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ConcreteReinforcingSteelInstitute(CRSI)

933NorthPlumGroveRoad,Schaumburg,Illinois60173
p:847.517.1200 f:847.517.1206 i:www.crsi.org

Introduction to the Institute

Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
Founded in 1924, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel
Institute (CRSI) is a national trade association that
stands as the authoritative resource for information related
to steel reinforced concrete construction. CRSI Industry
members include manufacturers, fabricators, and placers
of reinforcing bars and related products. Our Professional
members are involved in the research, design and construction of reinforced concrete. Together, they form a
complete network of industry information and support.
Engineering
CRSIs engineering staff and technical committees actively
participate in building code and specification groups to
ensure that reinforcing steel issues are appropriately
represented. CRSIs highly respected publications are used
throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Marketing
CRSI marketing development efforts focus on regional and
national promotions. Regional programs specifically target
key decision makers on a local level. National programs
promote the advantages of using reinforcing conventionally, prestressed, or post-tensioned reinforced concrete as
a structural system and also provide the tools for effective
regional promotion.
Regional and National Promotion
Building Structures: Commercial, Industrial,
Institutional and Multi-Family Residential
Transportation Structures: Bridges, Highways,
Pavements, and Transit Systems
CRSI Design Awards Program: Showcases forwardthinking designs of site-cast reinforced concrete
structures

CRSIs History

Membership
CRSI members have the opportunity to participate on three
different levels: National, Regional and Local. By operating
on multiple levels, CRSI companies benefit from having a
network of members in their geographical area, region staff
who can meet member needs unique to their area, and a
national voice in the industry all aimed at promoting members interests and helping to improve their operations.
Networking Opportunities

Learning Resources
Engineers, architects and owners, youve come to the right place to:
Tap into CRSIs wealth of design guides, research studies, and
training programs.
Determine if reinforced concrete is right for your structure.
Capitalize on reinforced concrete's versatility, durability, and strength.

Chapter, Regional and National Meetings

Build an aesthetically pleasing and economical structure.

Marketing and Technical Programs

Learn how to design for maximum constructability.

Seminars and Educational Programs

See examples of innovative and award-winning structures built with

reinforced concrete.

Professional Membership
For engineers, architects, code officials, building
inspectors, specifiers, professors and researchers.
Benefits include:
Current design and construction techniques for
reinforced concrete structures information
Savings on CRSI publications
Access to CRSIs technical information
Corporate Membership
For fabricators, producers, and manufacturers of bar
supports and mechanical splices. Benefits include:
Access to the latest in reinforced concrete detailing,
fabrication and construction
Savings on CRSI publications
Technical assistance from CRSIs engineering staff
Industry representation at trade shows, conferences
and government functions

CRSI offers valuable education support for students and

professional continuing education:
Dozens of specialized educational resources for universities.
Partnerships between CRSI's Regions and universities/technical
colleges to provide students with valued support and access to
production facilities and in-progress projects relevant to course work.
Extensive library of technical guides, presentations, and analytical materials to supplement civil/structural engineering, construction management,
and architectural courses, research projects and capstone programs.
Scholarships for students interested in reinforced concrete design
and construction available annually through the CRSI Education & Research Foundation.
Graduate research fellowships available to masters students through
the CRSI Education & Research Foundation.
Field trips to reinforcing bar production, fabrication, and placement sites
so students can see first-hand the practical application of
design principles.

CRSI Regions and Offices

CRSI Design Awards

The CRSI Design Awards are the
Institutes most prestigious honor
recognizing exceptional advances
in design leadership, innovation,
constructability and performance.
For more than 30 years, CRSIs
Design Awards have recognized
exceptional performance in reinforced concrete design and construction management.
Award Categories
Awards are presented in the following categories from qualifying entries received from throughout the
United States and Canada.
Bridges
Commercial Buildings
Cultural & Entertainment Facilities
Educational & Healthcare Facilities
Public Buildings
Residential Buildings
Transportation Facilities

Judging Criteria
The CRSI Design Awards are
bestowed upon the Owner, Architect, Engineer and/or Construction
Manager whose project best
exemplifies the following:
Aesthetic Expression
Design Innovation
Engineering Achievement
Functional Excellence
Economy of Construction
Call for Entries
Presented on a biennial basis,
submittals are solicited in oddnumbered years.
Projects must be constructed
primarily through the use of sitecast, steel-reinforced concrete.
Hybrid, tilt-up, segmental and
post-tensioned systems are
acceptable as long as more than
60% of the structure is cast-inplace at the project site.
Winners are publicized in trade
and professional publications, the
CRSI website and CRSIs nationwide seminar events for a period
of approximately two years.
New I-35W Bridge
Minneapolis, MN

Theres a CRSI professional near you.

Weve established regional offices from coast-to-coast with professionals ready to respond to your reinforced concrete questions.
Local reinforced concrete design and construction seminars, presentations and office visits can be easily arranged. For additional
information, contact your region manager.

CORPORATE OFFICE
933 N. Plum Grove Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-517-1200
www.crsi.org

CENTRAL
REGION MANAGER
Jack Gibbons
Schaumburg, IL
847-517-1200
jgibbons@crsi.org

GREAT LAKES
REGION MANAGER
Tony Johnson, PE
Rochester Hills, MI
248-726-0500
tjohnson@crsi.org

PACIFIC NORTHWEST/
WESTERN CANADA
MANAGER
Jim Fullerton
Blaine, WA
360-933-4126
jfullerton@crsi.org

WESTERN
REGION MANAGER
Bethany Hennings
Modesto, CA
209-499-4740
bhennings@crsi.org

ATLANTIC
REGION MANAGER
Michael Mota, PE
Williamstown, NJ
856-264-3851
mmota@crsi.org

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
CONSULTANT
Attila Beres, PhD, PE
West Los Angeles, CA
310-476-9941
aberes@crsi.org

TRANSPORTATION
CONULTANT
Ted Ferragut
Lewes, DE
302-945-1517
tferragut@crsi.org

CRSI Scholarships and Research Fellowships Available

The CRSI Education & Research Foundation is a nonprofit educational
foundation responsible for funding and administering undergraduate
scholarships for engineering and/or
architectural students. The Foundation
also funds graduate research fellowships for the advancement of reinforced concrete research. For more
information, contact your CRSI region
manager or visit the Foundation website at www.crsi-foundation.org.

GREATER SOUTHWESTERN
REGION MANAGER
John Turner, CSP, PE
Richardson, TX
214-281-8830
jturner@crsi.org

SOUTHERN
REGION MANAGER
Steven R. Hawkins, AIA, CSI
Sebastian, FL
772-321-6880
shawkins@crsi.org

Designers Resource
World of Concrete
The World of Concrete (WOC)
has united construction industry
professionals in a profitable faceto-face market place for over
30 years and is the largest annual international construction
tradeshow. In addition to featuring the latest equipment, supplies, and services for the construction industry, over 50 seminar topics are offered, ranging
from basics of concrete to specialized construction, finishing
or repair techniques.

Popular CRSI Technical Notes

CRSI develops specific informational publications in
the form of Technical Notes (formerly known as
Engineering Data Reports, or EDRs) categorized by
(Structural) Engineering, Construction and Architectural.
Visit www.mycrsi.org (available mid-2010) to download
these popular publications. In addition, CRSI offers
seminars based upon many of these and other topics.

ASSEMBLING REINFORCING BARS BY WELDING

IN THE FABRICATION SHOP This report focuses on
proper techniques used in welding reinforcing bar before it is
shipped out to the job site

COMMONLY ASKED TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

CRSI's technical staff receives numerous inquiries about
cast-in-place reinforced concrete construction. This report
provides answers to the most commonly asked technical
questions.

Structural Bulletin Series

CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCE CONFLICTS IN

REINFORCED CONCRETE Reinforced concrete is the

The Designers Responsibility for

Reinforced Bar Design, written by
Degenkolb Engineers, offers
suggestions to structural engineers on obligations to design
and detail reinforced concrete
structures so that the contractor and reinforcing steel fabricator can build the structure
as easily and economically as
possible.

result of the work of several separate trades or subcontractors who utilize various ACI tolerances applicable to their
trade. This report presents some common areas of conflict
due to tolerances. Recommendations of actions that may
lessen or eliminate the conflicts are presented.

Reinforced Concrete and Secure

Buildings: Progressive Collapse,
written by Baldridge and Associates, looks at progressive
collapse and the current design approaches for concrete
buildings. Design and analysis
procedures are reviewed and
specific examples are introduced and discussed.

DESIGNING REINFORCED CONCRETE RECTANGULAR COLUMNS FOR BIAXIAL BENDING Presents

design recommendations for determining the strength of
rectangular, reinforced concrete columns, subject to biaxial
eccentric loads.

ECONOMICAL CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION

The cost of cast-in-place reinforced concrete construction
can be reduced, sometimes dramatically, by following a few
simple rules in the preliminary layout and design of the
project. This report summarizes suggestions on formwork,
reinforcement, and concrete for an economical reinforced
concrete structure.
EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL REINFORCING BAR
DETAILS The purpose of this Technical Note is to remind
the Architect/Engineer of specific instances where structural
drawing configurations can be improved upon to provide a
more efficient and economical design.

FIELD INSPECTION OF REINFORCING BARS

Outlines the critical components in a quality control and inspection program for construction of a reinforced concrete
structure, including inspector qualifications, inspection goals,
materials, tying, tolerances, splices, and field modifications.

FIRE RESISTANCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE

BUILDINGS Cast-in-place reinforced concrete buildings
are inherently fire resistant. This report focuses on the
design methodologies for fire resistance and the properties
of a well-designed reinforced concrete structure that make
it fire resistant.

FORMWORK DIGEST Outlines structural and architectural design considerations for economical formwork.
Provides formwork definitions, structural and architectural
design, floors, beams, columns, and general guidelines.

connected by concrete compression struts and reinforcing

bar tension ties. This report contains an illustrative example
of beam design using Appendix A. Part 1 of 2.

REINFORCED CONCRETE SHEAR STRENGTH

ANALYSIS WITH STRUT-AND-TIE MODELS, PART 2
This continuing report presents two additional examples
of strut-and-tie model design: deep transfer beam and deep
spandrel beam. Part 2 of 2.

REINFORCED MASONRY Reinforced masonry is an

excellent building material for wall construction such as basement, retaining, screen, veneer, fire walls and bearing walls
(to name a few). This report provides answers and illustrations to some of the most asked questions regarding concrete masonry construction.

REINFORCING STEEL IN SLABS ON GRADE

LEED QUALIFICATION WITH REINFORCED
CONCRETE While no specific construction material is
favored over another within the USGBC LEED rating system,
several credit areas benefit both directly and indirectly by the
use of reinforced concrete.

MAXIMIZED SUSTAINABILITY: LEVERAGING THE

QUALITIES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE IN THE
DESIGN OF SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURESS This

Slabs-on-grade are used for industrial and commercial floors,

residential floors, parking lots, pavements, airport slabs and
other applications. This report outlines the need for reinforcing steel in slabs-on-grade and provides design examples.

STRENGTH DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE

COLUMNS BY ACI 318-05 This report presents the
basics of the unified design previsions of the ACI 318-05
code, as applied to column design.

document discusses reinforced concretes inherent strengths

with a triple-bottom line (environmental, economical and social) view to achieve the designers sustainable objectives.

TENSION DEVELOPMENT AND LAP SPLICE

LENGTHS This report focuses on determining the tension

ONE-WAY CONCRETE JOIST CONSTRUCTION

development lengths and tension lap splice lengths of reinforcing bars, based on the 2008 ACI 318 Building Code.

Understand the important factors in one-way concrete joist

construction: a monolithic combination of regularly-spaced
joists (ribs) and a thin slab of concrete cast in place to form an
integral unit with the supporting beams, columns and walls.

