What Is Steel Reinforcing, And What Does It Do?
In This Article:
- What Is Steel Reinforcing?
- Steel Reinforcing and Concrete
- Reinforcing Steel Uses
- Types of Steel Reinforcing Products
- Australian/New Zealand Standards for Reinforced Steel
- Can Reinforcing Steel be Recycled?
- Where to Buy Reinforcing Steel in Auckland
What is Steel Reinforcing?
Steel reinforcing is when a steel bar or mesh of steel wires is used in reinforced concrete as a tension device. The reinforced steel strengthens and holds the concrete in tension so that it becomes more durable and reliable. Reinforced concrete is fairly weather- and fire-resistant.
Why use reinforcing steel in concrete?
Concrete on its own is quite brittle and has low ductility and tensile strength.
Reinforced steel holds the concrete together and adds overall tensile strength. This added strength prevents any cracks in the concrete and catastrophic failure of the structures.
Concrete is a wonderful substance, with wide applications. It’s an important part of our daily lives. But it does need some help to be truly effective.
While concrete is strong under compression, its tensile strength is comparatively weak.
That means concrete needs help to boost tensile strength and do its job long-term.
This extra strength is provided by steel reinforcing.
You can see reinforcing as a partner with concrete to prevent cracking or other deficiencies.
The two bond readily, helped by the ridged patterning of the reinforcing steel. Concrete and reinforced steel have similar thermal coefficients which help them expand in tandem.
Expansion is triggered by temperature changes throughout the day and differs depending on the seasons.
When was steel first used in concrete?
Concrete reinforcing isn’t a new discovery, although reinforcing steel has improved steadily over the years.
Development has been driven both by technical advances and the introduction of Standards to ensure products fully meet core quality requirements.
The basic concept of reinforced concrete goes back several centuries.
What is reinforcing steel used for?
If you’re new to reinforced concrete, Quality Steel Supplies and sister company Quality Concrete Services are on hand to provide helpful advice on specifications and applications.
Even more, experienced specifiers and designers often look to us for assistance. We learn from each other to the benefit of all.
For concrete slab-on-ground projects, you need to consider size, loading, drainage and other factors.
These projects include,
- Driveways
- Paths
- Exterior patios
- Paved terraces
- Car parking areas
- Swimming pool surrounds
- Playgrounds
What are the different types of steel reinforcement?
HD10 X 6M REINFORCING BAR
Quality Steel Supplies offers a wide choice of hot rolled deformed bars in 6-metre lengths.
The term ‘deformed’ refers to the surface ribs or ridging which facilitate smooth bonding with the concrete. It can be easily identified in product codes: for example, D12 or HD16.
Steel bars used as a tension device in reinforced concrete range from 10mm to 32mm in diameter.
Our range encompasses both Grade 300E and Grade 500E options. We’ll look at grades in more detail in a later blog post.
The designations on the reinforced steel mark relative tensile strength with 500E delivering a higher yield strength.
The number in this coding indicates the yield strength measured in megapascals. The E is a ductility indicator and refers to earthquake resistance.
All bars carry clear markings which can be easily recognised. This is a requirement of the appropriate Standard.
Steel mesh is the primary reinforcing product for all large coverage concrete applications. Mesh comes in various sizes and is tailored to the scope and needs of your project.
Prices for our Steel mesh range from $55.90 to $200.20 excluding GST.
Mesh ties the pour together and helps reduce cracking. It also stabilises a concrete pour on a sloping or uneven surface.
Where surface water drainage is an issue, Quality Steel Supplies has a dependable and well-priced slot drain solution.
This slot drain solution is made of recycled, UV-stabilised polymer which is tough but very light and is very straightforward to work with.
Paver-length segments are moulded into the channel which allows easy cutting and rejoining.
The drain is connected to stormwater pipes via a moulded-in bottom outlet.
What is a bar chair?
25/40 Bar Chair – 100 Pack
Newcomers to steel reinforcing might raise an eyebrow about bar chairs, thinking in terms of a drink at the bar. In this context, however, bar chairs refer to a reinforcing bar and trenching mesh supports that help keep the bars in place.
They are manufactured to withstand high loadings and are always batch-tested, ensuring they meet the AS/NZS Standard for bar chairs.
Among features is a handy clip-on function: you clip them onto the mesh upside down, give the mesh a shake and the chairs swing into place.
Several pack options are available:
What is a stirrup?
R6 STIRRUP 150×150
The purpose of stirrups is to help anchor reinforcing bars and hold them in position. This increases the shear capacity of the reinforced concrete and prevents shear failure. Their name has no technical relevance to engineering – it’s just that they look a little like horse-riding stirrups!
EuroSteel reinforcing stirrups supplied by Quality Steel Supplies are pre-bent to standard configurations that can be readily used on site.
We have stirrups in three specifications available.
What is the role of bar caps?
Bar Cap – 100 Pack
Not something colourful to wear while having a drink, although they are high visibility. Steel reinforcing bars protruding from a concrete pour are potentially hazardous because of their sharp ends. The sturdy safety caps protect people working in the area and minimise damage to other materials or equipment being used.
Are the Australian/New Zealand Standards, which Quality Steel Supplies refers to in our products, important?
Standards are a government-administered benchmark, developed with wide input – including from within the industry itself – to ensure materials are of consistently high quality. All our products meet the Standards relevant to each category.
Can reinforcing steel be recycled?
Yes, reinforcing steel is largely a green product. Reinforcing steel is usually able to be recycled when a project ends its effective life, as designed.
Where to buy reinforcing steel in Auckland?
Quality Steel Supplies provides all of your reinforcing concrete needs, with a range of reinforcing steel mesh, reinforcing steel bars, bar chairs and reinforcing tie wire.
✔ We deliver Auckland-wide Monday – Saturday
✔ All products are compliant with AS/NZS 4671 standards.
✔ Competitive pricing
✔ Hiab and transport hire
If you have more questions about reinforcing steel or need more info on product specifications call Troy on 022 673 9877 or Jackson on 021 977 444.