%. The “A” designation indicates normal ductility, making B500A suitable for slabs, walls, and lightly loaded foundations where redistribution of internal forces is limited. B500A is the standard grade for mesh reinforcement in floor slabs, screed reinforcement, and non-seismic applications.
• B500B — Cold-worked reinforcing steel with identical characteristic yield strength of 500 MPa but with enhanced ductility requirements: tensile-to-yield ratio (f_t/f_y) ≥ 1.08 and elongation at maximum force (A_gt) ≥ 5.0%. The “B” designation indicates high ductility, making B500B the required grade for structures designed to Eurocode 2 (EN 1992) where moment redistribution, plastic analysis, or seismic design is involved. B500B is mandatory in many European countries for primary structural reinforcement.

Both grades feature a ribbed surface profile that provides mechanical bond with the surrounding concrete, ensuring effective force transfer at the steel-concrete interface. The rib geometry conforms to the requirements of EN 10080 for projected rib area (f_R ≥ 0.040 for wire diameters ≤ 6 mm, f_R ≥ 0.056 for wire diameters > 12 mm). All welded intersections are shear-tested per EN 10080 to guarantee that the weld strength equals or exceeds the minimum specified shear force, ensuring the mesh acts as a unified reinforcement unit rather than individual wires.

Dimensions and Specifications

ULAMEX stocks welded wire mesh panels in a comprehensive range of wire diameters, mesh spacings, and panel sizes:

• Wire diameter: 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm
• Mesh spacing (longitudinal x transverse): 50 x 50 mm, 100 x 100 mm, 150 x 150 mm, 200 x 200 mm, and asymmetric spacings such as 100 x 200 mm and 150 x 200 mm
• Standard panel sizes: Typical dimensions include 2000 x 3000 mm, 2000 x 4000 mm, 2000 x 5000 mm, 2000 x 6000 mm, 2150 x 5000 mm, and 2400 x 6000 mm (availability varies by mesh type and local market standards)

The reinforcement cross-sectional area provided by the mesh is determined by the combination of wire diameter and spacing. For example, a mesh with 8 mm wire at 150 mm spacing provides a steel cross-section of 3.35 cm²/m in each direction, while a mesh with 10 mm wire at 100 mm spacing provides 7.85 cm²/m. Structural engineers specify the required reinforcement area per EN 1992 (Eurocode 2), and the appropriate mesh type is selected to meet or exceed this requirement.

Panel weight depends on wire diameter, spacing, and panel dimensions. As a reference, a standard Q335 mesh panel (8 mm wire, 150 x 150 mm spacing, 2000 x 3000 mm panel) weighs approximately 25 kg. Detailed weight tables for all available mesh types are provided on request.

Applications

Welded wire mesh is the preferred reinforcement solution for large-area, planar concrete elements where it replaces the time-consuming process of placing and tying individual reinforcing bars. The prefabricated nature of mesh panels enables rapid installation, consistent bar spacing, and reduced labour costs on site. Key application areas include:

• Ground floor slabs and foundations — Reinforcement mesh for industrial floor slabs, warehouse floors, and residential foundations. Mesh panels in B500A or B500B are placed on spacers (chairs) to ensure correct concrete cover, overlapped at panel edges per structural design requirements, and cast in place. For heavily loaded industrial floors, double-layer reinforcement (top and bottom mesh) is standard.
• Suspended floor slabs — Top and bottom reinforcement for reinforced concrete floor slabs in multi-storey buildings. B500B mesh is typically specified for suspended slabs designed with moment redistribution per EN 1992. Mesh is combined with additional loose bars at supports and in high-moment zones.
• Retaining walls and basement walls — Vertical and horizontal reinforcement for reinforced concrete walls. Mesh panels are wired to the formwork-side reinforcement and provide the required minimum reinforcement ratio for crack width control per Eurocode 2.
• Road pavements and industrial hardstandings — Reinforcement for concrete road surfaces, aircraft aprons, container yards, and heavy-duty external paving. Mesh reinforcement in concrete pavements controls cracking, distributes wheel loads, and extends service life.
• Screed reinforcement — Light mesh (4–5 mm wire at 150 or 200 mm spacing) for crack control in cementitious floor screeds, heated floor screeds (underfloor heating), and bonded or unbonded screeds over insulation. This is a non-structural application where the mesh prevents shrinkage cracking.
• Precast concrete elements — Reinforcement for precast panels, precast walls, hollow-core slab toppings, and precast stair flights. Mesh is pre-placed in moulds before casting and provides efficient, consistent reinforcement for high-volume precast production.
• Shotcrete and tunnel lining — Mesh reinforcement for sprayed concrete applications in tunnelling, slope stabilisation, and structural repair. Mesh is fixed to the substrate or to rock bolts before shotcrete application.
• Fencing and security — While our primary stock is structural reinforcement mesh, welded mesh panels are also used for industrial fencing, animal enclosures, and security barriers. For dedicated fencing products, see our full product range.

