Rebar

Rebar is the common name for cylindrical shaped steel bars with uniformly spaced protrusions
called lugs or deformations. They are hot rolled from semi-finished steel called billets.
Rebar are the predominantly consumed steel product of the construction industry and are used
specifically for concrete reinforcement. Rebar creates tension in concrete to help hold it in a
compressed state. Reinforced concrete gives infrastructure, buildings, bridges, houses, and other
construction the necessary structural integrity as required by Philippine law and building codes.

SteelAsia carries the full line of rebar specifications used in the Philippines.

* "Weldability" refers ONLY to a TS/YS Ratio of greater than 1.25, or a bar intended for seismic conditions.

It is common nomenclature and a misnomer in that it does not refer to a capability of a bar to be welded or not.
Rebar standards are detailed in the Philippine National Standard for Steel Bars for Concrete
Reinforcement PNS49 and for re-rolled bars PNS 211.

Products & Services

Product Guide
How to Order

Product Guide

The Pag-asa Rebar

Standards
Bar Sizes
Weight Tolerance
Commercial Length
Grades

THE PAG-ASA REBAR [Top]

Pag-asa Steel rebar products are identifiable through the Company Logo ("PSW", short for Pag-
asa Steel Works), which is hot-rolled and embossed onto each bar at specified intervals. The
Rebar Size Mark, which specifies the nominal diameter of the bar, is also hot-rolled adjacent to
the company logo.

Pag-asa Steel pioneered the practice of placing its logo on its bars in 1975, before it was
mandated by law. The Bureau of Product Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry of
the Philippines now requires all rebar manufacturers to put identifying marks on their bars.

STANDARDS [Top]

Pag-asa Steel produces superior reinforcing steel bars in an array of sizes, lengths, and grades in
adherence to Philippine National Standard (PNS 49:2002), as well as the global ASTM Standard
(ASTM A615/A706) established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (now known
as ASTM International).

BAR SIZES [Top]

Pag-asa Steel manufactures and sells the following standard sizes (in nominal diameters): 10mm,
12mm, 16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 28mm, 32mm, and 36mm. Larger sizes such as 40mm and 50mm
bars may be produced via special order.
For steel bars, the terms "size" and "nominal diameter" are used interchangeably.

WEIGHT TOLERANCE [Top]

Because variation in cross sectional area occurs during hot rolling, a corresponding variation in
linear weight is to be expected. For this reason, PNS 49 provides for an allowable 'variation in
mass' (VIM) of 6%, measured using one meter of rebar.

COMMERCIAL LENGTHS [Top]

Pag-asa Steel rebars come in the following commercial lengths: 6.0m, 7.5m, 9.0m, 10.5m, and
12.0 m. Special lengths of 13.5 and 15.0 meters may be produced via special order.

Just like weight, the cut length of a rebar may also vary because of shrinkage as it cools down.
The minimum acceptable lengths of the finished rebar according to the Philippine Standard are
as follows:

Std. Length (m) Min. Acceptable Length (m)

6.0 5.960

7.5 7.453

9.0 8.935

10.5 10.440
12.0 11.940

GRADES [Top]

Pag-asa Steel rebars comes in the following grades to meet high, intermediate, and low-tensile
building requirements.

ASTM vs PNS Codes Popular Nomenclature Typical Application

Grade 33 / PNS 230 Structural Grade Low-rise Buildings and Low Loading Conditions

Grade 40 / PNS 275 Intermediate Grade Medium-rise Structures / Infrastructure Work

Grade 60 / PNS 415 High-Tensile Grade Medium & High-rise Structures / Infrastructure

Higher tensile grades designated as Grade 75 / 500 and Grade 80 / 550 are also available subject
to agreement and availability.

