Brickforce Guide South Africa
Understand masonry reinforcement, read the width and roll labels, and prepare a useful material estimate.
Compare WFSA’s 15 m heavy-duty and 20 m NHBRC-compliant Brickforce ranges, widths, wire sizes and material estimates.
View specification tablesShop related products ↗What is Brickforce?
Brickforce is a narrow welded wire reinforcement intended for specified masonry mortar joints. It is different from the large reinforcing mesh sheets placed in concrete slabs, and from individual reinforcing bars used in designed concrete elements.
Longitudinal wires and welded cross wires form the narrow reinforcement strip. Use the specified width and wire dimensions, and install it in the mortar joint as detailed for the wall. The strip construction alone does not determine the reinforcement layout.
WFSA Brickforce Supply Range
WFSA supply range: Available from WFSA — request a quotation. Contact WFSA for current branch availability, lead time and the exact combination required. A listed range does not mean every branch holds every item at all times.
Current online products: Shop links identify published online listings. The online shop shows only part of the WFSA supply and manufacturing range; additional range items can be ordered by quotation.
| Range label | Wire size label | Finish | Roll length | Listed widths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD | 1.6 mm | Black / uncoated | 15 m | 75, 110, 150 mm |
| MED | 2.0 mm | Black / uncoated | 15 m | 75, 150 mm |
| MED | 2.0 mm | Black / uncoated | 20 m | 75, 110, 150 mm |
| HD | 2.2 mm | Black / uncoated | 15 m | 75, 110, 150 mm |
| HD | 2.2 mm | Black / uncoated | 20 m | 75, 110, 150, 230 mm |
| VHD | 2.6 mm | Black / uncoated | 20 m | 75, 110, 150, 230 mm |
| SABS-labelled | 2.8 mm | Black / uncoated | 20 m | 75, 110, 150, 230 mm |
| HD | 2.5 mm | Galvanized | 15 m | 75, 150 mm |
| HD | 2.5 mm | Galvanized | 20 m | 75, 150 mm |
| SABS-labelled | 2.8 mm | Galvanized | 20 m | 75, 150 mm |
Range and coating labels describe the listed product.
Wire size labels must be reconciled with the longitudinal and cross-wire details required by the masonry specification. Width is selected from the wall and mortar-joint design. Light orange surface oxidation on black-wire Brickforce is not automatically a manufacturing defect; galvanized products have a separate coating specification.
How to read a Brickforce label
Brickforce / HD / 150mm / 15m states product type, range label, nominal width and supplied roll length. It does not state the wall thickness, installation frequency or lap length.
Distinguish nominal strip width from measured wire dimensions. The reinforcement must fit the intended mortar joint while maintaining the cover required by the masonry design.
Choosing the Correct Brickforce Width
WFSA supplies selected 75, 110, 150 and 230 mm widths. Match the actual roll width, wire specification and finish to the wall thickness, mortar-joint arrangement and required cover in the approved masonry design. Not every wire range or roll length is available in every width; use the supply matrix above and confirm your exact combination.
What role does masonry reinforcement play?
Bed-joint reinforcement can contribute to the behaviour of masonry when its type, position and continuity are specified appropriately. Product availability alone cannot determine how a wall must be reinforced.
Brickforce should not be used to justify thinner walls, remove piers, omit movement joints or substitute for a designed lintel or reinforced concrete element. Resolve cracks and movement by examining the wall system and its supports; adding strips later is not a universal repair.
What must be confirmed about longitudinal and cross wires?
The longitudinal wires run along the strip; cross wires connect them. A single nominal wire-size label does not establish every dimension.
Light, HD and compliant range descriptions must be compared with the actual supplied material and documents. A strip of the same width or roll length is not automatically an equivalent replacement. The WFSA-confirmed heavy-duty black-wire range is approximately 2.2 mm in 15 m rolls; the separately described NHBRC-compliant range is 2.80 mm in 20 m rolls.
Check the reinforcement schedule before placing an order. It should identify required material, width, locations, course intervals, laps, corner and junction details, cover and any standard. Refer missing or contradictory instructions to the responsible professional instead of choosing a convenient roll.
Placement and mortar cover
Follow the approved masonry detail for the joint, layer position and mortar cover. Keep reinforcement embedded as required rather than exposed at the face of the wall. Maintain the specified arrangement around corners, junctions and openings.
There is no blanket “every third course” instruction here. Placement frequency depends on the wall’s design and applicable requirements. Confirm unclear drawings before constructing the affected courses; covering the work makes later checks difficult.
Laps, corners and junctions
Take lap lengths, corner arrangements and junction details from the specification. A 15 m supply roll does not provide 15 m of effective installed length when laps are required.
Plan where joints occur and whether offcuts can be used legitimately. Do not invent a lap from one mesh opening or an arbitrary number of millimetres. The chosen detail also needs to preserve required cover and reinforcement continuity.
How many rolls do I need?
Basic running length = sum of specified reinforced runs across all required layers. Add lengths required by the lap and corner details, planned waste and any other reinforcement zones; then divide by the selected roll length — 15 m or 20 m — and round up.
Illustration only: a specified 20 m run repeated over six reinforcement layers totals 120 m before laps. If the measured detailing adds 12 m, the estimate is 132 m. Ceiling(132 ÷ 15) = 9 rolls. Six layers and 12 m of extra material are examples, not a wall reinforcement specification.
Separate widths should be estimated separately. Do not combine the total lengths of 75 mm and 150 mm requirements as though those rolls are interchangeable.
