
Sizes and
grades
U.S. sizes
Imperial bar designations represent the bar diameter in
fractions of 1⁄8 inch, such that #8 =
8⁄8 inch = 1 inch diameter. Area =
(bar size/9)2 such that area of #8 =
(8/9)2 = 0.79 in2. This applies to #8
bars and smaller. Larger bars have a slightly larger diameter
than the one computed using the 1⁄8 inch
convention.
|
Imperial
Bar Size
|
"Soft"
Metric Size
|
Weight
(lb⁄ft)
|
Weight
(kg/m)
|
Nominal Diameter
(in)
|
Nominal Diameter
(mm)
|
Nominal Area
(in²)
|
Nominal Area
(mm²)
|
|
#3
|
#10
|
0.376
|
0.561
|
0.375 =
3⁄8
|
9.525
|
0.11
|
71
|
|
#4
|
#13
|
0.668
|
0.996
|
0.500 =
4⁄8
|
12.7
|
0.20
|
129
|
|
#5
|
#16
|
1.043
|
1.556
|
0.625 =
5⁄8
|
15.875
|
0.31
|
200
|
|
#6
|
#19
|
1.502
|
2.24
|
0.750 =
6⁄8
|
19.05
|
0.44
|
284
|
|
#7
|
#22
|
2.044
|
3.049
|
0.875 =
7⁄8
|
22.225
|
0.60
|
387
|
|
#8
|
#25
|
2.670
|
3.982
|
1.000 =
8⁄8
|
25.4
|
0.79
|
509
|
|
#9
|
#29
|
3.400
|
5.071
|
1.128
|
28.65
|
1.00
|
645
|
|
#10
|
#32
|
4.303
|
6.418
|
1.270
|
32.26
|
1.27
|
819
|
|
#11
|
#36
|
5.313
|
7.924
|
1.410
|
35.81
|
1.56
|
1006
|
|
#14
|
#43
|
7.650
|
11.41
|
1.693
|
43
|
2.25
|
1452
|
|
#18
|
#57
|
13.60
|
20.284
|
2.257
|
57.33
|
4.00
|
2581
|
Canadian sizes
Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in
millimeters, rounded to the nearest 5 mm.
|
Metric
Bar Size
|
Mass
(kg/m)
|
Nominal Diameter
(mm)
|
Cross-Sectional
Area (mm²)
|
|
10M
|
0.785
|
11.3
|
100
|
|
15M
|
1.570
|
16.0
|
200
|
|
20M
|
2.355
|
19.5
|
300
|
|
25M
|
3.925
|
25.2
|
500
|
|
30M
|
5.495
|
29.9
|
700
|
|
35M
|
7.850
|
35.7
|
1000
|
|
45M
|
11.775
|
43.7
|
1500
|
|
55M
|
19.625
|
56.4
|
2500
|
European sizes
Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in
millimetres. Bars in Europe will be specified to comply with
the standard
EN 10080
(awaiting introduction as of early 2007), although various
national standards still remain in force (e.g. BS 4449 in the
United Kingdom).
|
Metric
Bar Size
|
Mass
(kg/m)
|
Nominal Diameter
(mm)
|
Cross-Sectional
Area (mm²)
|
|
6,0
|
0.222
|
6
|
28.3
|
|
8,0
|
0.395
|
8
|
50.3
|
|
10,0
|
0.617
|
10
|
78.5
|
|
12,0
|
0.888
|
12
|
113
|
|
14,0
|
1.21
|
14
|
154
|
|
16,0
|
1.579
|
16
|
201
|
|
20,0
|
2.467
|
20
|
314
|
|
25,0
|
3.855
|
25
|
491
|
|
28,0
|
4.83
|
28
|
616
|
|
32,0
|
6.316
|
32
|
804
|
|
40,0
|
9.868
|
40
|
1257
|
|
50,0
|
15.413
|
50
|
1963
|