The three grades are distinguished by different color markings painted at the ends of each bar, as
shown in the following table:
History

Rebar inside the Leaning Tower of Nevyansk

Originally, concrete structures were unreinforced. Rebar has been used in construction since at
least the 15th century; for example, 2500 m of rebars were used in the Chteau de Vincennes.[2]

More recently, during the 18th century, rebar was used to form the carcass of the Leaning Tower
of Nevyansk in Russia, built on the orders of the industrialist Akinfiy Demidov. The cast iron
used for the rebar was of high quality, and there is no corrosion on them to this day. The carcass
of the tower was connected to its cast iron tented roof, crowned with one of the first known
lightning rods.[3] More recently these techniques have been refined by embedding the steel bars
in the concrete, and by the introduction of deformed bars to improve bonding, thus producing
modern reinforced concrete.
Use in concrete and masonry

Concrete is a material that is very strong in compression, but relatively weak in tension. To
compensate for this imbalance in concrete's behavior, rebar is cast into it to carry the tensile
loads. Most steel reinforcement is divided into primary and secondary reinforcement, but there
are other minor uses:

Primary reinforcement refers to the steel which is employed to guarantee the resistance needed
by the structure as a whole to support the design loads.
Secondary reinforcement, also known as distribution or thermal reinforcement, is employed for
durability and aesthetic reasons, by providing enough localized resistance to limit cracking and
resist stresses caused by effects such as temperature changes and shrinkage.
Rebar is also employed to confer resistance to concentrated loads by providing enough localized
resistance and stiffness for a load to spread through a wider area.
Rebar may also be used to hold other steel bars in the correct position to accommodate their
loads.
External steel tie bars can constrain and reinforce masonry structures, as illustrated by the
Nevyansk Tower or ancient structures in Rome and the Vatican.

Masonry structures and the mortar holding them together have similar properties to concrete and
also have a limited ability to carry tensile loads. Some standard masonry units like blocks and
bricks are made with voids to accommodate rebar, which is then secured in place with grout.
This combination is known as reinforced masonry.

While any material with sufficient tensile strength could potentially be used to reinforce concrete
(glass and basalt fibers are also common), steel and concrete have similar coefficients of thermal
expansion:[4] a concrete structural member reinforced with steel will experience minimal stress as
a result of differential expansions of the two interconnected materials caused by temperature
changes.

Physical characteristics

Steel has an expansion coefficient nearly equal to that of modern concrete. If this were not so, it
would cause problems through additional longitudinal and perpendicular stresses at temperatures
different from the temperature of the setting.[5] Although rebar has ribs that bind it mechanically
to the concrete, it can still be pulled out of the concrete under high stresses, an occurrence that
often accompanies a larger-scale collapse of the structure. To prevent such a failure, rebar is
either deeply embedded into adjacent structural members (40-60 times the diameter), or bent and
hooked at the ends to lock it around the concrete and other rebar. This first approach increases
the friction locking the bar into place, while the second makes use of the high compressive
strength of concrete.

Common rebar is made of unfinished tempered steel, making it susceptible to rusting. Normally
the concrete cover is able to provide a pH value higher than 12 avoiding the corrosion reaction.
Too little concrete cover can compromise this guard through carbonation from the surface, and
salt penetration. Too much concrete cover can cause bigger crack widths which also
compromises the local guard. As rust takes up greater volume than the steel from which it was
formed, it causes severe internal pressure on the surrounding concrete, leading to cracking,
spalling, and ultimately, structural failure. This phenomenon is known as oxide jacking. This is a
particular problem where the concrete is exposed to salt water, as in bridges where salt is applied
to roadways in winter, or in marine applications. Uncoated, corrosion-resistant low
carbon/chromium (microcomposite), epoxy-coated, galvanized or stainless steel rebars may be
employed in these situations at greater initial expense, but significantly lower expense over the
service life of the project. Extra care is taken during the transport, fabrication, handling,
installation, and concrete placement process when working with epoxy-coated rebar, because
damage will reduce the long-term corrosion resistance of these bars.[6] Even damaged bars have
shown better performance than uncoated reinforcing bars, though issues from debonding of the
epoxy coating from the bars and corrosion under the epoxy film have been reported.[7] These bars
are used in over 70,000 bridge decks in the USA.[8]

Fiber-reinforced polymer rebar is also used in high-corrosion environments. It is available in

many forms, such as spirals for reinforcing columns, common rods, and meshes. Most
commercially available rebar is made from unidirectional glass fibre reinforced thermoset resins.