Gross linear coverage reference
| 15 m rolls | Gross supplied length |
|---|---|
| 1 | 15 m |
| 5 | 75 m |
| 10 | 150 m |
| 20 | 300 m |
This is supply arithmetic, not effective installed coverage or a recommendation for the number of reinforced courses. Maintain a take-off by wall, level, width and required detail.
Coating and exposure checks
Black-wire Brickforce: light oxidation is normal
WFSA’s black-wire Brickforce is an uncoated steel product. Light orange surface oxidation can therefore occur when exposed to moisture or humidity and is not automatically a manufacturing defect.
Reinforcing mesh, Y-bar and certain Brickforce products are supplied as raw or black steel without a protective zinc coating. When raw steel is exposed to humidity, rain, condensation, water or wet storage conditions, a light orange-brown layer of surface oxidation can develop quickly. Light surface rust is normal on uncoated reinforcing steel and does not by itself mean that the material is defective or unsuitable for use. Heavy flaky or scaly corrosion, deep pitting, or significant loss of steel section, mass or dimension is different and should be assessed against the applicable product and project specification. This guidance applies to raw / black / uncoated reinforcement. Galvanized Brickforce, galvanized steel and coated reinforcement have separate protective-coating specifications and must be assessed accordingly. Surface oxidation does not establish steel grade, compliance or structural suitability; the applicable project specification and responsible engineer determine acceptance where required.
Confirm whether the exact supplied range uses black or galvanized wire and whether that finish satisfies the project’s masonry specification. The reviewed WFSA product names do not provide a coating mass, material grade or certification document.
Exposure and mortar cover affect durability. A galvanizing claim should refer to the actual supplied product rather than a comparable supplier’s range. Keep documents identifying the item and batch where required.
Storage, cutting and handling
Store rolls on stable supports, away from excessive mud, standing water and contamination. Preserve identification so widths and ranges are not mixed. Handle cut ends carefully and wear suitable gloves and eye protection.
Use suitable cutters and maintain the specified lengths and connection details. Prevent loose sharp offcuts being left in walkways or hidden in materials. Refer heavy corrosion, damage or contamination to the project’s responsible person before use.
Brickforce, reinforcing mesh and Y-bar
| Material | Typical form | Specification distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Brickforce | Narrow masonry-joint strip | Width, wire details, placement and mortar-joint detail |
| Reinforcing mesh | Large welded fabric sheet | REF type, wires, spacing, layers and concrete position |
| Y-bar | Individual deformed bars | Diameter, grade, cut/bend schedule and concrete detail |
These products are not automatic substitutes. See the Reinforcing Steel Guide for concrete mesh and Y-bar information.
Before ordering or building
- Check the approved wall and joint details.
- Separate quantities by required width.
- Include laps, corners and openings in the take-off.
- Check delivery access, roll handling and storage.
- Resolve substitutions with the responsible designer.
Use product guidance to communicate what must be supplied. It does not replace the masonry design or the inspection of how reinforcement is installed.
Request a Brickforce quotation
Send the required width, range, length or roll quantity, wire and coating specification, and delivery location. Attach relevant wall details if the exact product fit or compliance requirement needs confirmation.
WFSA’s online prices apply to Centurion only. Contact Bloemfontein or George for their own supply and pricing. Brickforce products can be found in the Reinforcing Mesh category.
Frequently asked questions
Is light surface rust on raw reinforcement automatically a defect?
Reinforcing mesh, Y-bar and certain Brickforce products are supplied as raw or black steel without a protective zinc coating. When raw steel is exposed to humidity, rain, condensation, water or wet storage conditions, a light orange-brown layer of surface oxidation can develop quickly. Light surface rust is normal on uncoated reinforcing steel and does not by itself mean that the material is defective or unsuitable for use. Heavy flaky or scaly corrosion, deep pitting, or significant loss of steel section, mass or dimension is different and should be assessed against the applicable product and project specification. This guidance applies to raw / black / uncoated reinforcement. Galvanized Brickforce, galvanized steel and coated reinforcement have separate protective-coating specifications and must be assessed accordingly. Surface oxidation does not establish steel grade, compliance or structural suitability; the applicable project specification and responsible engineer determine acceptance where required.
What is Brickforce used for?
Specified reinforcement within masonry mortar joints. Its position and function must follow the wall design.
Is Brickforce slab reinforcing mesh?
No. It is a narrow masonry reinforcement product, not a substitute for a specified concrete mesh sheet.
Which widths does WFSA list?
75 mm and 150 mm widths in both the 15 m heavy-duty range and the 20 m NHBRC-compliant range.
How long are the listed rolls?
The heavy-duty black-wire range is 15 m per roll; the 2.80 mm NHBRC-compliant range is 20 m per roll.
Does HD prove certification?
No.
Is width the same as wall thickness?
No. Select the strip to fit the specified masonry detail with the required cover.
How many rolls give 150 m?
Ten 15 m rolls provide 150 m gross length before lap and waste deductions.
How often should Brickforce be placed?
Use the approved masonry specification; no universal course frequency is given here.
What lap length should I use?
Use the project’s lap detail; do not infer it from the roll length.
Can Brickforce replace a lintel?
Do not substitute it for a designed lintel or other structural element without approved design changes.
Is every WFSA Brickforce roll galvanized?
No. The 15 m heavy-duty range uses black wire.
How do I
Use the specification and dimensions for the exact WFSA product supplied. Confirm that it fits the approved masonry detail.
Need product assistance?
Send the full specification, quantities and delivery location to your nearest WFSA branch.
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