MMFX Steel Gets PennDOT Approval to Use MMFX2 Grade 100 Reinforcing Steel Bar in Bridge Structures

MMFX^® Steel Corporation of America has received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for MMFX₂^® (AASHTO MP 18) Grade 100 reinforcing steel bar for use in bridge structures.

MMFX₂ will be listed in PennDOT’s Bulletin 15 “Approved Construction Materials.” This approval means structural engineers can now design bridges in Pennsylvania taking advantage of the longer bridge service life provided by MMFX₂ rebar and utilizing the high-strength properties of this 100 ksi rebar to create more efficient designs.

“Pennsylvania adds to the growing list of U.S. and Canadian transportation agencies that see the benefits of using MMFX₂,” said Tom Russo, MMFX Steel Corporation of America CEO. “Structural engineers will be able to greatly reduce future maintenance requirements and improve life-cycle costs of PennDOT bridges while lowering overall construction costs.”

Pennsylvania is working to fix a large number of bridges that are in need of repair or replacement. A key component of Pennsylvania’s funding strategy will be the application of Act 88 — a 2012 state law that allows for public-private transportation partnerships (P3s). The initial P3 project, known as the Rapid Bridge Replacement Program, is targeted to quickly replace 200 to 1,000 of the 22,000 PennDOT bridges.

The new PennDOT Bulletin 15 approval will allow MMFX Steel to support Pennsylvania’s need to build bridges that maximize bridge life while minimizing build cost. With a corrosion resistance five times greater than common black steel, MMFX₂ rebar has been proven to exceed the 100-year service life requirements common in many of today’s bridge specifications. Because MMFX₂ provides corrosion protection without a coating, it eliminates the common construction problems and costs of coated rebar such as coating damage, special handling and additional project quality inspections.

Grade 100 MMFX₂ high-strength rebar will make it possible for PennDOT bridges to be designed and built with 20 to 50 percent less steel, which could result in up to 60 percent lower labor costs for rebar fabrication and placing. By specifying high-strength steels, designers can solve costly rebar congestion problems and contractors can complete structures more quickly, resulting in substantial cost savings.

About MMFX Steel Corporation of America
MMFX Steel Corporation (“MMFX Steel”) is an operating subsidiary of MMFX Technologies Corporation and is based in Irvine, Calif. MMFX Steel markets and sells high-strength steel products, such as ChromX 4100, and its popular high-strength, corrosion-resistant steel, MMFX₂. MMFX₂ rebar has been independently proven to be five times more corrosion-resistant than and up to two times as strong as conventional steel. Sold under the specifications ASTM A1035 Grades 100 and 120, these high-strength, corrosion-resistant steels are used in bridges and highway systems, high-rise buildings, sea walls, ports, marinas and numerous commercial/industrial applications.

Source: http://www.mmfx.com/