Fasteners - The tensile strength of zinc-coated steel wire, Zinc-5% Aluminum-Mischmetal Alloy-coated steel wire and aluminum-coated steel wire used for fasteners shall be in accordance with the requirements for ASTM A 764, Type A, B or C. The tensile strength of stainless steel wire used for fasteners shall be in accordance with the requirements of ASTM A 313, Type 302. Any fastener system shall give the number of fasteners required to comply with minimum strength requirements for fasteners in accordance with the Pull-Apart Resistance Test . The manufacturer or supplier shall state the number of fasteners required for all vertical and horizontal connections for single and multiple basket joining and shall include a description of a properly installed fastener including drawings or photographs.

Mesh and Panel to Panel Joint Strength - The minimum strength requirements of the mesh, selvedge wire to mesh connection, panel to panel connection and punch test.  

Physical Properties Metallic Coating - The coating weights shall conform to the requirements of ASTM A 641, Class 3 for zinc coating, or ASTM A 856/A 856M, Class 3 for Zn - 5Al - MM coating, or ASTM A 609 for aluminum coating.

PVC for Coating - The initial properties of PVC coating material shall have a demonstrated ability to conform to the following requirements:      

1.  Specific Gravity - In the range of 1.30 to 1.35 when tested according to Test Method ASTM D 792.      

2.  Tensile Strength - Not less than 20.6 MPa when tested according to Test Method ASTM D 412.      

3.  Modulus of Elasticity - Not less than 18.6 MPa when tested according to Test Method ASTM D 412.      

4.  Hardness - Shore "D" between 50 and 60, when tested according to Test Method ASTM D 2240.      

5.  Brittleness Temperature - Not higher than -9°C or lower temperature when specified by the purchaser, when tested according to Test Method ASTM D 746,. The maximum brittleness temperature should be at least 8°C below the minimum temperature at which gabions will be filled.      

6.  Resistance to Abrasion - The percentage of the weight loss shall be less than 12%, when tested according to Test Method ASTM D 1242.      

7.  Salt Spray Exposure and Ultraviolet Light Exposure:                   
     - The PVC shall show no effect after 3,000 hours of salt spray exposure according to Test Method ASTM B 117.            
    - The PVC shall show no effect of exposure to ultraviolet light with test exposure of 3,000 hours, using apparatus Type E and 63° , when tested according to Practice ASTM D 1499 and Practice ASTM G 23.
    - Evaluation of Coating after Salt Spray and Ultraviolet Exposure Test - After the Salt Spray Test and exposure to ultraviolet light as specified above, PVC coating shall not show cracks, blister, split nor noticeable change of color. In addition, the specific gravity, tensile strength, hardness and resistance to abrasion shall not change more than 6%, 25%, 10% and 10% respectively from their initial values.      

8.     PVC coating shall not show cracks or breaks after the wires are twisted in the fabrication of the mesh.      

9.     Salt Spray Resistance for Fastener - After testing the fasteners, the selvedge or mesh wire confined by the fasteners shall show no rusty spots on any part of the surface excluding the cut ends.  

Dimensions and Tolerances

1.  The diameter of metallic-coated wire shall conform to ASTM A 641, A 356/A 256M and A 809 as applicable.

2.  The diameter of metallic-coated wire and stainless steel wire used in the fabrication of fasteners shall conform to Table 7 plus or minus the tolerances shown in ASTM A 764.

3.  The minimum and nominal thickness of PVC coating uniformly applied in a quality workmanlike manner.

4.  Gabions shall be manufactured with a 8 x 10 mesh type having a nominal mesh opening of 83mm x 114mm . Dimensions are measured at right angles to the center axis of the opening (D = 83mm) and parallel to the twist along the same axis.

5.  Revet mattresses shall be manufactured with a 6 x 8 mesh type having a nominal mesh opening of 64mm x 83mm. Dimensions are measured at right angles to the center axis of the opening (D = 64) and parallel to the twist along the same axis.

6. The width, height and length of the gabions as manufactured shall not differ more than ± 5% from the ordered size prior to filling

7. The width and length of the revet mattress as manufactured shall not differ more than ± 5%, and the height shall not differ more than ± 10% from the ordered size prior to filling. Mesh opening tolerances - Tolerances on the hexagonal, double-twisted wire mesh opening shall not exceed ± 10% on the nominal dimension D values.