Tying wires (binding wire, tie wire, rebar tying wire) from ULAMEX are soft-annealed steel wires specifically manufactured for tying reinforcement bars on construction sites, securing formwork assemblies and performing general binding tasks across the building and civil engineering sectors. Available in both black annealed (for indoor/embedded applications) and hot-dip galvanized finishes (for exposed outdoor work), our tying wire programme covers diameters from 0.8 to 3.5 mm in coils of 5, 25 and 50 kg — delivered from stock across Europe.
Why Tying Wire Matters in Reinforced Concrete Construction
Every reinforced concrete structure depends on correctly positioned reinforcement cages. Galvanized binding wire holds individual rebar intersections in place during concrete placement, ensuring that specified cover depths, bar spacings and lap lengths are maintained exactly as designed by the structural engineer. While the wire itself carries no structural load once the concrete has cured, its role during construction is critical: a single displaced bar can compromise the load-bearing capacity and durability of the entire element.
Professional rebar tyers typically use 1.0 mm or 1.2 mm diameter wire for standard slab and beam reinforcement, stepping up to 1.4 mm or 1.6 mm for heavy cages with bars of 20 mm diameter and above. For temporary fixings, packaging and agricultural binding, diameters up to 3.5 mm are available. The soft-annealed temper ensures the wire can be bent, twisted and tied by hand or with automatic rebar tying tools (such as MAX or Makita battery tyers) without spring-back or breakage.
Applications
- Reinforcement bar tying (rödeln) — the primary application: securing rebar intersections in slabs, beams, columns, walls, foundations and pile cages
- Formwork assembly — temporary fixings for timber and steel formwork panels
- Mesh reinforcement tying — connecting overlapping welded mesh sheets (BRC mesh) at lap zones
- Precast concrete production — tying reinforcement cages in factory moulds before concrete casting
- Fence construction — securing galvanized fence panels and tension wire to posts during installation
- Agricultural and horticultural binding — tying vines, trellis systems and crop supports
- General packaging and bundling — securing steel bundles, timber packs and pipe stacks for transport
Technical Specifications
| Property | Black Annealed | Galvanized |
|---|---|---|
| Diameters available | 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 mm | 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 mm |
| Steel grade | Low-carbon (C ≤ 0.10%) per EN 10016-2 | Low-carbon per EN 10016-2 |
| Tensile strength | 350–500 MPa (annealed) | 350–500 MPa (annealed before galvanizing) |
| Surface finish | Black annealed (oxide layer) | Hot-dip galvanized per EN 10244-2 |
| Zinc coating class | — | Class A (min. 30 g/m²) to Class B (min. 50 g/m²) |
| Coil weights | 5 kg, 25 kg, 50 kg | 5 kg, 25 kg, 50 kg |
| Packaging | Wire-tied coils, shrink-wrapped | Wire-tied coils, shrink-wrapped |
| Elongation at break | ≥ 15% (soft annealed) | ≥ 15% |
Standards and Compliance
- EN 10244-2 — Steel wire and wire products — Non-ferrous metallic coatings on steel wire — Part 2: Zinc or zinc-alloy coatings
- EN 10016-2 — Non-alloy steel rod for drawing and/or cold rolling — Specific requirements for general-purpose rod
- DIN 17140 — Wire rod and wire of unalloyed steels (legacy German standard, still commonly referenced)
Black Annealed vs. Galvanized: Which to Specify?
Black annealed tying wire is the more economical option and is suitable for all embedded applications where the wire will be fully encased in concrete after pouring. The concrete’s alkaline environment (pH ~12.5) passivates the steel surface and prevents corrosion — no zinc coating is necessary.
Galvanized tying wire should be specified when the wire will be exposed to moisture, rain or outdoor conditions during an extended construction phase (common in civil engineering projects), when tying reinforcement for exposed aggregate concrete, or when the wire serves a permanent binding function in an outdoor environment. The zinc coating per EN 10244-2 provides 20–40+ years of corrosion protection depending on the exposure category.
Why ULAMEX for Tying Wire
- Wholesale quantities from stock — pallets of 5 kg, 25 kg and 50 kg coils available for immediate dispatch
- Full diameter range — 0.8 to 3.5 mm covering every rebar tying and general binding application
- Both finishes from one supplier — black annealed and galvanized, simplifying procurement
- Mill test certificates 3.1 (EN 10204) supplied with every delivery
- EN 1090 and ISO 3834-2 certified — view our certifications
- European delivery network — serving construction sites and distributors across DE, AT, CH, UK, Scandinavia and Benelux since 1988
Frequently Asked Questions
What diameter tying wire should I use for rebar?
For standard reinforcement bars up to 16 mm diameter, use 1.0 or 1.2 mm tying wire. For heavy reinforcement (20–40 mm bars), use 1.4 or 1.6 mm wire. The wire must be soft enough to twist by hand or with a tying tool, but strong enough to hold the bar intersection during concrete pouring. Automatic rebar tying machines typically require 0.8–1.2 mm wire in dedicated spools.
What is the difference between binding wire and tying wire?
The terms are interchangeable in construction. Tying wire (Bindedraht / Rödeldraht) and binding wire refer to the same product: soft-annealed steel wire used to tie reinforcement bars together. In German-speaking markets, Rödeldraht specifically describes wire used for rebar tying (rödeln), while Bindedraht is the broader general term.
How many kg of tying wire do I need per tonne of rebar?
As a rule of thumb, allow 5–10 kg of tying wire per tonne of reinforcement steel. Slab reinforcement with closely spaced bars requires more wire (closer to 10 kg/t), while large-diameter bars in columns and beams require less (closer to 5 kg/t). For precise estimation, count the number of intersections and multiply by approximately 0.3 m of wire per tie.
Can I use galvanized tying wire with stainless steel rebar?
No. When stainless steel rebar is specified (e.g., in marine structures or bridge decks), the tying wire must also be stainless steel to avoid bimetallic corrosion. Contact ULAMEX for stainless steel tying wire availability. For standard carbon steel rebar, both black annealed and galvanized tying wire are suitable.
Request a Quote
ULAMEX supplies galvanized tying wire and black annealed binding wire in wholesale quantities across Europe. Whether you need 50 kg for a single project or 20 tonnes for a distributor stock programme, we deliver from our warehouse with full documentation. Contact our sales team for pricing, availability and lead times. See also our full range of wire and band iron products.