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Rebar Work (Fabrication, Assembly, Pressure Welding, and Rebar Inspection)

Construction · 建設分野 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Types of Reinforcing Bars, JIS Standards, Rolled Identification Marks, and Storage Control

Reinforced concrete (RC) combines concrete, which is strong in compression but weak in tension, with steel reinforcing bars, which have high tensile strength. Bars are classified into plain round bars (SR) without surface lugs and deformed bars (SD) with protrusions that increase bond with concrete.

On a deformed steel bar, the continuous longitudinal protrusion along the bar axis is called a 'rib', and the transverse protrusions are called 'lugs (nodes / Fushi)'. Nominal sizes correspond to approximate nominal diameters in millimeters: D10, D13, D16, D19, D22, D25, D29, D32, D35, D38, and D41.

The numbers in steel grade symbols 'SD295A, SD295B, SD345, SD390, SD490' indicate the lower limit of yield point in N/mm². Under JIS G 3112, end-face paint colors and rolled grade marks are: SD295A = uncolored (no dot), SD295B = white (no dot), SD345 = yellow (1 dot ・), SD390 = green (2 dots ・・), and SD490 = blue (3 dots ・・・).

Upon delivery to the site, the 'mill sheet (inspection certificate)' is checked to verify chemical composition and mechanical properties against JIS standards. Bars must be stored off the ground on timber sleepers (dunnage), sorted by grade and size, and covered with protective sheets.

Types of Reinforcing Bars, JIS Standards, Rolled Identification Marks, and Storage Control

Key points


  • Deformed bars (SD) improve concrete bond via longitudinal 'ribs' and transverse 'lugs', and the grade number indicates minimum yield strength (N/mm²)

  • Grade identification (JIS G 3112): SD295B = white (no dot), SD345 = yellow (1 dot ・), SD390 = green (2 dots ・・), SD490 = blue (3 dots ・・・)

  • Verify quality with the 'mill sheet' upon delivery, and support bars on timber sleepers off the bare ground covered with sheets to prevent mud and rust
WordMeaning
deformed steel bar (rib and lug)
lower limit of yield point
rolled mark and end-face color coding
mill test certificate (mill sheet)
timber sleeper / dunnage (Makuragi / Ringi)

Names of Reinforcing Bars in Structural Members and Rebar Drawing Symbols

In architectural structural drawings, member symbols are: F = Footing, FG = Footing Girder, C = Column, G = Girder (main beam), B = secondary Beam, S = Slab, and W = Wall. In bar notation, '4-D25' means four D25 bars, and 'D10@200' means D10 bars placed at a 200 mm center-to-center pitch.

In a 'column', lateral shear reinforcement called 'column hoops (Obikin / hoops)' is wrapped around vertical 'column main bars' to prevent shear failure and buckling of the main bars. Internal supplementary ties restraining inner main bars are called 'sub-ties (Nakagokin)'.

In a 'beam', shear reinforcement called 'stirrups (Abarakin)' is wrapped around the 'top main bars' and 'bottom main bars'. Deep beams also have horizontal 'web bars (Harakin)' and 'cross ties (Habadomekin)' along the side faces, and short 'spacer bars (Makurakin)' inserted between first-layer and second-layer main bars.

In a 'floor slab', 'main bars' are placed in the short-span direction where bending stress is greater, and 'distribution bars' in the long-span direction. In the bottom layer of a rectangular slab, short-span main bars are placed on the bottom (outermost), while in the top layer they are placed on top (outermost).

Key points


  • Structural symbols: C = Column, G = Girder, FG = Footing Girder, B = Beam, S = Slab, W = Wall; '@200' denotes a 200 mm bar spacing (pitch)

  • Column shear reinforcement is called 'hoops (Obikin)', beam shear reinforcement is called 'stirrups (Abarakin)', and bars separating first- and second-tier main bars are called 'spacer bars (Makurakin)'

  • In floor slabs, main bars run in the 'short-span direction' and distribution bars in the 'long-span direction', with short-span bottom bars placed underneath (outermost)
WordMeaning
column hoop (Obikin) and beam stirrup (Abarakin)
beam web bar (Harakin) and cross tie (Habadomekin)
second-tier bar (Nidankin) and layer spacer bar (Makurakin)
short-span direction (main bar) and long-span direction (distribution bar)

Concrete Cover Regulations and Types and Placement Standards of Spacers

'Concrete cover thickness (Kaburi atsusa)' is the shortest distance from the outer surface of the outermost reinforcing bar (such as a column hoop or beam stirrup) to the concrete surface. It protects bars against corrosion via concrete alkalinity, ensures fire resistance, and secures bond strength.