Reinforcing steel can also be displaced by impacts such as earthquakes, resulting in structural
failure. The prime example of this is the collapse of the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland,
California as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, causing 42 fatalities. The shaking of
the earthquake caused rebars to burst from the concrete and buckle. Updated building designs,
including more circumferential rebar, can address this type of failure.

Sizes and grades

US sizes

Imperial bar sizes give the diameter in units of inch, so that #8 = 88 inch = 1 inch diameter.
The cross sectional area, as given by r, works out to (bar size/9.027), which is approximated
as (bar size/9) square inches. For example, the area of #8 bar is (8/9) = 0.79 square inches.

Larger bar sizes are based on the cross-sectional area of square bars that were formerly used. The
diameter of the equivalent round shapes is rounded to the nearest inch to provide the bar size.
For example, #9 bar has a cross section of 1.00 square inches, and therefore a diameter of 1.128
inches. #10, #11, #14, and #18 sizes correspond to 118 inch, 114, 112, and 2 inch square bars,
respectively.[9] #14 rebar is particularly affected by this approximation; by diameter it would be
#13.5.

The tower and sign industries commonly use slightly larger "jumbo" bars #14J and #18J as
anchor rods for large structures.[10] The bars are fabricated from slightly oversized blanks such
that threads can be cut at the ends to accept standard 1.75" (#14J) and 2.25" (#18J) anchor nuts.
Steel reinforcement bars with color codes indicating the grade

U.S. rebar size chart

Imperial Linear Mass Density Nominal diameter Nominal area

Metric size
lb
ft (kg/m) (in) (mm) (in) (mm)
bar size
#2 #6 0.167 0.249 0.250 = 14 6.35 0.05 32

#3 #10 0.376 0.561 0.375 = 38 9.525 0.11 71

#4 #13 0.668 0.996 0.500 = 12 12.7 0.20 129

#5 #16 1.043 1.556 0.625 = 58 15.875 0.31 200

#6 #19 1.502 2.24 0.750 = 34 19.05 0.44 284

#7 #22 2.044 3.049 0.875 = 78 22.225 0.60 387

#8 #25 2.670 3.982 1.000 25.4 0.79 509

#9 #29 3.400 5.071 1.128 28.65 1.00 645

#10 #32 4.303 6.418 1.270 32.26 1.27 819

#11 #36 5.313 7.924 1.410 35.81 1.56 1006

#14 #43 7.650 11.41 1.693 43 2.25 1452

#18 #57 13.60 20.284 2.257 57.3 4.00 2581

#18J 14.60 21.775 2.337 59.4 4.29 2678

Canadian sizes

Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimeters, rounded to the nearest
5 mm.

Metric Linear Mass Density Nominal diameter Cross-sectional

bar size (kg/m) (mm) Area (mm)

10M 0.785 11.3 100

15M 1.570 16.0 200

20M 2.355 19.5 300

25M 3.925 25.2 500

30M 5.495 29.9 700

35M 7.850 35.7 1000

45M 11.775 43.7 1500

55M 19.625 56.4 2500

European sizes

Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimetres. Preferred bar sizes in
Europe are specified to comply with Table 6 of the standard EN 10080,[11] although various
national standards still remain in force (e.g. BS 4449 in the United Kingdom). In Switzerland
some sizes are different from European standard.
Steel reinforcement in storage

Metric Linear Mass Density Nominal diameter Cross-sectional

bar size (kg/m) (mm) Area (mm)

6,0 0.222 6 28.3

8,0 0.395 8 50.3

10,0 0.617 10 78.5

12,0 0.888 12 113

14,0 1.21 14 154

16,0 1.58 16 201

20,0 2.47 20 314

25,0 3.85 25 491

28,0 4.83 28 616

32,0 6.31 32 804

40,0 9.86 40 1257

50,0 15.4 50 1963

Australian sizes

Reinforcement for use in concrete construction is subject to the requirements of Australian