PLACING DRAWINGS This report defines and describes placing drawings, which are the detailed drawings
for the reinforcing bars in cast-in-place reinforced concrete
construction.

REINFORCED CONCRETE SHEAR STRENGTH

ANALYSIS WITH STRUT-AND-TIE MODELS, PART 1
Appendix A of the ACI 318 Code contains rules for the
analysis of forces on a truss composed of nodal points

USING SOFT METRIC REINFORCING BARS IN

NON-METRIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS This
report presents guidelines for using soft metric reinforcing
bars on non-metric projects on which inch-pound dimensions
and inch-pound reinforcing bars have been specified.

WIDE-MODULE JOIST SYSTEMS Provides typical

dimensions for wide-module joist systems, along with information on how this structural system is constructed, including construction dimensions, supporting reinforcement, and
design and detailing aids.

Essential CRSI Publications

Association Resources
Concrete-Related Organizations

Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA)

www.forms.org

American Association of State Highway

and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
www.transportation.org

National Concrete Bridge Council (NCBC)

www.nationalconcretebridge.org

American Concrete Institute (ACI)

www.aci-int.org

National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)

www.ncma.org

American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA)

www.acpa.org

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

(NRMCA) www.nrmca.org

American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA)

www.concretepumpers.com

Portland Cement Association (PCA)

www.cement.org

American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)

www.ascconline.org

Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI)

www.post-tensioning.org

CRSI DESIGN HANDBOOK

Architectural Precast Association (APA)

www.archprecast.org

Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)

www.pci.org

The 10th Edition provides the necessary information needed for common
reinforced concrete structural members such as columns, beams, footings,
pile caps, retaining walls and floor systems.

Concrete Foundations Association (CFA)

www.cfawalls.org

Reinforcing Steel Institute of Ontario (RSIO)

www.rebar.org

Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute (ESCSI)

www.escsi.org

Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA)

www.tilt-up.org

Epoxy Interest Group (EIG)

www.epoxyinterestgroup.org

Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI)

www.wirereinforcementinstitute.org

REINFORCING BARS: ANCHORAGES AND SPLICES

Other Industry Organizations

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)

www.agc.org

The 5th Edition contains complete information on development and splicing

of reinforcing bars. Features technical data on mechanical splices. Includes
extensive tables of development and lap splice lengths for uncoated and
epoxy-coated reinforcing bars.

Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments

(ASBE) www.greenerfacilities.org

PLACING REINFORCING BARS

This 8th Edition presents the best accepted current field practices in placing
reinforcing bars. It is written specifically for apprentices, journeymen ironworkers
and inspectors.
FIELD INSPECTION GUIDE
This Pocket Guide provides an overview of the placing of reinforcing bars.
Topics include material inspection, installed reinforcing bar tolerances,
visual inspection of installed reinforcing bar and more. Includes bar fabrication information such as bar sizes (standard and metric), hook details and
more. The guide can be used in conjunction with the Field Inspection of
Reinforcing Bars CD or as a stand-alone product.

MANUAL OF STANDARD PRACTICE

[ Now available on CDROM! ]

The 28th Edition contains information on recommended industry practices for

estimating, detailing, fabricating, and placing reinforcing steel for reinforced
concrete construction.

REINFORCING BAR DETAILING

This heavily illustrated book covers materials, specifications, placing
drawings, current detailing practices, and computer estimating and
detailing. For industrial on-the-job training programs as well as colleges,
technical and vocational schools.
DETAILER TRAINING PROGRAM (not shown)
Computer-based training program to help reinforcing bar fabricators
to attract, train, and retain efficient reinforcing bar detailers.
The DVD program contains 12 chapters including:
250 primary screens
1,300 narrations (6-8 hrs.)
1,200 graphics

82 animations
8 full screen videos
60 workbook exercises

9 animated 3D fly-throughs
500 definitions

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

www.aia.org

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)

www.csa.ca
Concrete Industry Foundation (CIF)
www.concreteindustryfoundation.org

American Railway Engineering and Maintenanceof-Way Association (AREMA)

www.arema.org

Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)

www.csinet.org

American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) www.artba.org

Environmental Council of Concrete

Organizations (ECCO) www.ecco.org

American Segmental Bridge Institute (ASBI)

www.asbi-assoc.org

Federal Highway Administration,

Office of Bridge Technology
www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

www.asce.org
American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM)
www.astm.org
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
www.abc.org

The International Code Council (ICC)

www.iccsafe.org
National Council of Structural Engineers
Associations (NCSEA) www.ncsea.com

Building Better Outcomes With

Reinforced Concrete
16 Keys to Better Building Sustainability, Value and Efficiency
How significant can a
structural frame be?
Evaluating the role that a structural frame can play in terms of
cost and time savings can reveal
a number of surprising and valuable attributes.
All too often, structural frame
selection relies upon narrow bid
comparisons with minimal regard
to the attributes and implications
of various systems.

Get Started
Sooner
An accelerated start is made
possible by readily available
concrete and reinforcing steel
that do not require weeks or
months of distant mill fabrication.
Because reinforced concrete is
most often sourced locally, time is
not lost to off-site staging, transportation or logistics.

Minimize Initial
Costs
Low first cost can be achieved
through reinforced concrete's efficient building systems and inherent material benefits. Cash
flow is improved by eliminating
front-end loaded mill order deposits often required for
other building materials.

Finish
Faster
Reinforced concrete routinely
leads structural steel in overall
time-to-completion comparisons.
When the inevitable mid-course
correction is called for during
construction, the ability of the
structural framing system to be
adapted on-site quickly can make
a big difference as well.

Multiple Progress
Tracks
A well-known advantage of
reinforced concrete construction
is the ability for concurrent work
on site as the frame is built.
Readily available local materials
and simultaneous progress by
multiple trades combine to speed
project completion.

As owners, designers and builders

begin to fully appreciate these
material features, a broader range
of solutions can be explored.
The 16 areas of opportunity presented here provide some insight
into the potential for savings that
can be gained by evaluating the
structural systems comprehensive impact. Whether the building
is intended for owners use or
lease income, these concerns all
remain valid.
We encourage you to consider
the significant value that may be
hidden in each of these key areas
of opportunity.

Seek Inherent
Opportunities
Reinforced concretes unique
properties are the key to cost
and time savings from labor and
materials, which can be reduced
or eliminated, when a reinforced
concrete frame is utilized. These
are benefits easy to undervalue
in frame selection when limited
cost comparisons are made.

Create Flexible
Space
Marketability improves with
flexibility as smart owners exploit the ability to quickly,
easily, and inexpensively adapt
open floor space to a variety of
configurations. Reinforced
concrete buildings provide long
spans of clear space for fast
and cost-effective adaptability.

Build Value From

Strength
Adding structural capacity in
reinforced concrete is both inexpensive and easy. Designers can
effectively respond to current
and future load conditions with
reinforced concrete systems that
offer capacity and adaptability,
at a fractional increase in material cost.

Construct Productive
Space
Space pays height costs.
Lowering building volume is one
way building owners can improve
return on investment. Concrete
framing systems allow lower
floor-to-floor heights,thus designers can respond to height restrictions and directly reduce a host
of vertical material costs.

2010 DESIGN AWARDS

Anticipate Technology
Changes
High-tech readiness depends on
a buildings ability to accommodate heat-generating and/or vibration sensitive computers,
monitors, and networking equipment without costly structural
modification. Reinforced concrete meets these needs.

Stand Up
To Fire
Inherent fire resistance is a
valued benefit of reinforced
concrete construction. The
simplest concrete structural
frame can easily achieve fire
code compliance. Further, the
need to add fireproofing is not
required for concrete.

Reduce Long-Term
Costs
Significantly reduced expenses
are common in well designed
reinforced concrete buildings
such as long-term savings in lighting, HVAC and maintenance
costs. Insurance premium savings due to concretes inherent
fire resistance can be substantial
over time as well.

Prefer Local
Resources
Reinforced concrete is a local
material. The benefits of using
local labor and material resources
such as concrete and reinforcing
steel should not be overlooked.
Local resources are generally
more accessible. Transportation
costs are reduced and the local
community benefits.

Exploit Monolithic
Redundancy
Seismic and blast resistance,
while very different concerns, are
both responded to effectively
through the routine structural
redundancy common in cast-inplace, reinforced concrete buildings. Reinforced concretes
monolithic structure provides an
important measure of protection.

Make a Visual
Statement
Contextual response. When it
comes to providing effective response to creativity, all structural
framing systems are not created
equal. Reinforced concrete is a
fluid and cost-effective tool for
innovative building solutions.
Concrete buildings exude stability
and value.

Keep Your
Cool
A buildings thermal mass is its
capacity to limit dramatic fluctuations in temperature. The net
result for a reinforced concrete
frame is a daily contribution to
both cost and energy savings.
This is particularly true of buildings with heat-generating equipment such as computers.

Prepare for Constant

Change
Immediate on-site adaptability
is a tremendous advantage when
time is of the essence. Urgency
and change are constants in
construction and the marketplace. These concerns are well
responded to with reinforced
concrete's liquid adaptability
today and tomorrow.

Trump
International
Hotel & Tower
Chicago, IL
The use of reinforced concrete appears
to be a vastly superior choice over steel;
adapts better to the curvilinear forms
and its much greater weight insures
better dynamic performance.
-- Robert M. Darvas, PE, SE
2010 Design Awards Judge

Recycled and Recyclable

Steel Reinforcing Bar used in reinforced concrete construction is truly a green building material. Recycled scrap steel is melted
down and eventually rolled into bars of different sizes and strengths dependent on the specified application. More than 7 million tons
of steel, virtually the entire feedstock of steel scrap, is recycled into reinforcing bars each year. For more information on the production process of reinforcing steel, contact your CRSI Region Manager.

Basic Concrete Framing Systems

Durable and Cost-Effective
Concrete Building Systems
The largest portion of a buildings structural frame cost is in
the floor system. To maximize the
cost-effectiveness of a structure
and respond to demanding clear
span and load requirements, a
variety of reinforced concrete
floor framing types can be used.
The economics of the floor framing system will also depend on
local market conditions, including
the formwork systems typically
employed locally.
Reinforced concrete frames readily adapt to future needs. The attributes and benefits of these
systems should be carefully considered from the earliest stages
of design.
Shown here are some basic considerations of eight framing system types. CRSI offers detailed
publications and seminars to assist designers in achieving maximum building system efficiency.
Other concrete floor systems that
can be considered under certain
conditions include the following:
Precast, double-tee
Precast, hollow-core
Often, these systems will have a
cast-in-place concrete topping to
establish diaphragm action.

Cast-In-Place Concrete Structural Floor Systems

Two Way Flat Plate

Span Range:
Const. Depth:

12 to 25 ft.*
6 to 9 in.

Most economical short-span

structural system
Constructed in the shortest time
Utilizes simplest formwork and
reinforcement layout
Creates shortest story height
Provides most flexible layout of
columns/partitions

Flat Slab with Beams

Span Range:
Slab Depth:

15 to 30 ft.
6 to 10 in.

Very economical system; can

use flying forms
Utilizes smaller columns
Provides uniform clear space
below slab
Provides flexible layout of
columns/partitions

* additional span lengths w/ post-tensioning

Joist/Wide Module

Flat Slab with

Banded Beams

Span Range:
Slab Depth:

15 to 40 ft.*
6 to 8 in.

Very economical system; can

use flying forms
Utilizes smaller columns than
flat plate
Provides uniform clear space
below slab
Provides flexible layout of
columns/partitions

Two Way Flat Slab

with Drop Panels

Span Range: 20 to 35 ft.