The use of welded mesh instead of loose bars can reduce reinforcement placement time by up to 50% on large slab projects, representing significant cost savings in labour-intensive markets.

Technical Properties

The mechanical properties of our welded wire mesh are guaranteed per EN 10080 and verified through continuous factory production control:

• B500A: Characteristic yield strength f_yk = 500 MPa, tensile strength f_tk ≥ 525 MPa (f_t/f_y ≥ 1.05), elongation at maximum force A_gt ≥ 2.5%, fatigue endurance 2 million cycles at stress range ≥ 100 MPa.
• B500B: Characteristic yield strength f_yk = 500 MPa, tensile strength f_tk ≥ 540 MPa (f_t/f_y ≥ 1.08), elongation at maximum force A_gt ≥ 5.0%, fatigue endurance 2 million cycles at stress range ≥ 100 MPa.

Welded wire mesh is manufactured from cold-drawn, ribbed steel wire with a carbon content that ensures weldability. The welding process (resistance welding at every wire intersection) creates a rigid panel where the welds must withstand a minimum shear force equal to 0.3 × A_s × f_yk (where A_s is the cross-sectional area of the thinner wire). This guarantees that the mesh behaves as a single reinforcement unit during concrete placement and throughout the service life of the structure.

The ribbed surface of B500A and B500B wire provides excellent bond performance with concrete, with bond stresses conforming to the requirements of EN 1992. The design bond strength f_bd for ribbed wire in good bond conditions is approximately 3.0 MPa for C25/30 concrete, enabling efficient anchorage and lap splice design. Mesh panels can be cut on site using bolt cutters or angle grinders, and bent for edge details, upstands, and corners using standard reinforcement bending equipment.

Quality and Certification

Every welded wire mesh panel supplied by ULAMEX is produced under a certified factory production control (FPC) system in accordance with EN 10080 and bears the CE marking confirming conformity with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Our mesh products are supplied with declarations of performance (DoP) and, on request, with detailed mill test certificates documenting steel grade, wire diameter, yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, and weld shear test results. As an EN 1090 certified distributor with ISO 3834-2 quality management, we maintain full traceability from the producing mill through our warehouse to the delivery point. For projects requiring third-party inspection or special testing, please specify your requirements at the time of enquiry.

Ordering and Delivery

ULAMEX stocks the most commonly specified welded wire mesh panel types for immediate dispatch across Europe. Standard mesh types in B500A and B500B with wire diameters 4–10 mm are held in stock, while specialised configurations (12 mm wire, custom spacings, non-standard panel sizes) can be supplied within agreed lead times. Mesh panels are bundled for safe transport and can be delivered by full truck load or part load, either standalone or as mixed loads combined with other black steel products, reinforcing bars, or structural sections to optimise logistics costs.

Whether you need reinforcement mesh for a single residential foundation or recurring supply for a large-scale infrastructure project, ULAMEX delivers with the reliability, documentation, and competitive wholesale conditions that professional construction buyers expect. With over 38 years of B2B steel distribution experience, we understand the demands of the construction industry — from just-in-time site delivery to complete material certification packages. Contact our sales team today with your welded wire mesh requirements — we respond to enquiries within one business day.