Standards AS3600-2009 (Concrete Structures) and AS/NZS4671-2001 (Steel Reinforcing for
Concrete). There are other standards that apply to testing, welding and galvanising. The
designation of reinforcement is defined in AS/NZS4671-2001 using the following formats:

Bars
Shape code Yield strength (MPa) Ductility class Nominal diameter (mm)

D - deformed bar - Grade 300 300 MPa N - normal 10

D - deformed bar - Grade 500 500 MPa N - normal 10

R - round bar 250 MPa L - low 12

16

20

24

28

32

36

40

Examples:

D500N12 is deformed bar, 500 MPa strength, normal ductility and 12 mm nominal diameter -
also known as "N12"

R250N20 is round bar, 250 MPa strength, normal ductility and 20 mm nominal diameter - also
known as "R20"

Bars are typically abbreviated to simply 'N' (hot-rolled deformed bar), 'R' (hot-rolled round bar),
'RW' (cold-drawn ribbed wire) or 'W' (cold-drawn round wire), as the yield strength and ductility
class can be implied from the shape. For example, all commercially available wire has a yield
strength of 500 MPa and low ductility, while round bars are 250 MPa and normal ductility.

India

Rebars are available in the Following Grades as per IS:1786-2008 FE 415/500/500D. Rebars are
quenched with water at a high level pressure so that the outer surface is hardened and the inner
core remains soft.Rebars are Ribbed so that the concrete can have a better grip.Costal regions
used Galvanized rebars this prolongs the life of Rebars.

[2] Weight chart of Indians Rebars with tolerances and sizes.

Mesh
Nominal spacing (short
Ductility Nominal diameter Nominal spacing (long direction)
Shape code
class (mm) direction) (only required in
rectangular mesh)
 L - low
S - square 7 mm 1 100 mm 1 100 mm
ductility

R-
8 mm 2 200 mm 2 200 mm
rectangular

10 mm 8 80 mm 8 80 mm

12 mm

Grades

Rebar is available in grades and specifications that vary in yield strength, ultimate tensile
strength, chemical composition, and percentage of elongation.

In US use, the grade designation is equal to the minimum yield strength of the bar in ksi (1000
psi) for example grade 60 rebar has a minimum yield strength of 60 ksi. Rebar is typically
manufactured in grades 40, 60, and 75.

In countries that use the metric system, the grade designation is typically the yield strength in
megapascals MPa, for example grade 400 (similar to US grade 60).

Common US specifications, published by ACI and ASTM, are:

American Concrete Institute: "ACI 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
and Commentary", ISBN 978-0-87031-930-3 (2014)
ASTM A82: Specification for Plain Steel Wire for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM A184/A184M: Specification for Fabricated Deformed Steel Bar Mats for Concrete
Reinforcement
ASTM A185: Specification for Welded Plain Steel Wire Fabric for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM A496: Specification for Deformed Steel Wire for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM A497: Specification for Welded Deformed Steel Wire Fabric for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM A615/A615M: Deformed and plain carbon-steel bars for concrete reinforcement
ASTM A616/A616M: Specification for Rail-Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete
Reinforcement
ASTM A617/A617M: Specification for Axle-Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete
Reinforcement
ASTM A706/A706M: Low-alloy steel deformed and plain bars for concrete reinforcement
ASTM A767/A767M: Specification for Zinc-Coated(Galvanized) Steel Bars for Concrete
Reinforcement
ASTM A775/A775M: Specification for Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing Steel Bars
ASTM A934/A934M: Specification for Epoxy-Coated Prefabricated Steel Reinforcing Bars
ASTM A955: Deformed and plain stainless-steel bars for concrete reinforcement
ASTM A996: Rail-steel and axle-steel deformed bars for concrete reinforcement
ASTM A1035: Standard Specification for Deformed and Plain, Low-carbon, Chromium, Steel Bars
for Concrete Reinforcement
ASTM marking designations are:

'S' billet A615

'I' rail A616 (superseded by A996 "ASTM A616 / A616M - 96a Standard Specification for Rail
Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement (Withdrawn 1999)". Astm.org.
Retrieved 2012-08-24.)
'IR' Rail Meeting Supplementary Requirements S1 A616 (superseded by A996 "ASTM A616 /
A616M - 96a Standard Specification for Rail Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete
Reinforcement (Withdrawn 1999)". Astm.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.)
'A' Axle A617(superseded by A996 "ASTM A617 / A617M - 96a Standard Specification for Axle
Steel Deformed and Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement (Withdrawn 1999)". Astm.org.
Retrieved 2012-08-24.)
'W' Low-alloy A706

Historically in Europe, rebar is composed of mild steel material with a yield strength of
approximately 250 MPa (36 ksi). Modern rebar is composed of high-yield steel, with a yield
strength more typically 500 MPa (72.5 ksi). Rebar can be supplied with various grades of
ductility. The more ductile steel is capable of absorbing considerably more energy when
deformed - a behavior that resists earthquake forces and is used in design. These high yield
strength ductile steels are usually produced using the TEMPCORE process,[12] a method of
thermomechanical processing. The manufacture of reinforcing steel by re-rolling finished
products (e.g. sheets or rails) is not allowed.[13] In contrast to structural steel, rebar steel grades
are not harmonized yet across Europe, each country having their own national standards.
However some standardization of specification and testing methods exist under EN 10080 and
EN ISO 15630:

BS EN 10080: Steel for the reinforcement of concrete. Weldable reinforcing steel. General.
(2005)
BS 4449: Steel for the reinforcement of concrete. Weldable reinforcing steel. Bar, coil and
decoiled product. Specification. (2005/2009)
BS 4482: Steel wire for the reinforcement of concrete products. Specification (2005)
BS 4483: Steel fabric for the reinforcement of concrete. Specification (2005)
BS 6744: Stainless steel bars for the reinforcement of and use in concrete. Requirements and
test methods. (2001/2009)
DIN 488-1: Reinforcing steels - Part 1: Grades, properties, marking (2009)
DIN 488-2: Reinforcing steels - Part 2: Reinforcing steel bars (2009)
DIN 488-3: Reinforcing steels - Part 3: Reinforcing steel in coils, steel wire (2009)
DIN 488-4: Reinforcing steels - Part 4: Welded fabric (2009)
DIN 488-5: Reinforcing steels - Part 5: Lattice girders (2009)
DIN 488-6: Reinforcing steel - Part 6: Assessment of conformity (2010)
BS EN ISO 15630-1: Steel for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete. Test methods.
Reinforcing bars, wire rod and wire. (2010)
BS EN ISO 15630-2: Steel for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete. Test methods.
Welded fabric. (2010)
Placing rebar

Steel wire used to secure rebar before concrete is poured over it

Rebar cages are fabricated either on or off the project site commonly with the help of hydraulic
benders and shears. However, for small or custom work a tool known as a Hickey, or hand rebar
bender, is sufficient. The rebars are placed by steel fixers "rodbusters" or concrete reinforcing
ironworkers, with bar supports and concrete or plastic rebar spacers separating the rebar from the
concrete formwork to establish concrete cover and ensure that proper embedment is achieved.
The rebars in the cages are connected either by spot welding, tying steel wire, sometimes using
an electric rebar tier, or with mechanical connections. For tying epoxy coated or galvanised
rebars, epoxy coated or galvanized wire is normally used.

Stirrups

Stirrups form the outer part of a rebar cage. Stirrups are usually rectangular, and are placed at
regular intervals along a column or beam to prevent shear failure.[14]

Welding

The American Welding Society (AWS) D 1.4 sets out the practices for welding rebar in the U.S.
Without special consideration the only rebar that is ready to weld is W grade (Low-alloy
A706). Rebar that is not produced to the ASTM A706 specification is generally not suitable for
welding without calculating the "carbon-equivalent". Material with a carbon-equivalent of less
than 0.55 can be welded. (AWS D1.4)

ASTM A 616 & ASTM A 617 reinforcing are re-rolled rail steel & re-rolled rail axle steel with
uncontrolled chemistry, phosphorus & carbon content. These materials are not common.

