THE BAR GUIDE TO

STEEL REINFORCEMENT
STANDARDS AND CODES
There is a wide range of standards, codes and regulations that effect the
specification and use of reinforcement steel. Below is an informative guide
from the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) that aims to assist both
designer and specifier.

The impact of Brexit CE marking

The short-term impact of the result of the With regards to CE marking there are
recent Brexit referendum to leave the currently two routes to achieve CE marking
European Union will have limited impact on via compliance with a harmonised standard
the UK reinforcement sector. The UK is a full or the preparation of the European Technical
member of the European Committee for Approval (ETA) where no harmonised
Standardisation (CEN) and, as such, adopts standard exists. However, where a
European Standards (ENs) just as non-EU harmonised standard is under preparation (for
members of CEN do. steel reinforcement this is the draft EN 10080)
it is not possible to prepare an ETA.
The British Standards Institution (BSi) will
continue to be a voting member of CEN as As there is currently no harmonised European
are non-EU European Free Trade Association Standard (hEN) steel reinforcement does not
(EFTA) members. In addition, CEN has 17 require a CE mark. It is expected that steel
affiliate members in eastern Europe, north reinforcement will eventually be covered
Africa and the Middle East, and three partner by a harmonised European standard. This
organisations, including Standards Australia. standard, EN 10080, is currently at draft stage
Standards approved by CEN, by a qualified and is not predicted to facilitate CE marking
majority, must be adopted at national before 2018 at the earliest. Until then as there
standards by all 33 members who must is no hEN there is no CE marking necessary
withdraw any conflicting national standards. for reinforcing steel, reinforcing fabric or
lattice girders. Furthermore, there are no
The long-term effect of Brexit may be a little plans for cut and bent reinforcement to be
difficult to predict. The UK may or may not subject to a hEN as it is not included in the
be in the European Economic Area (EEA) or European Commission’s mandate. It should
the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) be noted, however, that some reinforcement
and so may or may not get a vote on future accessories are subject to CE marking and
European standards. On the other side designers and specifiers are advised to check
we may not have to adopt aspects of the accordingly.
standards that we do not to subscribe to.

British Association of Reinforcement www.uk-bar.org

THE BAR GUIDE

Codes and standards BS 4482: 2005. Steel wire for the

reinforcement of concrete products.
BS EN 1992-1-1: 2004+1: 2014. Eurocode 2: Specification
Design of concrete structures. General
rules and rules for buildings. BS 4482:2005 specifies requirements for
plain, indented and ribbed steel wire used
BS EN 1992-1-1 provides general rules for the for the reinforcement of concrete products.
design of structures in plain, reinforced and The standard contains provisions for two
prestressed concrete with specific rules for grades, based on mechanical properties.
buildings. The National Annex to BS EN 1992- Grade 500 is specified for plain, indented
1-1 provides UK decisions where national and ribbed wires. Grade 250 is specified as
choice is allowed and it is to be read in an option for plain wires only.
conjunction with BS EN 1992-1-1.
BS 4483: 2005. Steel fabric for the
BS EN 1992-2: 2005. Eurocode 2. Design reinforcement of concrete. Specification
of concrete structures. Concrete bridges.
Design and detailing rules. Lists the range of standard reinforcement
fabrics for use in different design situations.
BS EN 1992-2 gives principles and It is a requirement of this standard that
application rules for the design of concrete all fabric should be electrical resistance
bridges in addition to those stated in BS EN welded.
1992-1-1
BS 8548 Guidance on the Welding of Steel
BS EN 1992-3: 2006. Eurocode 2. Design of Reinforcement – under development
concrete structures. Liquid retaining and
containing structures. BS 8597: 2015. Steels for the reinforcement
BS EN 1992-3:2006 covers additional of concrete. Reinforcement couplers.
rules to those in Part 1 for the design of Requirements and test methods.
structures constructed from plain or lightly Specifies requirements and test methods
reinforced concrete, reinforced concrete or for steel reinforcement couplers to be
prestressed concrete for the containment of used for the mechanical splicing of steel
liquids or granular solids. reinforcing bars. It specifies requirements
for couplers to be used for mechanical
BS 4449: 2005 + A3: 2016. Steel for the splices in reinforced concrete structures
reinforcement of concrete. Weldable under predominantly static loads and
reinforcing steel. Bar, coil and decoiled additional requirements for couplers to be
product specification. used in elements of structures subject to
Provides designations based on the grade of high cycle elastic fatigue loading. It also
steel, the product form and dimensions. The specifies requirements for the evaluation of
standard is used to specify all normal technical conformity of couplers.
requirements for reinforcing steels, including
chemical analysis, mechanical properties, rib BS 6744: 2016. Stainless steel bars.
geometry and tolerances on dimensions. Reinforcement of concrete. Requirements
and test methods.

This British Standard specifies requirements

British Association of Reinforcement www.uk-bar.org

 STEEL REINFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND CODES

and test methods for solid stainless steel specific level of skill and job knowledge
bars used for the reinforcement of concrete. and that special procedures for quality
It is applicable to ribbed stainless reinforcing assurance need to be adopted.
steel bars in grade 500. It is applicable to
bars in which the ribs have been formed by BS EN ISO 17660-1 is applicable to the
the cold working or hot rolling processes. welding of weldable reinforcing steel
and stainless reinforcing steel of load-
BS 8666: 2005. Scheduling, dimensioning, bearing joints, in workshops or on site.
bending and cutting of steel reinforcement It specifies requirements for materials,
for concrete. Specification. design and execution of welded joints,
welding personnel, quality requirements,
The standard includes requirements for the
examination and testing. It also covers
cutting and bending of reinforcing bars
welded joints between reinforcing steel
and coils. It also specifies the requirements
bars and other steel components, such as
for scheduling fabricated reinforcing
connection devices and insert anchors,
steels, including a standard notation for
including prefabricated assemblies.
different reinforcing steel types, standard
bent shapes, and standard designations of
BS EN 17660-2: 2006 Welding. Welding
welded fabric.
of reinforcing steel. Non load-bearing
welded joints.
BS EN 10080: 2005. Steel for the
reinforcement of concrete. Weldable Applies to the welding of weldable
reinforcing steel. General reinforcing steel and stainless reinforcing
steel of non load-bearing welded joints, in
BS EN 10080 specifies general requirements
workshops or on site. Gives requirements
and definitions for the performance
for materials, design and execution of
characteristics of weldable reinforcing steel
welded joints, welding personnel, quality
used for the reinforcement of concrete
requirements, examination and testing.
structures, delivered as finished products
in the form of bars, coils (rod, wire) and
decoiled products, sheets of factory-made
machine-welded fabric or lattice girders.
BS EN 10080 is a harmonized European
Standard, and contains within it the
RAISING THE BAR
requirements for CE marking of reinforcing The British Association of
steels according to the Construction Reinforcement (BAR) provides
Products Directive. an industry focus and marketing
champion for the UK’s reinforcement
BS EN 17660-1: 2006. Welding. Welding of industry. BAR membership includes
reinforcing steel. Load-bearing welded UK major reinforcement fabricators
joints and manufacturing mills. It has
representation on British Standards
Reinforcing steel bars are produced by a and its members are CARES
number of process routes and usually have approved.
a ribbed profile. Taking these issues into
account, it is apparent that both the welder
and the welding coordinator require a

British Association of Reinforcement www.uk-bar.org

G I V E YO U R P R OJ E CT A R E I N FO R C E D A DVA N TAG E

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