For many specifiers and users, reinforcing steel is a commodity product and largely taken for granted. The most significant attribute is often the price, rather than any particular performance characteristic. Reinforcing steels in the UK are almost invariably ordered to British Standards. Most designers will specify reinforcing steels using a bar or fabric schedule to BS 8666, with little knowledge about the product being ordered, how it is made, inspected, tested, or what characteristics it may have, and how these may influence fabrication, site operations and structural performance.

In order to help clarify this situation, CARES has produced a series of ten, monthly which were distributed in "CONCRETE" and "Structural Engineer" during 2004/5. The guides are also available as downloadable Adobe PDF files from this web page.

Many of the standards referenced by the guides are being reviewed in a European context. The electronic versions of the guides on CARES' web site will be updated as necessary. Updates will be announced on the CARES web site.

1.The product certification scheme for steel for the reinforcement of concrete (PDF 468k ).

2.Manufacturing process routes for reinforcing steels (PDF 254k ).

3. Properties of reinforcing steels (PDF 160k ).

4.Fabrication of steel reinforcement (PDF 356k).

5. Welded reinforcement fabric (PDF 208k).

6. Welding of reinforcing steels (PDF 205k)

7. Stainless reinforcing steels (PDF 181k).

8. Ancillary products for the reinforcement of concrete (PDF 248k).

9. Electronic labeling and transfer of data PDF (253k).

10. Reinforcement product standards and design codes (135k).

UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels
Copyright © 2004-