Slab Depth: 7 to 12 in.
Very economical system; can
use flying forms
Utilizes smaller columns than
flat plate
Provides uniform clear space
below slab
Provides flexible layout of
columns/partitions

* additional span lengths w/ post-tensioning

Two Way Waffle Slab

One Way Slab and Beam

Voided Slab

(top view)

Span Range: Up to 40 ft.

Joist Spacing: 5 to 6 ft.
Pan Depth:
16 to 24 in.

Span Range:
Dome Depth:

Provides the depth required for

stiffness
Efficient use of concrete and
reinforcement
Reusable forms readily removed
and re-erected
Readily accommodates HVAC
and floor penetrations

Dome forms provide waffle

panels in modules
Longer spans and heavier load
capacity
Easy accommodation of
electrical/mechanical openings
Ribbed joist pattern is
architecturally desirable

Up to 50 ft.
12 to 24 in.

Span Range:
Slab Spans:
Const. Depth:

60 to 65 ft.*
18 to 22 ft.*
30 to 36 in.

For concentrated and heavy load

areas
Can be used with other types of
framing
Common for parking structures,
elevator and stair areas
* additional span lengths w/ post-tensioning

Slab Span:
Floor Depth:

(top view)

Up to 56 ft.
Varies

Larger spans without beams

Larger open floor areas
Lower floor to floor heights
Earthquake resistance
Resource efficiency

Specialized Concrete System Options

Precast Systems
Precast /prestressed concrete members are usually
cast and cured in a position
other than their final position. Precast concrete members are usually plant cast,
and shipped to a project site
for erection into their final
position. Precast concrete is
typically a simple-span material where maximum economy is achieved with
repetition of standard or recurring sections; continuity
can be achieved with proper
connection details. Prestressed concrete is structural precast concrete where
internal stresses have been
introduced into the member
through prestressing strands
to reduce load-induced tensile stresses in the concrete.
Prestressing the precast
component improves economy and performance considerations, but is usually
only feasible with standard
shapes capable of being
cast in long-line beds, such
as double-tee beams,
I-shaped bridge girders,
sandwich wall panels, or
hollow-core sections

Insulated Concrete
Forms (ICF)
An ICF is a stay-in-place
form made of foam plastic
or other insulation material
that acts as a form for the
reinforced concrete. The
form remains as a permanent part of the assembly to
create an insulated, reinforced concrete component
used primarily for foundations, basements, and
above-grade load-bearing
walls. A majority of the stayin-place wall form systems
in North America are ICFs.
ICF construction benefits include low material costs,
easy handling and set-up
due to their light weight, integral attachment surfaces
for exterior or interior finishes, and inherent sound
and thermal insulating qualities. ICF systems vary from
one system to another
based on the primary configuration of the forming
module, with three main
variations within the ICF industry. The differences refer
to the final shape of the
concrete within the form.

10 Steps to Optimum Formwork Economy

Tilt Up Systems
Tilt-up construction is one of
the fastest growing construction methods in the U.S. This is
due to the economics of tilt-up,
which combine reasonable cost
with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction, and
minimal capital investment.
These advantages are most
evident in buildings greater
than 10,000 square feet in
plan area, and 20-foot or
higher side walls with repetition
in panel size and appearance.

Reinforced
Masonry
Concrete masonry units (CMUs)
are used for interior and exterior
walls, partitions, terrace walls,
and other enclosures. Some are
available with the same treatment or pattern on both faces,
to serve as both exterior and interior finish wall material. Architectural units comply with the
same quality standards as conventional concrete masonry,
Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry
Units, ASTM C 90.

Post Tensioning
Post-tensioning is a method of
reinforcing (strengthening) concrete with stressed, high
strength steel strands or bars,
typically referred to as tendons.
Post-tensioning applications include office and apartment
buildings, parking structures,
bridges, stadiums and water
tanks. This construction
method is used in conjunction
with steel reinforcing bar in
site-cast concrete structures in
order to achieve minimum
depth floor with maximum
span.

Architectural
Precast
Architectural Precast concrete
products are precast concrete
units of custom design, complex
shapes, and varying dimensions. The early fabrication of
Architectural Precast Concrete
is accomplished independent of
events in the field. Site-cast
structural frames can occasionally be enhanced by utilizing
permanent precast forms and
spandrels in combination with
cast-in-place beams, slabs and
columns.

CRSI Membership Matters

CRSI Members are distinguished by their commitment to continuous improvement of the reinforcing steel industry.
CRSI membership offers access to the latest technical information, authorship opportunities of technical papers and
publications, participation on technical committees; all of which keeps you abreast within the industry and can directly
benefit your customers.

1. Take a global approach. Study the structure as a

whole - taking into consideration non-structural building systems and costs that may be affected by the
framing system choice.
2. Consider multiple schemes. Prepare freehand alternative sketches comparing all likely structural framing
systems and arrangements.
3. Think dimensional consistency. Establish column locations as uniformly as possible, keeping orientation
and size constant wherever possible.
4. Avoid irregular methods and layouts. Select preliminary member sizes from CRSI Design Handbook or
other appropriate reference material and rules of
thumb (i.e. standard dimensions).
5. Use wide shallow beams. Design beams to be as
wide as, or wider than, the columns they frame into,
to minimize bar congestion. Wide beams are more
economical to form than narrow beams.
6. Keep story heights constant. Select the best balance
between cost of structure and design considerations.
7. Focus on simplicity. Visualize how forms would be
constructed. Keep beams and columns simple without haunches, brackets, pilasters, batters, widened
ends or offsets.
8. Plan for maximum repetition. Standardize member
sizes for maximum reuse of forms and plan for sequencing and recycling of formwork where possible
during construction.
9. Prioritize cost impacts. During the final design, focus
on those items having greatest financial impact on
total structural frame cost.
10. Explore timesaving alternatives. Plan your project
specifications to minimize construction costs and
time by including items such as early stripping time
for formwork and high early strength concrete mix.
A detailed guide to maximizing formwork economy is available from CRSI. The Institutes Technical Notes (formerly
Engineering Data Report No.s 30, 32 and 47) address
many common formwork economy considerations. These
documents can be downloaded free of charge (available
mid-2010) from the CRSI website.

Transportation Solutions
From the early days of dirt roads and canals to railroads to modern freeways, the growth, vitality, and
global economic leadership of America has been
predicated on commerce; which in turn is dependent on an efficient transportation system. Steel reinforced concrete has been one the most important
and enduring products used in this system.
Nearly 75% of our bridges are made from reinforced concrete. Many of our pavements are made
from concrete, carrying huge amounts of America's
commerce. Transportation safety is many times improved with concrete medium barriers and safety
parapets, made of steel reinforced concrete.
Steel reinforced concrete has been a durable,
strong, and low-maintenance construction choice
for vital transportation infrastructure for over 100
years. For today's highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, transit facilities and other structures, steel
reinforced concrete is an economical, durable and
aesthetically versatile construction product.
It is adaptable to available budget, construction
restraints, and life-cycle costs

Concrete Bridge Types

Slab

Slab bridges may be composed of single

or multiple spans.
Simple, easy to construct.
Well-suited for spans up to 50 feet.
For longer spans, continuity with
abutments and piers can mobilize
frame action.

I-Girder

Arch

Concrete arch bridges may consist of

either a single arch or multiple arches
supported by abutments and intermediate piers.
Most efficient shape for supporting
gravity loads.
Economical way to traverse small
distances.

Box Beams

Cable-Stayed

A more recent type of bridge currently

gaining popularity as a "signature" structure is the cable-stayed bridge with a
cast-in-place, reinforced, or segmental
deck.
Economical and aesthetically pleasing.
Structurally efficient use of materials.

Segmental

Materials are locally available and adapatable

An educated workforce assures high quality
design and construction
Today, transportation is at a crossroads. America
is still growing. We expect a 33% population growth
over the next 25 years. We anticipate a 40% increase in freight traffic over that same period.
Reinforced concrete construction helps to minimize
congestion and closures of facilities by limiting
repair cycles as well as being environmentally
sensitive, sustainable, and aids in reducing adverse global climate impacts.

A simple beam bridge is commonly used

for moderate spans. Variations of the
precast I-girder include the PCI bulb-tee
or bulb-tee sections developed by various
states.
Most popular bridge type.
Well-suited for spans up to 160 feet.
Common depths: 20 in., 36 in., 45 in.,
54 in. and 72 in.

A box beam bridge is supported by abutments and piers in the same way as a
simple- or continuous beam bridge.
Common bridge type, especially for
low-volume roads.
Well-suited for spans from 50 feet to
120 feet.
Common widths of 36 or 48 in.

Segmental bridges are popular when the

construction site is restricted. They can
be cast-in-place or precast, and can employ span-by-span or balanced cantilever
construction.
Perfectly suited for gradual and sharply
curved alignments.
Maximum span is greater than 300.
Repetition of short spans: 70 feet to
150 feet.

Reinforced Concrete Pavements

Concrete pavements have been refined into three common types: continuously reinforced (CRCP), jointed reinforced (JRCP) and jointed plain
(JPCP):
CONTINUOUSLY REINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENT (CRCP) is fully
reinforced along the entire length. CRCP naturally forms tight transverse cracks to evenly transfer loads. The transverse cracks do not
impair the structural integrity of the pavement. Initially, continuously
reinforced designs generally cost more than jointed reinforced or
jointed plain designs due to increased quantities of steel. However,
CRCP can demonstrate superior long-term performance and cost-effectiveness. A number of agencies choose to use CRCP designs in
their heavy urban traffic corridors.
JOINTED REINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENT (JRCP) contains steel
mesh reinforcement (sometimes called distributed steel). In jointed
reinforced concrete pavements, designers increase the joint spacing
purposely, and include reinforcing steel to hold together intermediate
cracks in each slab. The spacing between transverse joints is typically 30 feet or more. In the past, some agencies used a spacing as
great as 100 feet. During construction of the interstate system, most
agencies in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S. built jointed-reinforced
pavement.
The Concrete Reinforcing Steel
Insitute (CRSI), in cooperation
with the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), is sponsoring a website developed for
informing pavement engineers,
managers, owners, contractors
and academia on issues related
to continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP).
The crcpavement.org website
highlights current events, ongoing research, training opportunities and news we think will be of
interest to the pavement community. Please send us your comments, articles, and suggestions.
We look forward to an energyfilled, two-way communication on
CRCP.
Visit the website to subscribe to
the CRCP e-communication for
the latest in CRCP news, developments and information.

JOINTED PLAIN CONCRETE PAVEMENT (JPCP) contains enough joints

to control the location of all the expected natural cracks; the design
assumption is the concrete cracks at the joints and not elsewhere in
the slabs. Jointed, plain pavements do not contain steel reinforcement. However, there may be plain steel bars at transverse joints
and deformed steel bars at longitudinal joints. The spacing between
transverse joints is typically about 15 feet for slabs 7 to 12 inches
thick.
A couple advantages of concrete pavement is that they are typically
stronger and more durable than asphalt roadways. They also can easily be grooved to provide a durable skid-resistant surface.

CRCP Design and Construction Manual

CRSI and FHWA have completed the first
formal draft of the CRCP Design and
Construction Guidelines and is available
for download at www.crcpavement.org.
The manual was developed truly in a spirit
of cooperation, with funds from FHWA,
CRSI and CMC-Americas. It received input
from over 25 individual reviewers and
has been vetted by some of the best
pavement engineers in the world.

Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement

CRCP Design Recommendations
A minimum of 0.6 percent reinforcThe recommended position of the
R
R
ing steel (based on the pavement
longitudinal steel is between 1/3
cross-sectional area) is recommended to
and 1/2 of the depth of the pavement as
control transverse crack development in
the 3.5 to 8 ft. range. Exceptions should
be made only where experience has
shown that a lower percentage of steel
has performed satisfactorily. In areas
where periods of extreme low temperature (average minimum monthly temperatures of 10 F or less) occur, the use of a
minimum of 0.7 percent steel is recommended.
Use deformed steel bars that meet
R
the requirements set out in
AASHTO Specifications, Part I, AASHTO
M31 (carbon-steel), M42 (rail-steel) or
M53 (axle-steel). The tensile requirements should conform to ASTM International Grade 60. Alternately, ASTM A615
or A996 deformed bars may be used.
A minimum steel amount of 0.03 times
the gross cross-sectional area is recommended.

measured from the surface. The minimum concrete cover should be 2-1/2
inches with 3 inches preferable. For
pavements thicker than 11 inches, several states have begun to use two layers
of longitudinal steel.
options for maximizing
RDesign
CRCP longevity:
Wider outside lane (12 to 14) moves
truck wheels away from edge joint
Tied CRCP shoulder same thickness
as pavement (can be used for a future
lane and during lane closures or traffic
diversions)
Stabilized base (non-eroding) to
maintain good slab support
Transverse reinforcing steel in conjunction with adequate tie-bars between lanes
Built-in centerline joint to minimize
random longitudinal cracking

Steel Percentage in CRCP

The FHWA recommends a minimum steel percentage of 0.6 percent (based on the
pavement cross sectional area) to limit transverse crack development in the range of
3.5-8 ft. between cracks. (Source: FHWA TA 5080.14, 1990)
Minimum and Maximum Bar Size Per Pavement Thickness
Steel Percentage

10

12

13

0.60

#5, #6

#5, #6

#6

0.64

#5, #7

#6, #7

#6, #7

0.68

#5, #7

#6, #7

#6, #7

Reinforcing Bar Standards

Fabrication of
Reinforcing Bars
It is recommended that all
reinforcing bars be shop fabricated,
because fabrication operations can
be performed with greater accuracy
in the fabricating shop.
All bar bending should conform to
the typical bar bends illustrated in
CRSIs Manual of Standard Practice.
Dimensions of a bent reinforcing bar
are the overall measurements and,
unless otherwise specified on the
project drawings or in the project
specifications, bent reinforcing bars
are furnished to ACI standard tolerances. The latest edition of CRSIs
Manual of Standard Practice should
be consulted for more details.

ASTM Standard Inch-Pound

Reinforcing Bars

Hook Details for ASTM Standard Reinforcing Bars

RECOMMENDED END HOOKS, ALL GRADES OF STEEL
D = Finished inside bend diameter (includes spring back)
180 HOOK,
ft-in. [mm]

90 HOOK,
ft-in. [mm]

BAR
SIZE

D,
in. [mm]

A or G

A or G

#3 [#10]
#4 [#13]
#5 [#16]
#6 [#19]

2 14 [60]
3 [80]
3 34 [95]
4 12 [115]

0-5 [125]
0-6 [150]
0-7 [175]
0-8 [200]

0-3 [80]
0-4 [105]
0-5 [130]
0-6 [155]

0-6 [150]
0-8 [200]
0-10 [250]
1-0 [300]

#7 [#22]
#8 [#25]
#9 [#29]
#10 [#32]

5 14 [135]
6 [155]
9 12 [240]
10 34 [275]

0-10 [250]
0-11 [275]
1-3 [375]
1-5 [425]

0-7 [180]
0-8 [205]
0-1134 [300]
1-1 14 [335]

1-2 [375]
1-4 [425]
1-7 [475]
1-10 [550]

#11 [#36]
#14 [#43]
#18 [#57]

12 [305]
18 14 [465]
24 [610]

1-7 [475]
2-3 [675]
3-0 [925]

1-2 34 [375]
1-9 34 [550]
2-4 12 [725]

2-0 [600]
2-7 [775]
3-5 [1050]

90 AND 135 STIRRUP / TIE HOOKS

135 SEISMIC STIRRUP / TIE HOOKS

For more information visit us online

at www.crsi.org.

Welding of Reinforcing Bars

The reinforcing steel bar industry produces one set of bar sizes,
designated by soft metric labels. These bar sizes can be used
in either metric or inch-pound applications. See Bar Properties
section for an explanation of inch-pound bar sizing.

The "weldability" of steel, which is

established by its chemical analysis, sets the minimum preheat and
inter-pass temperatures, and limits
the applicable welding procedures.
Low-alloy steel reinforcing bars, conforming to the ASTM A706/A706M
specification, are intended for welding. Weldability is accomplished by
enforcing limits or controls on the
chemical composition of the steel.
For example, carbon is limited to a
maximum of 0.30% and manganese
to a maximum of 1.50%. Other limits
apply. For more information consult
CRSI's Manual of Standard Practice.

90 AND 135
STIRRUP / TIE HOOK DIMENSIONS
ALL GRADES OF STEEL
BAR
SIZE

D,
in. [mm]

#3 [#10]
#4 [#13]
#5 [#16]
#6 [#19]
#7 [#22]
#8 [#25]

90 HOOK,
ft-in. [mm]

135 SEISMIC
STIRRUP / TIE HOOK DIMENSIONS
ALL GRADES OF STEEL

135 HOOK,
in. [mm]

BAR
SIZE

D,
in. [mm]

2 12 [65]
3 [80]
3 34 [95]

#3 [#10]
#4 [#13]
#5 [#16]

4 12 [115]
5 14 [135]
6 [155]

#6 [#19]
#7 [#22]
#8 [#25]

HOOK
A or G

HOOK
A or G

H
(Approx.)

1 12 [40]
2 [50]
2 12 [65]

0-4 [105]
0-4 12 [115]
0-6 [155]

4 [105]
412 [115]
512 [140]

4 12 [115]
5 14 [135]
6 [155]

1-0 [305]
1-2 [355]
1-4 [410]

8 [205]
9 [230]
10 12 [270]

135 HOOK,
in. [mm]
HOOK
A or G

H
(Approx.)

1 12 [40]
2 [50]
2 12 [65]

4 14 [110]
4 12 [115]
5 12 [140]

3 [80]
3 [80]
3 34 [95]

4 12 [115]
5 14 [135]
6 [155]

8 [205]
9 [230]
10 12 [270]

4 12 [115]
5 14 [135]
6 [155]

Acceptable Rust on Reinforcing Bars

At the time of concrete placement, all reinforcing
bars should be free of mud, oil, or other deleterious
materials.
Reinforcing bars with rust, mill scale, or a combination of
both should be considered as satisfactory, provided the
minimum dimensions, weight, and height of deformations of a hand-wire-brushed test specimen are not less
than the applicable ASTM specification requirements.

2010 DESIGN AWARDS

ASTM Specifications: Bar Sizes, Grades

and Tensile and Bending Requirements

Diameter of Bar
Diameters of reinforcing bars are nominal, with the actual diameter outside of the deformations being somewhat greater. The outside diameter
may be important when punching holes in structural steel members to accommodate reinforcing bars or when allowing for the out-to-out width of a
group of beam bars crossing and in contact with column vertical bars.
Diameters are nominal dimension of an undeformed bar of the same
weight per length. Overall diameter of the bar is greater than the nominal
bar diameter. (See Overall Reinforcing Bar Diameter on next page for
details.)

What is Soft Metric?

The sizes of soft metric reinforcing bars are the same as corresponding
sizes of inch-pound bars. Soft metric bar designations are simply a relabeling of inch-pound unit bar designations, as shown in the table below.
Soft metric reinforcing bars are required to meet ASTM specifications,
including identifying the producer's mill, bar size, type of steel, and minimum yield strength or grade, just like the inch-pound identification.

David Kreitzer
Lake Hodges Bicycle
Pedestrian Bridge
San Diego, CA
Elegant bridge solution that allows
pedestrian an enhanced experience with
the lake. Beautiful bridge with simple,
clean lines. Creative solution to challenging technical problem with soils at south
end of [the] bridge.
-- David E. Eckmann SE, PE, AIA
2010 Design Awards Judge

Learning Units: We Deliver

Reinforcing Bar Cards are laminated pocketsized reference cards available through the
CRSI webstore. They are just one of the many
tools available to designers, contractors,
engineers and architects through CRSI.

CRSIs Lunch & Learn Seminars make it easy to earn

Learning Units and Professional Development Hours from
the convenience of your own office. We supply lunch, program
speakers and certificates. For information, contact your CRSI
Region Manager.

Reinforcing Bar Properties

ASTM Bar Markings

Overall Reinforcing Bar Diameter

(Actual sizes depicted)

#3

#4

7/16 (11 mm)

#7

#8

1 (25 mm)

1-5/8 (40 mm)

9/16 (14 mm)

#9

1-1/8 (28 mm)

#6

11/16 (18 mm)

7/8 (22 mm)

#10

1-1/4 (32 mm)

#14

#11

#5

1-7/16 (36 mm)

#18

1-7/8 (48 mm)

2-1/2 (63 mm)

Typical Bar Bend Notes

Typical Bar Bend Types

1
12
23

Where slope differs

from 45 dimensions,
H and K must be shown.

24

Notes:
1. Numbers in circles show bar bend types.

13
25

2. All dimensions are out-to-out of bar except Aand G on standard

180 and 135 hooks.

26

3. J dimension on 180 hooks to be shown only where necessary

to restrict hook size, otherwise ACI standard hooks are to be used.
5

4. Where J is not shown, J will be kept equal to or less thanH

on Bend Types 3, 5, and 22. Where J can exceed H,it should
be shown.

14

5. H dimension on stirrups to be shown where necessary to fit

within concrete.

6
16
S1

S2

S3

S4

6. Where bars are to be bent more accurately than standard fabricating tolerances, bending dimensions which require closer fabrication should have limits indicated.
7. For recommended diameter D of bends and hooks, see tables
in the Bar Properties and Bar Hooks and Bends sections.

8. Types S1 to S6, S11, T1 to T3, T6 to T9 apply to bar sizes #3

through #8 [#10 through #25].
8

(TOTAL LENGTH)

17
S5

S6

S11

9. Unless otherwise noted, diameter D is the same for all bends

and hooks on a bar (except for Bend Types 11 and 13).

18
9

Field Cutting Of Reinforcing Bars

19

T1

T2

T3

10
20
T6

T7

11
22
T9

T8

Various means are used to cut reinforcing bars at the job

site. The smaller size bars, #3 to #5, can usually be cut
with bolt-cutters. All bar sizes can be cut with an abrasive
saw or by flame-cutting using an oxy-acetylene torch. Regarding flame-cutting, tests have shown that any effect of flamecutting is localized to the end-cut surfaces. Only a very short
distance, approximately 3/16" [5 mm], from the flame-cut
ends is affected. Hardness testing was used to evaluate the
effects of flame-cutting on the tensile properties of the bars.
From the tests it was concluded that flame-cutting had no
adverse effects. Flame-cutting of epoxy-coated reinforcing
bars is not recommended. CRSI publishes guidance on this
subject. For more information visit www.crsi.org.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Specifications:

Grades, Tensile and Bending Requirements*

CSA Bar Marking Sequence

CSA Possible Bar Marking Variations

To achieve clarity of symbols on all sizes

and to accommodate a variety of roll
marking techniques it has been trade
practice for mills to modify symbol size
or orientation while still observing the
prescribed sequence.
Note: Identification markings occur at intervals of 1 to 1.5 meters along the bars.

