PS=Ø System Overview
Our revolutionary system was engineered to eliminate pour strips and expansion joints in concrete slabs, and improve project workflow. As a company with over 45 years of engineering expertise, we understand the sacrifices and compromises caused by traditional methods around pour strips and expansion joints. PS=Ø is an ICC Approved, ACI 318 Type 1 and Type 2 compliant mechanical rebar splice that can replace any traditional pour strip, closing the leave-out at the pour stop with couplers rather than an open gap, including the leave-out carried on a post-tensioned concrete slab. It is the way to keep reinforcement continuous across the construction joint, so the steel never has to sit interrupted in an open strip.
How PS=Ø Keeps the Slab Continuous Floor to Floor
Most explainers stop at "PS=Ø replaces the pour strip." If you need the definition first, our article on what a pour strip actually is covers the leave-out and why it sits open for weeks. The part those explainers skip is the one engineers care about: what actually carries load across the construction joint once the strip is gone. A traditional pour strip leaves the slab physically open. Reinforcement is lapped and left exposed in the gap, and the two sides of the floor stay disconnected until the strip is poured weeks later and cured. Until that moment the load path is interrupted, and every floor above waits on the one below.
Couplers, not an open gap
The leave-out at the pour stop is closed with mechanical couplers instead of a lapped, exposed splice sitting in open air. The bar on one side threads directly into the bar on the other, so steel is joined end to end across the joint rather than waiting to be tied in later.
A splice the code already recognizes
Those couplers are ACI 318 Type 1 and Type 2 compliant and ICC Approved under ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-4213. That means the connection develops the bar the way a continuous run of reinforcement does, so the engineer of record can treat the joint as continuous steel rather than a detail to design around.
Volume change without cracking risk
A bond breaker and closure strip let the concrete shorten and move the way a pour strip is meant to allow, while the grouted couplers restore continuity across the joint. The slab gets its natural volume change early instead of carrying an open leave-out through the build.
Because the connection is engineered and documented up front, continuity is restored the moment the couplers and grout are in place, not weeks later after a separate pour cures. That is the real difference on a post-tensioned concrete slab or any multi-floor structure: the floor below is complete and trades can work overhead without waiting on a delay strip, which is exactly what crews on projects like Encore Lot 12 described. With over 45 years of engineering expertise behind the shop drawings, PS=Ø is the way to keep reinforcement continuous across the construction joint instead of leaving the steel interrupted in an open strip.
Helping You Get More Done.
Traditional construction challenges—pour strips, wall restraint, expansion joints, backshoring and schedule delays—are a thing of the past. PS=Ø was designed by engineers who understand these trade-offs. Our revolutionary system offers a smarter, safer, and faster solution.
Accelerate Schedule
Our system is proven to accelerate schedule by up to 6 months. Even when implemented mid-project.
Reduce Project Costs
Eliminating the delays and rework caused by traditional pour strips, PS=Ø can reduce overall project costs.
Improve Jobsite Safety
Pour strips are a hazardous area of any job site. The PS=Ø System is revolutionizing the safety of these areas by eliminating the openings and exposed rebar.
Increase Efficiency
PS=Ø reduces jobsite delays, rework, and material waste. All significantly increasing jobsite efficiency. Also, the PS=Ø System adds LEED Credits.
Project Examples
Showcasing Healthcare, Education, Data Centers, Hospitality, Housing, Municipality, Parking, Multi-Use.
The Ottawa Hospital
Healthcare
HUB Knoxville
Education, Housing
Tampa Airport – Airside D
Municipality
Red Hawk Casino Hotel
Hospitality
Gaylord Pacific Hotel
Hospitality
IU Health Downtown Hospital
Healthcare
Impact & Prosperity Epicenter
Education
AdventHealth – Overland Park
Healthcare
AdventHealth – Lenexa
Healthcare
Encore Lot 12
Housing
UCSD Ridge Walk
Education
Testimonials
FROM THE FIELD
PS=Ø delivers real results – cutting costs, accelerating schedule, and improving safety—but what truly sets PS=Ø apart is their team: bold innovators and relentless partners who support your project from start to finish.
Nick Muntean, Hensel Phelps - Superintendent
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PS=Ø ICC approved?
Yes. PS=Ø is an ICC Approved mechanical rebar splice that can replace any traditional pour strip.
Is PS=Ø ACI 318 compliant?
Yes. PS=Ø is an ACI 318 Type 1 and Type 2 compliant mechanical rebar splice.
Which rebar sizes and grades does PS=Ø support?
PS=Ø sizing covers 6, 8, 9, and 11 in both Grade 60 and Grade 80. The system can be integrated with any rebar size.
What is the typical lead time for PS=Ø?
The typical lead time is 8 weeks.
Can PS=Ø be added mid-project?
Yes. Our system is proven to accelerate schedule by up to 6 months, even when implemented mid-project.
Does PS=Ø add LEED credits?
Yes. PS=Ø reduces jobsite delays, rework, and material waste, all significantly increasing jobsite efficiency, and the PS=Ø System adds LEED Credits.
How does PS=Ø structurally replace a pour strip?
PS=Ø is an ICC Approved, ACI 318 Type 1 and Type 2 compliant mechanical rebar splice that can replace any traditional pour strip. It eliminates the openings and exposed rebar that make pour strips a hazardous area of any job site.
What is included in the PS=Ø system?
The system includes Shop Drawings (Engineering Expertise), Couplers, Grout Tubes, Closure Strip, Bond Breaker, Install Kit, Grout, and Grout Kit.