A gabion uses three different wires, each doing a different job. Their diameter and, above all, their coating decide how long the structure lasts.
| Wire | GI | GI (heavier) | PVC coated (core / outer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh wire | 2.70 mm | 3.00 mm | 2.70 / 3.70 mm |
| Selvedge wire | 3.40 mm | 3.90 mm | 3.40 / 4.40 mm |
| Lacing wire | 2.20 mm | 2.20 mm | 2.20 / 3.20 mm |
Mattresses and thinner units use lighter mesh wire, around 2.00–2.20 mm. Any other diameter can be made to a drawing.
The steel is protected first by zinc. What matters is not the wire diameter but the mass of zinc per square metre of wire surface, and IS 16014:2024 (Table 8) sets a minimum for each diameter:
| Wire diameter | Minimum zinc |
|---|---|
| 2.00–2.20 mm | 240 g/m² |
| 2.70 mm | 260 g/m² |
| 3.00 mm | 270 g/m² |
| 3.40 mm | 270 g/m² |
| 3.90 mm | 280 g/m² |
Indian BOQs often also cite IS 4826, the general standard for zinc coating on steel wire — buyers rightly care about the zinc as much as the mesh.
Where the gabions stay wet, sit in tidal or coastal water, or meet aggressive soil, the galvanized wire is extruded with a PVC jacket: 0.50 mm nominal, 0.40 mm minimum (IS 16014:2024). The zinc protects the steel; the PVC protects the zinc. See PVC coated GI wire.
Lacing wire is usually specified at about 3% of the weight of the gabion boxes (IRC:SP:116-2018). It is the line most often left out of a BOQ or a price — worth checking before you compare quotations.
A complete specification names the mesh type (e.g. 10×12), the mesh, selvedge and lacing wire diameters, the coating (GI, or PVC with its thickness), and the standard. If your BOQ describes the wire differently — for example as 4 mm wire by weight per square metre — talk to us before you quote.
Galvanized steel wire, woven into double twisted hexagonal mesh: typically 2.70 or 3.00 mm mesh wire, 3.40 or 3.90 mm selvedge wire and 2.20 mm lacing wire, or PVC coated equivalents.
The heavier wire woven along the edges of each mesh panel so the border cannot fray. It is where panels are joined, so it carries the load at the seams.
GI for most land-based work; PVC over GI where the structure stays wet, is tidal or coastal, or sits in chemically aggressive ground.
Tell us your dimensions, wire specification and quantity — we'll come back with a quotation and lead time.