Reinforcing Steel Institute of Canada (RSIC)

Typical Bar Bends

CSA Reinforcing Bar and RSIC Hook Dimensions

CSA STEEL REINFORCING BAR SIZES
NOMINAL DIMENSIONS

BAR
DESIGNATION
NUMBER
(BAR SIZE)

MASS
(kg/m)

10M
15M
20M
25M
30M
35M
45M
55M

0.785
1.570
2.355
3.925
5.495
7.850
11.775
19.625

DIAMETER
(mm)

CROSS
SECTIONAL
AREA (mm 2 )

PERIMETER
(mm)

11.3
16.0
19.5
25.2
29.9
35.7
43.7
56.4

100
200
300
500
700
1000
1500
2500

35.5
50.1
61.3
79.2
93.9
112.2
137.3
177.2

STIRRUP AND TIE HOOK DIMENSIONS

BAR
PIN
90 HOOK
DIA.
DIA.
A or G
db (mm) D (mm)
(mm)

BAR
SIZE
10M
15M

11.3
16.0

20M
AND
LARGER

45
65

100
140

135 HOOK
A or G
(mm)

H (approx.)
(mm)

100
140

70
100

SAME AS 180 HOOK

STANDARD HOOK DIMENSIONS FOR

UNCOATED REINFORCING BARS#
NOTES:
1. Figures shown in circles show types.
2. All dimensions are out-to-out of a bar except A
and G on standard 180 and 135 hooks.
3. J dimensions on 180 hooks to be shown only
where necessary to restrict hook size, otherwise
standard hooks are to be used.
4. On Truss bars J will be kept
equal to or less than H.
Where J can exceed H it should be shown.
5. On stirrups H dimension should be shown only where
necessary to fit within concrete.
6. Critical dimensions are to be identified where bars are to
be bent more accurately than standard bending tolerance.
7. On type T3 G dimension is equal to Class B splice.
8. All bar bends other than the types shown above must be designated as type X.

BAR
BAR
D
SIZE d DIA.
(mm)
b (mm)
10M
15M
20M
25M
30M
35M
45M
55M

11.3
16.0
19.5
25.2
29.9
35.7
43.7
56.4

70
100
120
150
250
300
450
600

400R or 500R

400W or 500W

90 HOOK 180 HOOK

90 HOOK 180 HOOK

A or G*
(mm)
180
260
310
400
510
610
790
1030

A or G*
(mm)
140
180
220
280
400
480
680
900

J
D
(mm) (mm)
90
130
160
200
310
370
540
710

60
90
100
150
200
250
400
550

A or G*
(mm)
180
250
300
400
490
590
770
1010

A or G*
(mm)
130
170
200
280
350
430
620
830

J
(mm)
80
120
140
200
260
320
490
660

# The dimensions provided use the minimum bend diameters (D) permitted in (CSA A23.1-04 CL.6.6.2.3 and
Table 16).
Standard hooks are defined in (CSA A23.1-04 CL.6.6.2.2).
* Add the additional hook dimension G to the detailing dimension to estimate the total bar length.
To achieve this J dimension the pin diameter is less than the standard pin diameter.

Corrosion Protection
Steel is manufactured by heating iron ores that are primarily iron
oxides along with other ingredients. This heat transforms the iron
oxides into the metallic iron. Corrosion of steel is a natural electrochemical process whereby the metal reverts back to its original
oxide state.
When steel is placed into concrete, it develops a surface passive
oxide film, due to the high pH of the concrete. This passive film
prevents further corrosion of the encapsulated metal. The film
may be disrupted by carbonation of the cement paste, which
reduces the pH, or through the ingress of chloride ions into the
concrete, from either deicing salts or sea water.

Carbon steel with passive film failure allowing for corrosion.

As the steel corrodes, the released iron ions reacts with oxygen
and water to form expansive iron oxides that may occupy up to
seven times the volume of the initial metal. This expansion may
cause the surrounding concrete to crack, leading to delamination
and spalling.

Placing Reinforcing Bars presents the best accepted

current practices in placing bars and bar supports.
Written for apprentices, journeymen, ironworkers
and inspectors, this is the definitive resource
for preparing project specifications.

Stainless and Galvanized Steel Bars

There are many ways to reduce the risk of corrosion-related distress in concrete. One way is to
use reinforcing bars with improved corrosion resistance over traditional unprotected carbon steel reinforcing bars. When selecting a particular type of
corrosion resistant bar, issues such as level of corrosion resistance, cost, and availability should be
considered. For publicly funded projects, restrictions on proprietary material and Buy U.S.A may
be in place and should be carefully evaluated.
Stainless Steel
Between 1937 and 1941, a five-mile long pier was
constructed in Progreso, Mexico. This pier is believed to be the oldest concrete structure reinforced with solid stainless steel reinforcement.
Stainless steel reinforcing bars can be used where
extreme corrosion resistance is necessary or
where non-magnetic characteristics are needed
(e.g. MRI chambers). Stainless steel bars are most
frequently used where the conditions are unusually corrosive, where extended service life is necessary or where the cost due to a disruption in
service is high.
The ASTM specification for solid stainless steel reinforcing bars is ASTM A955/ A955M, Standard
Specification for Deformed and Plain Stainless
Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement. This specification is applicable to a wide range of stainless
steel alloys, including 304 (UNS S30400), 316LN
(UNS 31653), 2205 Duplex (UNS 31803), and XM28/N32 (UNS 24100). ASTM A955 requires that
the surface of the bars be free from detrimental
imperfections, seams, surface irregularities, and
the like are acceptable so long as tensile and
bending requirements are met.

Finally, that the macrocell corrosion test of Annex

A2 in A955 be conducted on test specimens
whose surface treatment, pickled or unpickled, will
match that offered to the purchaser.
Galvanized Steel
Galvanization is a common method used to protect
steel in corrosive conditions and galvanized reinforcing bars have been available for many years.
The ASTM specification for galvanized reinforcing
bars is ASTM A767/ A767M, Standard Specification for Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Bars for
Concrete Reinforcement. Galvanized reinforcing
bar may be ordered either as straight bars that are
galvanized prior to fabrication or as bars that are
galvanized after the bars have been fabricated.
The A767/A767M specification provides for two
coating weights, a Class 1 (3.50 oz/ft2) or Class 2
(2.00 oz/ft2). However, there are no guidelines
concerning the use of Class 1 or Class 2, although
most transportation agencies specify Class 1.
Special considerations for the use of galvanized
reinforcing bars includes chromating which is
reviewed in section 4.3 of ASTM 767, and air or
steam wiping which facilitates the ability to bend
the galvanized bars with a minimum of coating
cracking. The galvanized coating is recognized as
being robust enough to handling abuse, however,
acceptance of galvanized reinforcing bars is dependent upon; negligible bare spots in the coating,
the coating being essentially free of blisters, presence of flux spots, inclusions, dross, and acid or
black spots. Additionally there shall be no spikes
and bars shall not be stuck together. Note that fabrication tolerances for bend radius are larger than
those specified in ACI 318, and that stress relieving may be required for tight radius bends.

Epoxy Plant
Certification
CRSI's fusionbonded epoxy
coating applicator
plant certification
is a voluntary
industry-sponsored
program developed for
improving the quality of the finished
epoxy-coated reinforcing bar.
A certified plant and its employees are
trained, equipped, and capable of producing high quality, epoxy-coated reinforcing bars. As part of this program,
the plants are randomly inspected, a
minimum of once a year, by an independent third party inspection firm.
Presently, more than 90 percent of all
applicators in North America use the
program and many State Departments
of Transportation reference the program in their state specifications. For
a list of the most current CRSI certified Epoxy-Coated Steel Reinforcing
Bar Coaters, please see www.crsi.org.

Epoxy Coating:
35+ Years Strong
Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing
Bars have been proven effective
as corrosion protection in real
world conditions from coast to
coast for over 35 years. This impressive experience is matched
only by stainless steel as effective corrosion protection
methodology. Visit the Epoxy Interest Group (EIG) website at
www.epoxyinterestgroup.org for
details and more information on
project applications or epoxycoated reinforcing bar.

Epoxy Coating Standards

CRSI and EIG recommend use of the following American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the American Association of State Highway
and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standard specifications for epoxycoated reinforcing bars and dowels:
ASTM A775/A775M Standard Specification for Epoxy-Coated
Steel Reinforcing Bars
ASTM A934/A934M Standard Specification for Epoxy-Coated
Prefabricated Steel Reinforcing Bars
ASTM A884/A884M Standard Specification for Epoxy-Coated
Steel Wire and Welded Wire Reinforcement
ASTM D3963/D3963 Standard Specification for Fabrication and
Jobsite Handling of Epoxy-Coated Steel Reinforcing Bars
AASHTO M284 Standard Specification for Epoxy-Coated
Reinforcing Bars
AASHTO M254 Standard Specification for Corrosion-Resistant
Coated Dowel Bars
AASHTO M317 Standard Specification for Epoxy-Coated
Reinforcing Bars: Handling Requirements for Fabrication and Job Site

Epoxy-Coated Bar Applications

Since 1973, epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars have been used in many
locations subject to corrosive conditions. These conditions include exposure to deicing salts or brackish marine waters.

U Bridges: In 2008, there were over 60,000 bridges in the National

Bridge Inventory that contained epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bar.

For over 35 years, epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars have demonstrated that they can cost-effectively improve the life-cycle costs of
concrete bridge decks.

U Parking Structures: At least $600 million is spent yearly to repair

parking decks in the U.S. This damage is primarily caused by

deicing salts carried on vehicles and left in garages during winter.
Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars can protect these structures
against corrosion and costly damage.

U Pavements: Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars may be used in

continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP). Epoxy-coated

dowel bars are frequently used in jointed pavements. In 2005, a
survey of 33 transportation agencies revealed that 26 of them
used epoxy-coated dowels.

U Marine Structures: Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bar has demon-

strated in marine waters that it can help reduce the damage caused
by potential future corrosion.

U Repair: Epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars have been used to sup-

plement existing steel reinforcing bars during repair. These coated

bars reduce the cathode effect of these bars in the electrochemical
process, thus minimizing the risk of the ring anode corrosion effect
surrounding repair areas.

Epoxy-coated reinforcing bars provide cost effective corrosion resistance

that extend the service life of concrete structures. Epoxy-coated bars and
mechanical splices are available nationwide from CRSI certified plants.

Epoxy Interest Group (EIG)

The Epoxy Interest Group (EIG) of CRSI
operates within the charter of CRSI, but
promotes and markets fusion bonded
epoxy-coated reinforcing steel bars
(FBECR) and serves to create awareness
and interest in epoxy-coated reinforcing
steel and its important benefits for DOTs, engineering specifiers and
contractors. The mission of this Group is to promote the use and advance
the quality of epoxy-coated steel reinforcing bars.

Splicing Reinforcing Bars

Lap Splices
For lap splice design and construction, the ACI 318 Building
Code requires the Engineer to
indicate locations and lengths
of all lap splices on the structural drawings.

Overview of Mechanical Splices

Coupler for ThreadDeformed Bar

Grout-Filled
Coupling Sleeve

Combo Grout Filled/

Threaded Sleeve

Steel-Filled
Coupling Sleeve

Where reinforcing bars of two

sizes are lap-spliced in tension,
industry practice is to use the
larger of the tension lap splice
length for the smaller bar, or the
tension development length for
the larger bar. When bars of different sizes are lap spliced in
compression, the lap splice
length must be the larger of the
compression development length
of the larger bar or the compression lap splice length of the
smaller bar.
Lap splices of #14 and #18 bars
should not be used, except in
compression only to #11 and
smaller bars. Lap splices of bundled bars should be based on the
lap splice length recommended
for individual bars of the same
size, and individual splices within
the bundle should not overlap
each other. The length of lap
should be increased 20% for a
3-bar bundle and 33% for a
4-bar bundle. Bar laps should be
securely wire-tied together to
maintain the alignment of the
bars and to provide minimum
concrete cover. CRSI publishes
guidance on this subject
available on-line at www.crsi.org.

This is a mechanical splice that requires special bars with threadlike, rolled deformations over their
entire length which meets ASTM
A615. Splices are assembled with
lock nuts and threaded couplers,
then the nuts are tightened to a
specified torque. Alternatively, the
lock nuts can be omitted when the
bars can be torqued together.
Special hardware permits use for
end anchorages in concrete or
connection to structural steel
members. Bars may be flame or
saw-cut.

