Name :

____________________________
Course/Year: ____________________________

Date: ___________
Rating:___________

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE

STRUCTURES
I.

Objectives:
The students must be able to:
1. enumerate the general requirements that apply to all concrete structures,
2. explain the importance of bending of reinforcement and when bending should be
avoided,
3. explain the importance of following the building code requirements

II.

Discussions:
BAR SPACING AND CONCRETE COVER FOR STEEL:
Steel bars are usually placed as close as possible to the outside surface of concrete
members in order to be most effective in resisting flexure or to help in the reduction
of surface cracking. The distance between the edge of the bars and the outside surface
of the concrete is called the cover. General requirements for cover are as follows:

FOR BEAMS AND GIRDERS:

X >diameter of main bars
X > 1-1/3 x maximum aggregate size
X > 1 (25 mm)
Z > diameter of main bars, always
When not exposed to weather or earth,
Z > 1-1/2 (40 mm)
When exposed to weather or earth,
Z > 1-1/2 (40 mm), bars No. 5 (15M) or smaller
Z > 2 (50 mm), bars larger than No. 5 (15 M)
Columns with spirals or ties
X > 1-1/2 diameter of vertical bars
X > 1-1/3 x maximum aggregate size
X > 1-1/2 (40 mm)
Z > diameter of vertical bars, always
When not exposed to weather or earth,
Z > 1-1/2 (40 mm)
Z > 1-1/3 x maximum aggregate size
When exposed to weather or earth,
Z > 2 (50 mm), unless local building code requires greater clearance
FOOTINGS
X > 2 (50 mm) when side forms are used
X > 3 (75 mm) without side forms
When exposed to weather or earth,
Z > 2 (50 mm) (formed surfaces)
Z or X is always greater than the bar diameter and exceeds 1-1/3 times the maximum
aggregate size.
SLABS, WALLS, and JOISTS
Y < 3h
Y < 18 (460 mm)

Y > bar diameter

Y > 1-1/3x maximum aggregate size
Y > 1 (25 mm)
When exposed to weather,
Z > 1-1/2 (40 mm), bars No. 5 (15 M) or smaller
Z > 2 (50 mm), for bars larger than No. 5 (15 M)
When not exposed to weather,
Z > (20 mm), bars No. 11 (35 M) or smaller
Z > 1-1/2 (40 mm), bars No. 14 and No. 18 (45 M and 55M)
When S > 30 (750 mm), consider the joist as a beam
WALLS
Y < 5h (Temperature Reinforcement)
Y < 3h (Main reinforcement)
Y < 18 (460 mm)
Y > bar diameter
Y > 1-1/3 x maximum aggregate size
Y > 1 (25 mm)
When not exposed to weather earth,
Z > (20 mm)
When exposed to weather or earth,
Z > 1-1/2 (40 mm), bars No. 5 (15M) or smaller
Z > 2 (50 mm), bars larger than No. 5 (15M)
BENDING OF REINFORCEMENT
In various situations, it is sometimes necessary to bend reinforcing bars. Bending is
done preferably in the fabricating shop instead of at the job site, and the bend
diameters should be adequate to avoid cracking the bar. Bending of bars is sometimes
done in order to provide anchorage for the bars. The code defines such a bend as a
standard hook, and the requirements for the details of this type of bend are given in
the following figure.

Minimum bend requirements

Requirements for standard hook

Standard hooks consist of one of the following:
a.) A 180 degree turn plus an extension of at least 4 bar diameters. The extension
must be at least 2 in. (64 mm) long.
b.) A 90 degree turn plus an extension of at least 12 bar diameters.
c.) For stirrups and ties, a 90 degree or 135 degree turn plus an extension of at
least 6 bar diameters. The extension must be at least 2 in. (64 mm) long.
The inside radius of bend shall at least 1 bar diameter.