Reinforced concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials. It’s not only versatile but also affordable. This composite of concrete and steel gets used everywhere, from building bridges to skyscrapers. But you will need rebar accessories along with standard concrete equipment supply.
Rebar is the most commonly used material for concrete reinforcement. In other words, it is necessary for you to understand how you can use different rebar accessories in your project.
8 Things That You Need for Your Next Project
Let’s learn about a few of these accessories before you sort concrete equipment supplies for your next project.
1. Dowel Bars
Dowel bars are short, smooth cylindrical steel bars. They provide a mechanical connection between slabs without restricting horizontal joint movement. Usually, dowel bars are 32 to 38 mm (1.25 to 1.5 inches) in diameter and 460 mm (18 inches) in length. They are often spaced at a distance of 305 mm (12 inches) from one another.
These rebar accessories are critical in transferring the load to its adjacent slab. That, in turn, helps reduce the excessive load on a single slap. It’s no surprise dowel bars will be on your concrete equipment supply list for the next project. Make sure to buy dowel bars and other rebar accessories from a trusted, reputed supplier.
2. Rebar
Rebar, short for reinforcement bar or reinforcement steel, is a steel bar used to reinforce masonry and concrete structures. Rebar helps strengthen the tension exerted by the concrete structure. There are many rebar sizes, grades, and types. You will need to choose the one depending on your construction needs.
The most common types of rebar include:
- Carbon Steel Rebar
- Stainless Steel Rebar
- Galvanized Rebar
- Glass Fiber Reinforced Rebar
- Epoxy Coated Rebar
- Welded Wire Fabric (WWF) Rebar
- Expanded Metal Rebar
Each rebar comes with the type and grade engraved in it. So, identifying the rebar type and grade you are using is easy. But you will need to consult your project engineer to understand which types, sizes, and grades you need. Be sure to sort out your needs before placing your concrete equipment supply order.
3. Welded Wire Mesh (WWM)
Welded wire mesh, or WWM, is one of the best concrete reinforcement materials. This highly durable reinforcement material prevents the concrete slab from cracking and possible breakage. WWM usually gets used in arrays of small to large projects. Besides slab, you can also use this in constructing columns, walls, and sidewalks.
WWM will be a necessary addition to your concrete equipment supply list. Talk to your suppliers about the various option you have. Depending on the different types of materials used in its production, WWM gets categorized into:
- PVC welded mesh
- Galvanized welded mesh
- Welded stainless steel wire mesh
- Welded Wire Fabric (WWF)
4. Tie Bars
Tie bars are deformed steel or deformed epoxy-coated steel bars used to hold adjoining slabs in contact. Tie bars help prevent separation and differential deflection of lanes. They also play a critical role in reducing the risk of transverse cracking.
But tie bars are not meant to provide load transfer. So, avoid using them in load transfer applications. Usually, tie bars are 12.5mm or 16mm in diameter and between 0.6m and 1.0m long. They are bent back until the adjacent slab or lane gets paved or laid. Make sure to add these to your concrete equipment supply list.
5. Rebar Splices
Another essential item on your concrete equipment supply list is the rebar splices. As you already know, rebar is available in pre-cut lengths due to manufacturing and transportation limits. In other words, you will need to join two or more pieces together if your project needs longer rebar. That’s where rebar splices come in.
You can connect two pieces of rebar using a rebar splice. Lap spicing is the most widely used rebar splicing technique. It involves a lap splice that overlaps two lengths of rebar and wires them together.
The overlap length changes depending on the rebar size and the specific structural application. You can talk to your supplier to find suitable rebar splices for your project.
6. Rebar Positioners
Rebar lays the foundation of your project, whether bridge or building. It is necessary to ensure that each piece of rebar remains as straight as possible. You would also want to space each piece apart at an equal length. This helps preserve the structural integrity of your construction project. That’s why you will need to use rebar positioners.
Rebar positioners are simple Z-shaped wires that bridge the cell of concrete blocks. They help position and stabilize two or more pieces of rebar. You can customize the length of rebar positioners to meet your construction needs. Talk to your concrete equipment supply company before placing your order.
7. Rebar Caps
Safety is equally important when working on construction sites. Your workers are at risk of getting impaled by the protruding ends of the rebar. You must ensure the safety of your workers by installing plastic rebar caps. It is also an OSHA safety standard.
According to the OSHA standard, 29 CFR 1926.701(b), “all protruding reinforcing steel, onto and into which employees could fall, shall be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement.” The key words are “to eliminate the hazard of impalement.”
Rebar caps have a flat or rounded top, eliminating the risk of injuries. Most concrete accessories suppliers will recommend you buy rebar caps.
8. Rebar Ligatures (Fabrication)
Rebar ligatures help in increasing the compressive strength of reinforced columns and beams. They also help in accurately positioning the rebar. That’s why you will mostly see ligatures tied to the top and bottom of the reinforcing beams. They form a column or a cage. Ligatures get concealed in the concrete, strengthening the concrete foundation.
Rebar ligatures come in different diameters. But the most common sizes include 5.6mm, 6mm, and 10mm. They are mostly square or circular. However, you can place a custom order if you need a specific size. Talk to your concrete equipment supply company to see how they can help you.
In Conclusion
Concrete is one of the most versatile, reliable, and cost-effective construction materials. But it needs rebar and different rebar accessories to increase its strength. Your construction project will last longer if you use the right rebar accessories. This list will help you get started.
If you need help finding the best rebar accessories, look no further than Concrete Construction Supply. Our experts can help you find what you need. Contact us today.