Is WWM Defined as Reinforcing Steel?
In short, mesh is mesh, rebar is rebar. Mesh is made from wire, and rebar can be welded or tied into a mat but it is still rebar. If you have a contract that says you must furnish and install, for example, “all reinforcing steel” and the plans show rebar and welded-wire mesh, I would say the welded-wire mesh is not included in your contract. The contract should have said, “all concrete reinforcing” if that is what was required. By strict definition, reinforcing steel refers to deformed rebar, smooth steel bars, steel dowels, and similar. Six-by-six steel mesh in my opinion is “reinforcing wire” not “reinforcing steel”. The R.S. Means Unabridged Construction Dictionary listing for “reinforcing steel” refers you to the term “reinforcing bar”, which is defined as “a steel bar, usually with manufactured deformations, used in concrete and masonry construction to provide additional strength.” The International Building Code makes a similar distinction in Chapter 19, Concrete. From this infor