Rebar cages are normally tied together with wire, although spot welding of cages has been the
norm in Europe for many years, and is becoming more common in the US. High strength steels
for prestressed concrete may absolutely not be welded.[citation needed]
Mechanical connections

Also known as "mechanical couplers" or "mechanical splices", mechanical connections are used
to connect reinforcing bars together. Mechanical couplers are an effective means to reduce rebar
congestion in highly reinforced areas for cast-in-place concrete construction. These couplers are
also used in precast concrete construction at the joints between members.

The structural performance criteria for mechanical connections varies between countries, codes,
and industries. As a minimum requirement, codes typically specify that the rebar to splice
connection meets or exceeds 125% of the specified yield strength of the rebar. More stringent
criteria also requires the development of the specified ultimate strength of the rebar. As an
example, ACI 318 specifies either Type 1 (125% Fy) or Type 2 (125% Fy and 100% Fu)
performance criteria.[15]

Rebars with safety caps installed before being covered in concrete.

For concrete structures designed with ductility in mind, it is recommended that the mechanical
connections are also capable of failing in a ductile manner, typically known in the reinforcing
steel industry as achieving "bar-break". As an example, Caltrans specifies a required mode of
failure (i.e., "necking of the bar").[16]

Safety

To prevent injury, the protruding ends of steel rebar are often bent over or covered with special
steel-reinforced plastic "plate" caps. "Mushroom" caps may provide protection from scratches
and other minor injuries, but provide little to no protection from impalement. [17]

Designations

Reinforcement is usually tabulated in a "reinforcement schedule" on construction drawings. This

eliminates ambiguity in the notations used around the world. The following list provides
examples of the notations used in the architectural, engineering, and construction industry.

New Zealand

Designation Explanation
 High strength (500 MPa) 16 mm diameter rebars spaced at 300 mm centers (center-to-
HD-16-300,
center distance) on both the top and bottom face and in each way as well (i.e.,
T&B, EW
longitudinal and transverse).

3-D12 Three mild strength (300 MPa) 12 mm diameter rebars

D grade (300 MPa) smooth bar stirrups, spaced at 225 mm centres. By default in New
Zealand practice all stirrups are normally interpreted as being full, closed, loops. This is a
R8 Stirrups @
detailing requirement for concrete ductility in seismic zones; If a single strand of stirrup
225 MAX
with a hook at each end was required, this would typically be both specified and
illustrated.

United States

Designation Explanation

#4 @ 12 OC, T&B, Number 4 rebars spaced 12 inches on center (center-to-center distance) on both the
EW top and bottom faces and in each way as well, i.e. longitudinal and transverse.

(3) #4 Three number 4 rebars (usually used when the rebar perpendicular to the detail)

#3 ties @ 9 OC, (2) Number 3 rebars used as stirrups, spaced at 9 inches on center. Each set consists of
per set two ties, which is usually illustrated.

Number 7 rebar spaced 12 inches apart, placed in each direction (each way) and on
#7 @ 12" EW, EF
each face.

Reuse and recycling

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to
reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2016)

Workers extracting rebar from demolition rubble

In China and many other countries, after the demolition of a building, workers are called in to
remove the rebar. They scour the site, extracting the metal using bolt cutters, welding equipment,
sledgehammers, and other tools. The metal is partially straightened, bundled and sold. This
practice is extremely detrimental to the structural safety of subsequent buildings as steel that has
been in the plastic yield zone exhibits a less ductile failure mechanism. This results in buildings
that are much less safe in earthquake or wind load situations - these buildings collapse suddenly
instead of using the steel reinforcing bar to absorb energy and "sway", warning occupants of
hazardous conditions and allowing them time to escape.

Rebar, like almost all metal products, can be recycled as scrap. It is usually combined with other
steel products, melted down, and re-formed.