The double-frustrum-shaped coupling sleeve is filled with a cement

based, non-shrink, high-early
strength grout. Reinforcing bars to
be spliced are inserted into the
sleeve and butt at the center of the
sleeve. The space between bar and
sleeve is filled with non-shrink grout
to transfer forces between the deformed surface of the bars and the
deformed interior surface of the
sleeve. No special end preparation
of the bars is required except for
normal cleaning. The relatively wide
sleeves also can accommodate
minor bar misalignments, and combinations of different size bars.

Primarily used for precast construction, this type of mechanical splice

combines two common mechanical
splicing techniques. One end of the
sleeve is attached and secured to a
reinforcing bar by means of threading. The splice is then completed
when the other bar end is inserted
into the sleeve and the space between the bar and the sleeve is filled
with high-strength grout. The wide
mouth opening of the sleeve allows
for minor bar misalignment during
erection. The wide mouth also allows
for transitioning between different
bar sizes.

The steel-filled coupling sleeve is a

mechanical splice in which molten
metal or steel filler interlocks the
grooves inside the sleeve with the
deformations on the reinforcing
bar. Special details permit use as
end anchorages or connections to
structural steel members. Shearcut, flame-cut, or saw-cut ends of
the bar can be used as the steel
filler fills the space between the
ends of the bar. However, a barend check is recommended.

Non-Upset Straight
Thread Coupler

This is a mechanical splice consisting of a

coupler with internal straight threads at each
end that joins two reinforcing bars with
matching external threads. Because the cutting of threads reduces the net cross-sectional area of the reinforcing bar, some
manufacturers use bars one size larger while
other manufacturers use bars with tensile
and yield strengths sufficient to overcome
the loss of net area by thread cutting.
This type of splice is in three pieces (the two
bar ends and the internally threaded coupler). These systems are also available as
weld-on couplers, transitional couplers, and
positional couplers.

Upset Straight
Thread Coupler

This is a mechanical splice consisting of a

coupler with internal straight threads at each
end that joins two upset end reinforcing bars
with matching external threads. Upsetting the
bar ends permits the cross-sectional area in
the threaded portion to be greater than the
bar cross-sectional area.
This type of splice can either be in three
pieces (the two bar ends and internally
threaded coupler) or in two pieces with the
coupler integrally forged or pre-assembled
onto the bar end. These systems are also
available as weld on couplers, transitional
couplers, positional couplers, and headed
bars.

Reinforcing Bars: Anchorages and Splices is the definitive source for

information on development and splicing of reinforcing bars. Includes
extensive tables of development and lap splice lengths. Also includes
expanded information on headed bars. Based on ACI 318-08 and
AASHTO bridge specifications.

Cold-Swaged
Threaded Coupler

The cold-swaged threaded coupler consists

of pre-threaded male and female components, which are swaged onto the reinforcing
bars using a swaging press with special dies.
No threads are required on the bar ends.
Splicing of the bars is completed by installing
one pre-threaded component into the other.
A three-piece position coupler is available for
splicing bent bars that cannot be rotated.
Optional details include transition couplers
for splicing different bar sizes, couplers used
to connect bars to structural steel members,
and couplers with flanges having nail holes.
Threads are sealed and protected for future
extension applications.

Cold-Swaged
Coupling Sleeve

The cold-swaged coupling sleeve uses a hydraulic swaging press with special dies to deform the sleeve around the ends of the
spliced reinforcing bars. This produces a positive mechanical interlock with the reinforcing
bars. Bars to be spliced are inserted equal
distances into the sleeve. Bars may be shearcut, flame-cut, or saw-cut, however, a bar-end
check is recommended. Bars of different
sizes can be spliced with this system. This
mechanical splice can also be used for joining reinforcing bars to structural steel members. Longer sleeves are required for splicing
epoxy-coated reinforcing bars.

Members Only
Membership in CRSI creates a venue for peer discussion groups and fabricator
management workshops allowing members to share ideas and learn from each other.
Members also receive a discount on CRSI publications available through the CRSI Store.

Overview of Mechanical Splices (contd)

Shear Screw
Coupling Sleeve

This type of mechanical splice consists of a

coupling sleeve with shearhead screws which
are designed to shear off at a specified
torque. The reinforcing bars are inserted to
meet at a center stop in the coupling sleeve
and the screws are tightened. The tightening
process embeds the pointed screws into the
bars. For one splice type, the screws force
the bars into contact with internal gripping
rails. For the other type of splice, the screws
force the bars to wedge into the coupling
sleeves converging interior wall. The screws
can be tightened using a standard socket
wrench or pneumatic impact wrench. For
making a splice between two fixed bars, coupling sleeves without a center stop are available.

Taper-Threaded
Coupler

This is a mechanical splice consisting of a

taper threaded coupler that joins bars with
matching taper threads. The coupler is installed by turning the bar or sleeve with
wrenches to the manufacturers specified
torque. For splicing bent or curved bars, special position couplers with collars are used.
Adaptations permit use for end anchorages
in concrete or connection to structural steel
members. Bar ends may be shear-cut or
saw-cut. Bar ends require taper threading
over a specified length.

Coupling Sleeve
with Double Wedge

This coupling sleeve consists of a ductile

iron sleeve with two internal wedges. Two series of cone-pointed screws are arranged
along the sleeve length, opposite a wedgeshaped profile in the sleeve. Each reinforcing bar extends out of the sleeve by
approximately one bar diameter. No special
bar end preparation is required. As the
screws are tightened, they indent into the
surface of the bars, and wedge the bars into
the converging sides of the sleeve profile.
Screws can be tightened using suitable impact wrenches or hand-held ratchet
wrenches. The heads of the screws shear off
at a prescribed tightening torque. Bar sizes
#3 through #6 [#10 through #19] plus bars
of different sizes either uncoated or epoxycoated can be spliced using this coupling
sleeve.

Coupling Sleeve
with Shear Bolt/Wedge

Designed primarily for splicing smaller bars,

sizes #3 through #6 [#10 through #19], the
coupling sleeve is oval in cross-section permitting the overlapping of two reinforcing
bars of the same diameter in the sleeve.
Each bar extends out of the sleeve about
one bar diameter. After the sleeve is correctly positioned, a wedge-shaped round pin
is driven through a hole in the flat face of
the sleeve. The wedge passes between the
bars and extends through a hole opposite
the hole of insertion. The wedge pin is
driven with a hand-held hydraulic ram.

Extruded Coupling Sleeve

This type of mechanical
splice is produced by cold
extruding a coupling sleeve
over both bar ends in one
operation. The coupling
sleeve is then centered
over the butted bar ends
and is connected to one bar
by tightening a setscrew. A
hydraulic press, designed to
fit between closely-spaced
bars of reinforcing steel,
then pushes a drawing die
over the entire length of the
coupling sleeve. The coupling materials flow tightly
around the bar deformations, which creates a
splice.
Extruded transition coupling
sleeves for splicing two different size reinforcing bars
are also available. Bars may
be shear-cut, flame-cut, or
saw-cut; however, a bar-end
check is recommended.

Straight Thread Coupler

w/Upset Rebar Ends
This is a mechanical splice
consisting of forming heads
on the ends of the bars to be
connected using a hydraulic
machine from the splice
manufacturer, which is designed to fit between closelyspaced bars. The upset bar
ends are butted up to each
other and are held in place
using a male and female
straight-threaded coupler
that is positioned onto the
bars prior to forming the
heads. The coupler is installed by turning either the
male or female component
and tightening to the manufacturer's recommended
torque; no rotation of the bar
is required. Bent or curved
bars can be spliced with the
same device. Adaptations
permit use for end anchorages in concrete or connection to threaded rod.

Dowel Bar
Mechanical Splice
Dowel bar mechanical
splices are used to prevent bars from penetrating or protruding
from forms and reinforced concrete structures. All of the various
systems available consist of several components. The coupling
component is internally
threaded and another
component is externally
threaded. The internally
threaded component is
normally designed to
fasten directly to the
form face and is usually
encased in the first
concrete placement.
These systems are
available in a variety of
designs, configurations,
sizes and shapes.

Headed Reinforcing Bars

An alternate, effective way to fully anchor or develop reinforcing bars in tension within relatively short embedment lengths is to use
headed reinforcing bars rather than bars with
standard hooks. Headed bars consist of a nut
or plate, having either a round, elliptical or rectangular shape, attached to the end(s) of the
bar. Attachment of the head to the reinforcing
bar is accomplished by welding, threading or
swaging. Another configuration of a headed
bar is a bar with an integrally-forged head.

Because headed reinforcing bars are intended

to replace bars with standard end hooks, the
benefits of such an anchorage system are to
reduce embedment and simplify bar placement. Headed bars were first used in the construction of reinforced concrete offshore oil
platforms. Use of headed bars has been extended to bridge and building construction.
ASTM Specification A970/A970M covers the
attachment of heads via welding, forging or
threading. Requirements for production and

testing of headed bars are included in this

specification to ensure adequate quality and
testing requirements for those systems.
In the ACI 318 Building Code, the minimum
tension development length for headed bars is
0.80 times that of hooked bars. Based on a
head area ten times the bar area, the 352R
document sets a minimum tension development length for headed bars of 0.75 times that
of hooked bars. ACI Committee Report 352R
includes a useful discussion of headed bars.

Compression Only
Mechanical Splices

The use of end-bearing to transfer compression

from bar to bar requires the ends of the bars
be cut within 1 degrees of square to the
longitudinal axis of the bars. In field assembly,
such mechanical splices must fit within 3
degrees when erected. Commercial devices
are used to ensure concentric bearing.

Placing and Bar Supports

Placing
Placing Reinforcing Bars
Reinforcing bars should be accurately placed
in the positions shown on the placing drawings, adequately tied and supported before
concrete is placed, and secured against displacement within the tolerances recommended in CRSIs Manual of Standard
Practice, Section 8.8. Welding of crossing
bars (tack welding) should not be permitted
for assembly of reinforcement unless authorized by the Engineer/Architect. CRSI publishes guidance on this subject in Placing
Reinforcing Bars.
Placing Drawings
As the term implies, placing drawings are
used by Ironworkers at the job site to place
(install) the reinforcing steel within the formwork. In preparing the placing drawings for a
specific structure, the Detailer determines
the quantity of reinforcing bars, bar lengths,
bend types, and bar positioning from the information and instructions provided on the
project drawings and in the project specifications. Placing drawings are not design documents because they only interpret the
Engineer/Architect's intent. Thus, project
specifications should require that the Engineer of Record prepare or check and seal
the placing drawings. The latest edition of
CRSI's Manual of Standard Practice is recommended for details.

Concrete Cover Bar and Supports

Concrete Protection for
Reinforcing Bars
The following specified concrete
covers, as per ACI 318, should be
provided for reinforcing bars. For
bundled bars, the specified cover
should be equal to the equivalent
diameter of the bundle but need not
be greater than 2 inches; except for
concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth, the specified cover should be 3 inches.
CRSIs Manual of Standard Practice
provides detail on this subject.
Cast-In-Place Concrete

Illustrations are intended for

informational purposes only.

Wire Bar Supports

SYMBOL

BAR SUPPORT
ILLUSTRATION

PLASTIC CAPPED
OR DIPPED

SB

TYPEOF
SUPPORT

Slab Bolster

, 1, 1, 2 and 3 in. heights

in 5 ft and 10 ft lengths

Slab Bolster
Upper

Same as SB

Beam Bolster

1, 1, 2 to 5 in. heights in
increments of in. in lengths
of 5 ft

Beam Bolster
Upper

Same as BB

Individual
Bar Chair

, 1, 1, 1 and 2 in.
heights

Joist Chair

4, 5, and 6 in. widths and

, 1 and 1 in. heights

Individual
High Chair

2 to 15 in. heights
in increments of in.