Grades
Rebar is available in different grades and specifications that
vary in
yield strength
,
ultimate tensile strength
,
chemical composition
, and percentage of
elongation
.
The grade designation is equal to the minimum yield strength of
the bar in
ksi
(1000 psi) for example grade 60 rebar has a minimum yield
strength of 60 ksi. Rebar is typically manufactured in grades
40, 60, and 75.
Common
ASTM
specification are:
-
ASTM A82: Specification for Plain Steel Wire for Concrete
Reinforcement
-
ASTM A184/A184M: Specification for Fabricated Deformed
Steel Bar Mats for Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A185: Specification for Welded Plain Steel Wire Fabric
for Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A496: Specification for Deformed Steel Wire for
Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A497: Specification for Welded Deformed Steel Wire
Fabric for Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A615/A615M: Deformed and plain carbon-steel bars for
concrete reinforcement
-
ASTM A616/A616M: Specification for Rail-Steel Deformed and
Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A617/A617M: Specification for Axle-Steel Deformed and
Plain Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A706/A706M: Low-alloy steel deformed and plain bars
for concrete reinforcement
-
ASTM A767/A767M: Specification for Zinc-Coated(Galvanized)
Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
-
ASTM A775/A775M: Specification for Epoxy-Coated Reinforcing
Steel Bars
-
ASTM A934/A934M: Specification for Epoxy-Coated
Prefabricated Steel Reinforcing Bars
-
ASTM A955: Deformed and plain stainless-steel bars for
concrete reinforcement
-
ASTM A996: Rail-steel and axle-steel deformed bars for
concrete reinforcement
ASTM marking designations are:
-
'S' billet A615
-
'I' rail A616
-
'IR' Rail Meeting Supplementary Requirements S1
A616
-
'A' Axle A617
-
'W' Low-alloy — A706
Historically in Europe, rebar is composed of mild steel
material with a yield strength of approximately 250 N/mm².
Modern rebar is composed of high-yield steel, with a yield
strength more typically 500 N/mm². Rebar can be supplied with
various grades of
ductility
, with the more ductile steel capable of absorbing considerably
greater energy when deformed - this can be of use in design to
resist the forces from
earthquakes
for example.

Placing rebar
Rebar cages are fabricated either on or off the project site
commonly with the help of
hydraulic
benders and shears, however for small or custom work a tool
known as a Hickey - or hand rebar bender, is sufficient. The
rebars are placed by rodbusters or concrete reinforcing
ironworkers with bar supports separating the rebar from the
concrete forms to establish concrete cover and ensure that
proper embedment is achieved. The rebars in the cages are
connected by welding or tying wires. For epoxy coated or
galvanized rebars only the latter is possible.
Welding
The American Welding Society (AWS) D 1.4 sets out the practices
for welding rebar in the U.S. Without special consideration the
only rebar that is ready to weld is W grade (Low-alloy —
A706). In the US, most rebar is not suitable for welding. ASTM
A 616 & ASTM A 617 reinforcing are re-rolled rail steel
& re-rolled rail axle steel with uncontrolled chemistry,
phosphorus & carbon content. To weld rebar you must obtain
a mill statement that the reinforcing is suitable for
welding.
Welding can reduce the
fatigue
life of the rebar, and as a result rebar cages are normally
tied together with wire. Besides fatigue concerns welding rebar
has become less common in developed countries due to the high
labor costs of certified welders. Steel for
prestressed concrete
may absolutely not be welded.
Couplers
When welding or wire-tying rebar is impractical or uneconomical
a mechanical connection or
rebar coupler
can be used to connect two or more bars together. These
couplers are popular in precast concrete construction at the
joints between members and to reduce rebar congestion in highly
reinforced areas.
A full mechanical connection is achieved when the bars
connected develop in tension or compression a minimum of 125%
of the yield strength of the bar.
Safety
To prevent workers and / or pedestrians from accidentally
impaling themselves, the protruding ends of steel rebar are
often bent over or covered with special steel-reinforced
plastic "plate" caps. "Mushroom" caps may provide protection
from scratches and other minor injuries, but provide little to
no protection from impalement.
Designations
For clarity, reinforcement is usually tabulated in a
"reinforcement schedule" on construction drawings. This
eliminates ambiguity in the various notations used in different
parts of the world. The following list provides examples of the
different notations used in the architectural, engineering, and
construction industry.
|
New Zealand
|
|
Designation
|
Explanation
|
|
HD-16-300, T&B, EW
|
High strength (500 MPa) 16 mm
diameter rebars spaced at 300 mm centers
(center-to-center distance) on both the top and
bottom face and in each way as well (i.e.,
longitudinal and transverse).
|
|
3-D12
|
Three mild strength (300 MPa) 12 mm
diameter rebars
|
|
R8 Stirrups @ 225 MAX
|
D
grade (300 MPa) smooth bar stirrups,
spaced at 225 mm centres. By default in
New Zealand practice all stirrups are normally
interpreted as being full, closed, loops. This
is a detailing requirement for concrete
ductility in seismic zones; If a single strand
of stirrup with a hook at each end was
required, this would typically be both
specified and illustrated.
|
|
United States
|
|
Designation
|
Explanation
|
|
#4 @ 12 OC, T&B, EW
|
Number 4 rebars spaced 12 inches on center
(center-to-center distance) on both the top and
bottom faces and in each way as well, i.e.
longitudinal and transverse.
|
|
(3) #4
|
Three number 4 rebars (usually used when the
rebar perpendicular to the
detail)
|
|
#3 ties @ 9 OC, (2) per set
|
Number 3 rebars used as stirrups, spaced at
9 inches on center. Each set consists of
two ties, which is usually
illustrated.
|

|