Reinforcing Bar Processing

Reinforcement Processing

The term “processing”, as used in the reinforcement industry, includes the
complete range of operations that translate information on an engineering
drawing into usable pieces of steel delivered to the building site. The summary
that follows applies to the processing of reinforcing bar.

The Bar and Mesh Schedule

A document giving details for manufacture, delivery and fixing prepared by a
“Scheduler”. The Scheduler reads the engineering and architectural drawings
to determine the number, size, length and shape of reinforcement required.
The schedule contains most of the instructions that enable the following
processes to be carried out.

Cutting to length

Bar reinforcement is manufactured in stock lengths as straight bars, or in coils
for sizes 16 mm and below. One or two stock lengths are held for each bar
size. As the dimensions of concrete members rarely match these lengths, the
bars must be cut to the required length.

Bending to shape

After cutting, reinforcement may need to be bent to shape. The required shape
is determined by the shape of the concrete outline. The shape is defined by a
dimensioned sketch on the schedule and tag.

Bundling and tagging

Following bending and/or cutting, bars of similar size and shape are grouped
and tied together. A tag identifying the location of the steel in the structure is
tied to each bundle. This location, or label, corresponds with the membernumbering
system shown on the structural drawings. If the structural drawings
show insufficient detail to identify the reinforcement location, a marking
drawing may be required.

Delivery Instructions

Transport from the ARC factory to the job may be by truck or rail, and in each
case requires an identifying tag and associated delivery instructions such as
address and customer.

Cutting Bars to Length

Bending Reinforcement to Shape

Welding Reinforcement

Mechanical Splices