TIPPED

SBU*
BB
TIPPED

BBU*
BC
TIPPED

TYPICAL
SIZES

Concrete
Cover (in.)
Concrete cast against and
permanently exposed to earth ..........................3

JC

Concrete exposed to earth or weather:

#6 through #18 [#19 through #57] ............2
#5 [#16] and smaller ............................1-1/2

HC

Concrete not exposed to weather or

in contact with the ground:
Slabs, walls, joists
#14 and #18 [#43 and #57] ..............1-1/2
#11 [#36] and smaller............................3/4

HCM*

High Chair
for Metal Deck

2 to 15 in. heights
in increments of in.

CHC

Continuous
High Chair

Same as HC in
5 ft and 10 ft lengths

Continuous
High Chair
Upper
Continuous
High Chair
for Metal Deck

Same as CHC

Joist Chair
Upper

14 in. span; heights 1 in.

thru +3 in. vary in in.
increments

CS

Continuous
Support

1 to 12 in. in increments
of in. in lengths of 6-8

SBC

Single Bar
Centralizer
(Friction)

6 in. to 24 in. diameter

TIPPED

TIPPED

TIPPED

Beams, columns:
Primary reinforcement, ties,
stirrups or spirals ....................................1-1/2

CHCU*

Shells, folded plate members:

#6 [#19] and larger................................3/4
#5 [#16] and smaller..............................1/2

CHCM*

TIPPED

JCU**

Bar Supports
The use of bar supports should follow the industry practices presented in Chapter 3
of CRSIs Manual of Standard Practice. Placing reinforcement on layers of fresh concrete as the work progresses and adjusting the bars during the placing of concrete
should not be permitted. Bar supports may be made of steel wire, precast concrete,
or plastic.

Up to 5 in. heights
in increments of in.

TIPPED

*Usually available in Class 3 only, except on special order.

**Usually available in Class 3 only, with upturned or end-bearing legs.

1 in. = 25.4 mm

The Designers
Responsibility
Many designers have been
taught to minimize the tonnage
of reinforcing steel and cubic
yards of concrete to produce a
cost-effective design. Using
fewer materials does not always equate with the most
economical structure. Check
out The Designers Responsibility for Reinforcing Bar Design, a publication in the CRSI
Structural Bulletin Series.
For information, visit crsi.org
or contact your CRSI region
manager.

Field Inspection of
Reinforcing Bars is a
continuing education program available in a pocket
guide, on CD-ROM and in
custom seminars from
coast-to-coast. The program focuses on basics of
rebar identification, handling, and placement. For
details contact your CRSI
region manager.

Illustrations are intended for

informational purposes only.

All-Plastic Bar Supports

SYMBOL

DIAGRAM

TYPE

TYPICAL
SIZES, (in.)

DESCRIPTION

BS

Bottom
Support

Heights,
to 6

Generally for horizontal work. Not

recommended for ground or exposed
aggregrate finish.

BS-CL

Bottom
Support

Heights,
to 12

Generally for horizontal work, provides

bar clamping action. Not recommended
for ground or exposed aggregate finish.

HC

High
Chair

Heights,
to 6

For use in slabs or panels.

HC-V

High
Chair,
Variable

Heights,
2 to 7

For horizontal and vertical work.

Provides for different heights.

WS

Wheel
Side-Form
Spacer

Concrete
cover,
to 3

Generally for vertical work. Bar clamping

action and minimum contact with forms.
Applicable for column reinforcing bars.

DSWS

Side-Form
Spacer
for drilled
shaft
applications

Concrete
cover,
2 to 6

Generally used to align reinforcing bars

in a drilled shaft.* Two-piece wheel that
closes and locks on to the tie or spiral
assuring proper clearance from the
shaft wall surface.

VLWS

Locking
Wheel
Side-Form
Spacer
for all
vertical
applications

Concrete
cover,
to 6

DSBB

Bottom
Bolster
(Gripping)

SB

Slab
Bolster

SYMBOL DIAGRAM

TYPE

Illustrations are intended for

informational purposes only.

TYPICAL
SIZES, (in.)

DESCRIPTION

PB

Plain
Block

A to 6
B2 to 6
C2 to 48

Used when placing bars off grade

and formwork. When C dimension
exceeds16 in. the block should be
cast with a piece of reinforcing bar
inside the block.

WB

Wired Block

A to 4
B2 to 3
C2 to 3

Generally, block is cast with

embedded16-gauge tie wire,
commonly used against vertical
forms or in positions necessary
to secure the block by tying to the
reinforcing bars.

CB

Combination
Block

A1 to 4
B2 to 4
C2 to 4
Dfits #3 to #5
[#10 to #16] bar

Commonly used on horizontal

work.

Generally used in both drilled shaft* and

vertical applications where heavy loading
occurs. Surface spines provide minimal
contact while maintaining required
tolerance.

DB

Dowel Block

A3
B3 to 5
C3 to 5
Dhole to
accommodate
a #4 [#13] bar

Used to support top mat from

dowel placed in hole. Block
can also be used to support
bottom mat.

Concrete
cover, 3
Height, 6

Used to keep the reinforcing bar cage off

of the bottom of a drilled shaft.*
Fits #6 through #14 [#19 through #43]
reinforcing bars.

DSSS

Side-Form
Spacer Wired

Concrete
cover,
2 to 6

Heights,
to 4
Lengths
up to 60**

Commonly used in horizontal and vertical

applications. When used as a side-form
spacer in vertical work, slab bolster must
be tied to maintain proper concrete cover.

Used to align the reinforcing bar

cage in a drilled shaft.* Commonly
16-gauge tie wires are cast in the
spacer. Supports for 5 in. to 6 in.
cover have 9-gauge tie wires at
top and bottom of the spacer.

DSBB

Bottom
Bolster Wired

Concrete
cover,
3 to 6

Used to keep the reinforcing bar

cage off of the drilled shaft.*
Support for 6 in. concrete cover
is actually 8 in. in height with a
2 in. shaft cast in the top of the
bolster to hold the vertical bar.

DSWS

Side-form
spacer
for drilled
shaft
applications

Concrete
cover,
3 to 6

Generally used to align reinforcing

bar in a drilled shaft.* Commonly
manufactured with two sets of
12-gauge annealed wires, assuring
proper clearance from the shaft
wall surface.

HDHC

Heavy Duty
High Chair

Heights,
2 to 26

For use in slabs, or on a grade with plate.

OGC

On Grade
Chair

Heights,
1 to 6

Used primarily on grade.

Slab
Bolster
Upper

Heights,
1 to 5
Lengths,
up to 30

Commonly used in supporting the upper

mat in a double mat application.

SBU

Precast Concrete Bar Supports

* Also known as a pier or caisson.

** Pieces can be locked together to form longer lengths.

1 in. = 25.4 mm

* Also known as a pier or caisson.

Precast concrete bar supports are also known as dobies.

1 in. = 25.4 mm

Welded Wire Reinforcement

ASTM Specifications
Welded wire reinforcement (WWR) consists of
wires arranged in a square or rectangular configuration. The wires are welded at their intersections.
WWR must conform to ASTM A185 if made of plain
wire, or to ASTM A497 if made of deformed wire, or
a combination of deformed and plain wire. These
specifications require tensile, and bend tests on
the wire, and shear tests on the welded intersections. A minimum yield strength of 65,000 psi
[450 MPa] is required for plain WWR (A185) and a
minimum of 70,000 psi [485 MPa] for deformed
WWR (A497). ASTM A82 (plain wire) and A496
(deformed wire) are companion specifications that
prescribe the requirements for the wire used for
manufacturing welded wire reinforcement.
ASTM has recently issued a new standard A1064,
Standard Specification for Steel Wire and Welded
Wire Reinforcement, Plain and Deformed, for concrete. The new standard replaces the four current
standards A82, A185, A496 and A497.

Nomenclature

Style Identification of
Welded Wire Reinforcement

Specifying Welded Wire Reinforcement

Plain wire is denoted by the letter W [MW] and deformed wire by

the letter D [MD]. The letter is followed by a number indicating
cross- sectional area in hundredths of a square inch [square millimeters].
Welded wire reinforcement is usually shown on project drawings with
the abbreviation WWR followed by spacings of longitudinal wires and
then transverse wires and last by the sizes of longitudinal and transverse wires.
An example style designation is:
WWR 6 x 12W16 x W8 [152 x 305 MW103 x MW52].
This designation identifies a style of plain welded wire reinforcement in which:

Spacing of longitudinal wires

Spacing of transverse wires
Longitudinal wire size
Transverse wire size

= 6 in.
= 12 in.
= W16
= W8

[152 mm]
[305 mm]
[MW103]
[MW52]

The engineer/architects selection of welded wire reinforcement

should include production considerations as well as steel area
requirements. Maximum economies in production and handling
can be achieved by utilizing repetition of styles and duplication
of sheet and/or roll dimensions to the fullest extent possible.
Welded wire reinforcement is manufactured in the form of
sheets and rolls. Rolls are generally stocked in W1.4 to W4
[MW9 to MW26] wire sizes only. Roll widths vary from 5 to 8 feet
[1.5 to 2.4 m]. Lengths vary with application and convenience
of handling and shipping. Rolls should be straightened. Standard widths of sheets vary between 7 to 10 feet [2.1 to 3.1 m]
for building construction and up to 13 feet [4 m] for pavement.
The maximum sheet size (width and/or length) may be limited
by shipping restrictions as well as manufacturing limitations.

A deformed WWR style would be designated in the same manner with

the appropriate D [MD] number wire spacings and sizes.
It is important to note that the terms longitudinal and transverse
are related to the method of WWR manufacture and have no reference to the orientation of the wires with respect to the orientation of
the reinforcement in the concrete structure.

Development lengths and lap splice lengths for welded wire

reinforcement must be specified by the engineer/architect in
accordance with the ACI 318 Building Code. Lap splice lengths
are usually a minimum of one wire space plus 2 in. [50 mm]
for plain wire and 8 in. [200 mm] for deformed wire.

ASTM Wire Specifications

GRADES, YIELD, TENSILE AND BENDING REQUIREMENTS
A82/A82M
Plain Wire
Grade

70 [485]

Min. Yield
Strength,
(psi) [MPa]

70,000 [485]

Min. Tensile
Strength,
(psi) [MPa]

80,000 [550]

1d
Bend Test
Pin Diameter (W7 [MW45] and smaller)
(d = nominal
2d
wire diameter) (larger than W7 [MW45])

A82/A82M
Plain Wire For WWR
56 [385]
(smaller than W1.2 [MW7.7])

A496/A496M
Deformed Wire

A496/A496M
Deformed Wire for WWR

75 [515]

70 [485]

75,000 [515]

70,000 [485]

85,000 [585]

80,000 [550]

1d
(W7 [MW45] and smaller)

2d
(D6 [MD39] and smaller)

2d
(D6 [MD39] and smaller)

2d
(larger than W7 [MW45])

4d
(larger than D6 [MD39])

4d
(larger than D6 [MD39])

65 [450]
(W1.2 [MW7.7] and larger)
56,000 [385]
(smaller than W1.2 [MW7.7])
65,000 [450]
(W1.2 [MW7.7] and larger)
70,000 [485]
(smaller than W1.2 [MW7.7])
75,000 [515]
(W1.2 [MW7.7] and larger)

2010 DESIGN AWARDS

Cardiovascular
Innovation Institute
Indianapolis, IN

Common Styles of Welded Wire Reinforcement

Wire Properties

* Weight [mass] based on 60-in. [1524-mm] wide sheets (c.-c.) with 1-in. [25-mm] side overhang and standard
end overhang.

