Topic: Steel Reinforcement

1. What are types of steel reinforcements commonly used?

Class 1 bar reinforcement:
- Reinforcement from quality assured manufacturers, handled by a QA
Stockist and retaining manufacturer’s lot traceability.

Class 2 bar reinforcement:

- Reinforcement from quality assured manufacturers, handled by a QA
Stockist but without retaining manufacturer’s lot traceability.

Class 3 bar reinforcement:

- Reinforcement other than Class 1 and Class 2 reinforcement.

Fabric reinforcement:
- UPVC pipes and fittings shall comply with relevant British Standard
according to the nature of water to be conveyed and the location of the pipe.

2. What are the protection coating applied to the steel reinforcement?

Epoxy coatings:
- Where exposure conditions are particularly severe and where the design life
requirement would be difficult to meet with ordinary steel.

Galvanized coatings:
- Where exposure is fairly severe
- To have smaller cover than normal in very thin section

3. What submissions have you checked in respect of steel reinforcement?

Before delivery of steel reinforcement:
- For bar reinforcement, a certificate from the quality assured stockist in
accordance to CS2 and a copy of the manufacturer’s third party certificate.
- For fabric reinforcement, a certificate from the manufacturer showing the
details of the manufacturer and that the reinforcement complies with the
requirements stated in the Contract.

Upon delivery of steel reinforcement:

- For bar reinforcement, a test report containing the details with reference to
CS2 shall be submitted

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 Before bending of reinforcement starts:
- Bar bending schedule complying with BS4466 (superseded recently)

4. What should be noted in respect of steel reinforcement?

Handling and storage:
- Reinforcement shall be supported on level ground and not be contaminated
- No reinforcement shall be stored on or adjacent to concrete surfaces which
form part of the permanent work.

Cutting and bending:

- Reinforcement shall be cut and bent in accordance with BS4466 to the
specified shapes and dimensions.
- Grade 460 steel reinforcement shall not be rebent or straightened after
bending

Fixing:
- Reinforcement shall not start until testing has been completed.
- Reinforcement shall be fixed rigidly in position and secured against
displacement, particular with respect to concreting, and shall be in
accordance with the Drawings in terms of bar sizes, spacings, shapes,
locations, lap position and length, covers, etc.
- Laps and joints shall be made at the specified location and by the specified
method only.
- Sufficient cover spacers, chairs, supports and other spacers shall be
provided
- Reinforcement shall not be welded.

5. What testing shall be carried out on steel reinforcement?

Bar reinforcement:
- To determine the yield stress, elongation, tensile strength, bending and
rebending properties and unit mass.
- The batch shall be considered as non-compliance if the requirements of
characteristic strength cannot be met.
- For any non-compliance in results of any test for elongation, tensile
strength, bending, rebending, unit mass, additional samples shall be
provided for additional tests. The whole batch shall be considered as non-
compliance if the results of any additional tests still fail to comply the

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 contract requirements.

Fabric reinforcement:
- To determine the above properties as bar reinforcement, as well as the weld
shear strength.
- The batch shall be considered as non-compliance if the yield stress is less
than 93% of the specified characteristic strength
- If the yield stress lies between 93% and 100% of the specified characteristic
strength, additional samples shall be provided for additional tests, and the
whole batch shall be considered as non-compliance if the results of any
additional tests shows that the yield stress is less than 93% of the specified
characteristic strength.
- Similar to bar reinforcement, for any non-compliance in results of any test
for elongation, tensile strength, bending, rebending, unit mass, additional
samples shall be provided for additional tests. The whole batch shall be
considered as non-compliance if the results of any additional tests still fail
to comply the contract requirements.