** These styles may be obtained in roll form. It is recommended that rolls be straightened and cut to size

Moment frame [is a] good choice. Interior elevator has glass on two sides, therefore cannot use concrete core structure
to resist lateral loads. Reinforced concrete frame and foundation system was
able to adapt to restricted site due to
three adjacent buildings. Reinforced
concrete is a good choice for this type of
building
-- Stephen F. Weintraut, PE
2010 Design Awards Judge

before placement.
Required tables not included.

In addition to the reference and resource

information offered through the CRSI website,
be sure to visit www.myCRSI.org to register
for FREE downloadable (available mid-2010)
technical publications and promotional
materials that spotlight the use of reinforced
concrete in real world applications.

Reinforcing Solutions Radar

Fast Access to Resource Options, including product and service providers from estimating to inspection is available from
CRSIs nationwide member network. Contact your CRSI region
manager for assistance in locating the right solution for you.

Sustainability
Sustainability Defined
CRSI endorses the commonly accepted United Nations definition
of sustainability as stated below.
Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs by attempting to balance social, economic and
environmental effects.
Building owners and users have discovered the array of benefits
achieved with sustainable construction. These advantages go beyond environmental gains helpful to the community and marketing
prestige. They include durability and other features that produce
bottom-line savings that cut time and cost during a projects construction and service life. No construction material contributes to
sustainability needs more than steel reinforced concrete.

www.sustainableconcrete.org

The Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative is a coalition of industry associations representing companies who make or maintain concrete structures.
We share a goal of educating ourselves, our members, and our customers
about the role and responsibilities of concrete in sustainable development.
The Sustainable Value of Concrete
We explore the sustainable attributes of concrete within four broad values:
stewardship of natural resources; stewardship of financial resources; safety
and stability; and aesthetics.
Concretes contribution to these values derives from its unique properties.
It is strong and durable, resistant to deterioration and damage. It buffers
temperature, and it can be colored and placed to do this in a way that works
with passive solar energy to heat or cool spaces. It buffers sound, providing
respite in a crowded, noisy world. It is versatile, allowing a large range of
shapes, textures, and structural approaches to create the function, look,
and feel appropriate to the project. It is also versatile in the flexibility of
component materials, a quality which both extends
the range of performance properties insulation,
permeability, and strength and allows variation
in the resources used to produce it.

Keys to Sustainability
The key to concretes
sustainability is how
well the material is
exploited.
Effectively leveraged, reinforced
concrete can contribute a great
deal to creating sustainable buildings, bridges and other structures.
Long Service Life
Reinforced concretes durability ensures that the structure will retain its
structural and aesthetic capabilities
for many years. The carbon footprint
of a structure is minimized when the
need to replace it is eliminated completely.
Safety
Reinforced concrete structures can
withstand natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. This resistance
minimizes the need for replacement
or repair.
Energy Efficiency
Reinforced concretes inherent thermal mass absorbs heat during the
day and releases it at night, reducing
HVAC costs and enhancing energy efficiency.
Lowered Maintenance
Reinforced concrete provides long
term durability, minimizing the need
of extensive maintenance. Because
cast-in-place reinforced concrete
offers a monolithic approach to
design, there are little or no joints
or connections to be maintained.

Reduced Waste

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Concrete components typically are

cast as specified, with little excess
produced. What waste accrues
through cutouts, change orders,
etc., can be recycled.

Concrete contains no volatile organic

compounds (VOCs), which improves
indoor air quality. It does not promote
mold growth because it is inorganic.
The monolithic nature reduces hidden spaces where insects, rodents,
and biological hazards can accumulate and infiltrate into the occupied
spaces. The impervious barrier provided by reinforced concrete helps
keep the outdoors outside and lets
the interior environment be controlled by the HVAC systems.

Minimized Harvesting Impact

Concrete producers can replace
significant amounts of cement in
their mixtures with industrial byproducts such a silica fume and blast-furnace slag. Their use in
concrete removes them from landfills
and minimizes cement use, while in
many cases producing an even more
durable concrete.
Minimized Transportation Cost
Virtually all of reinforced concrete
components can be made within 500
miles of the construction site, a key element in reducing emissions due to
transportation. Through the utilization
of local materials the impacts of
transportation are minimized.
Reduced Waste
Concrete components typically are
cast as specified, with little excess
produced. What waste accrues
through cutouts, change orders, etc.,
can be recycled.
Design Flexibility
Reinforced concrete offers flexibility
to design dramatic architectural
shapes with long-span capability that
can deliver open interior layouts creating flexibility in designing spaces
and providing the ability to install
equipment quickly.

Reduced Floor Heights

Reinforced concrete framing
systems offer substantially lower
floor-to-floor heights, creating
energy-efficient designs that may
be able to add revenue-generating
floors to the building while meeting
zoning restrictions on height.
Aesthetic Variety
Reinforced concrete can be cast
to replicate just about any surface
finish or shape imaginable. This ability provides the designer with almost
unlimited flexibility with color, shape
and texture.
Significant Social Benefits
Concrete provides high fire resistance and lower noise transmission,
creating safe, secure, comfortable
designs. Combined with its ability
to build taller and closer to city
centers, wind resistance, indoor comfort and other amenities, reinforced
concrete can help boost productivity,
worker satisfaction and offer a higher
quality greener way of life.

Reinforced Concrete by the Numbers

97%
The vast majority of domestically
produced reinforcing steel (i.e. A615,
A706) is typically greater than 97%
recycled from post-consumer and/or
pre-consumer scrap. Specialty
reinforcing steel products (i.e. A1035,
A955) have a recycled content
typically greater than 75%.

100%
All reinforcing steel is fully recyclable
and can be diverted from the waste
stream without net cost.

10 15%
Portland cement constitutes only
10 to 15% of structural concrete
mix components which results in
a low carbon footprint.

95%
Over 95% of water used in steelmaking is recycled and the water
returned to the stream is often
cleaner than when it entered
the mill.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Essentials

Reinforced concrete offers
numerous opportunities for
projects to earn LEED credits.
LEED Materials & Resources 1, 2 & 3
Building Reuse, Construction Waste
Management, & Materials Reuse
Extend the life cycle of existing building stock,
conserve resources, retain cultural resources,
reduce waste and reduce environmental impacts of new buildings as
they relate to material manufacturing and
transport.

LEED Materials & Resources 4.1 & 4.2

Recycled Content

LEED Materials & Resources 5.1 & 5.2

Regional Materials

Increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content material, thereby
reducing impacts resulting from extraction and
processing of virgin materials.

Increase demand for building products that are

extracted (billet producer) and manufactured
(fabricator) within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from
transportation.

Use materials with recycled content such that

the sum of post-consumer recycled content
plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes at least 10% or 20% for an additional
credit (based on cost) of the total value of the
materials in the project.

Use building materials or products that are harvested (billet producer) and manufactured (fabricator) within 500 miles of the project site for a
minimum of 10% or for an additional 20% credit
(based on cost) of the total materials value.

LEED Certification:
There are seven categories which are evaluated in obtaining a LEED Certification
by including special design methods and unique regional credits and exemplary
performance levels.

Location and Linkages (LL): The placement of homes in socially and

environmentally responsible ways in relations to the larger community.
Water Efficiency (WE): Water-efficient practices, both indoor and outdoor.
Energy & Atmosphere (EA): Energy efficiency, particularly in the building
envelope and heating and cooling design.
Awareness & Education (AE): The education of homeowner, tenant and/or
building manager about the operation and maintenance of a LEED
home.
Materials & Resources (MR): Selection of environmentally preferable
materials and minimization of waste during construction.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): Improvement of indoor air quality by
reducing the creation and exposure to pollutants.
Sustainable Sites (SS): The use of the entire property to minimize the
projects impact on the site.

ON THE COVER: 1. FAMILIAR HOOKS A common reinforcing bar bend. 2. NEW CHICAGO ICON The 92 story Trump International Hotel & Tower rises in concrete. 3. ENDURING TRIBUTE The Ronald Reagan
Building and International Trade Center, Washington, D.C. relies on a massive reinforced concrete frame. 4. ANATOMY OF A BAR revealing typical rebar patterns and dimensions. 5. THE RODBUSTER placing
reinforcing steel in a concrete column. 6. SMART ART VDOTs Smart Road Bridge traverses a valley beautifully while testing technology for Virginias future. 7. CARPET OF GREEN Under construction, Illinois Dan
Ryan Expressway utilizes epoxy-coated continuously-reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) technology to maximize its service life. 8. BAR BENDER in the hands of a pro a common table bending machine does
serious work. 9. SHAPING STANDARDS CRSI publishes industry guides, the result of our members collaborative efforts. 10. BURIED TREASURE Though you wont see it inside the finished structure, the placed
reinforcing plays a critical role. These illustrations reflect the many forms of reinforced concrete construction and the design resources found in this popular reference guide. Explore!

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4
5

6
7

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9

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Terminology Referenced in Reinforced Concrete Construction

BAR SPACING Distance between parallel reinforcing
bars measured from center to center of the bars perpendicular to their longitudinal axes.
BAR SUPPORTS Devices of formed wire, plastic or
precast concrete to support, hold, and space reinforcing bars.

FABRICATION Actual work on the reinforcing bars

such as cutting, bending, bundling, and tagging.

POSITIONAL COUPLER Coupler used in applications

where neither bar can be moved or rotated.

HOOK A semi-circular (180 degree), 135 degree, or

a 90 degree turn at the free end of a reinforcing bar to
provide anchorage in concrete.

RADIUS BEND Reinforcing bars bent to a radius

larger than that specified for standard hooks; a bar
curved to fit into circular walls, as the horizontal bars
in a silo.

LIFT Shop lifts are units of reinforcing bars, loaded

for shipment. Field lifts are units of reinforcing bar required for field handling by the contractor.

SLAB BOLSTER Wire or plastic bar support used to

support bottom slab reinforcing bars.

MARK OUT Indicating with keel (crayon) marks on

the forms, the location of each reinforcing bar prior to
starting actual placing operations in an area.

STEM BARS Reinforcing bars used in the wall section of a cantilevered retaining wall or in the webs of
a box girder.

BENT BAR A reinforcing bar bent to a prescribed

shape such as a truss bar, straight bar with end hook,
stirrup, or column tie.

MECHANICAL SPLICE The complete assembly of an

end-bearing sleeve, a coupler, or a coupling sleeve, and
possibly additional materials or parts to accomplish the
splicing of reinforcing bars.

STIRRUPS Reinforcing bars placed perpendicular to

the longitudinal steel in beams and girders for shear
reinforcement.

COLUMN HORSES Supports of two or more used to

hold longitudinal reinforcement in position for placing
stirrups/ties while prefabricating column, beam or pile
cages.

NOMINAL DIAMETER The diameter of a plain round

bar of the same weight per linear foot as a deformed
reinforcing bar.

CONCRETE COVER The distance from the face of the

concrete to the reinforcing steel, also referred to as
clearance or clear cover.

PLACING DRAWINGS Detailed drawings which give

the size, location, spacing of the reinforcing bars, and
all other information required by the ironworker.

BAR-END CHECK Check of the ends of reinforcing

bars to determine whether they fit the devices intended
for mechanically splicing the bar.
BEAM BOLSTER Continuous wire bar support used
to support the reinforcing bars in the bottom of beams.

TIES Reinforcing bars bent to a rectangular or circular shape and used to hold longitudinal reinforcing bars
together in columns.
TOLERANCE Allowable variation from a given dimension, quantity, or position.
TRANSITIONAL COUPLER Coupler used to connect
bars of different diameters.

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2010 Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI).
Any reproduction, republication, or other use of all or part of any content found in this publication is expressly prohibited
unless prior written permission has been granted by CRSI, or the appropriate copyright owner. All other rights reserved.

Online resources available 24/7

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