Under Article 79 of the Building Standard Law Enforcement Order, the 'minimum concrete cover' for indoor members not in contact with soil is 2 cm (20 mm) or more for roof slabs, floor slabs, and non-bearing walls, and 3 cm (30 mm) or more for indoor bearing walls, columns, and beams.

For walls, columns, floors, and beams in direct contact with soil, the minimum cover is 4 cm (40 mm) or more, and for foundations (excluding blinding concrete) it is 6 cm (60 mm) or more. On site, a 'design cover thickness' adding about 10 mm for construction tolerance is used.

To maintain the specified cover, heavy-duty concrete or rust-proofed steel spacers are placed under foundation slabs and beam bottoms (at intervals of 1.5 m or less along beams), plastic doughnut spacers are clipped onto vertical column and wall bars, and bar chairs (Uma spacers) support top slab bars.

Key points


  • Concrete cover is the 'shortest distance from the surface of the outermost bar to the concrete surface'; insufficient cover leads to carbonation-induced rust, cracking, spalling, and loss of fire resistance

  • Statutory minimum cover: indoor slabs/non-bearing walls = 2 cm; indoor bearing walls/columns/beams = 3 cm; soil-contact walls/columns/floors/beams = 4 cm; foundations = 6 cm or more

  • Use concrete or steel spacers under foundations and beam bottoms (≤ 1.5 m spacing on beams), and bar chairs (Uma spacers) to support top slab reinforcement
WordMeaning
concrete cover thickness (shortest distance from outermost bar)
carbonation / neutralization of concrete
concrete spacer and plastic doughnut spacer
bar chair (Uma spacer)

Shop Drawings, Bar Bending Schedules, and Cutting and Bending Standards

In rebar work, 'rebar shop drawings' detailing bar intersections and splice positions are prepared from design drawings, and a 'bar bending schedule (Kakōchō / rebar list)' is compiled specifying steel grades, bar sizes, bending shapes, segment dimensions, cutting lengths (Kirisun), and quantities.

The outside dimension of hoops and stirrups equals 'concrete member width minus twice the concrete cover (both sides)', and the cutting length is calculated by accounting for bend elongation adjustments. Bars are cut with electric cutters, while ends for gas pressure welding are cut square with a cold right-angle cutter.

Bending must always be performed cold ('ambient-temperature bending'), and 're-bending (straightening)' a previously bent bar is prohibited because it causes cracking and strength loss. Straight tail extensions for hooks must be at least '4d' for 180° hooks, '6d' for 135° hooks, and '8d' for 90° hooks.

The inside bend diameter is set by selecting the center mandrel roller (Shingane) on the bender: at least '3d' for hoops/stirrups (D16 or smaller), '3d' for SD345 main bars D16 or smaller, and '4d' for SD345 main bars D19 to D25. The fabrication dimensional tolerance for hoops and stirrups is '±5 mm'.

Shop Drawings, Bar Bending Schedules, and Cutting and Bending Standards

Key points


  • Bend reinforcing bars at 'ambient temperature (cold bending)', and never 're-bend' a bar once bent to prevent micro-cracks and strength loss

  • Hook tail extensions are '180° ≥ 4d, 135° ≥ 6d, 90° ≥ 8d'; minimum inside bend diameter is '≥ 3d' for hoops/stirrups (≤ D16) and '≥ 4d' for SD345 main bars (D19–D25)

  • Hoop/stirrup outside dimension equals 'member width − 2 × cover thickness', with a fabrication dimensional tolerance of '±5 mm'
WordMeaning
rebar shop drawing and bar bending schedule (Kakōchō)
cutting length (Kirisun)
cold / ambient-temperature bending (re-bending prohibited)
inside bend diameter and straight tail extension (Yochō)
fabrication dimensional tolerance (±5 mm)

Layout Marking, Pitch Marking, Clear Spacing Between Bars, and Tying with a Hakka Hook

Before assembling reinforcing bars, 'layout marking (Sumidashi)' is performed on the blinding concrete or work deck to establish reference lines for columns, walls, and beams. Next, using a tape measure and soapstone chalk, 'pitch marks (Waritsuke)' are drawn on the four corner main bars to indicate hoop or stirrup positions.

A minimum 'clear distance (Aki)' must be maintained between parallel bars so coarse aggregate in the concrete can flow freely without bridging. The minimum clear spacing for deformed bars is the largest of: '25 mm or more', '1.5 times the nominal bar size or more', and '1.25 times the maximum coarse aggregate size or more'.

Bar intersections are tied using 0.8 mm (#21) or 0.9 mm (#20) 'annealed iron wire (tie wire)' and a 'rebar tier hook (Hakka)'. Pull the wire toward yourself while twisting to eliminate slack, and always bend the twisted tail inward so it does not protrude into the concrete cover and cause rust stains.

Tying methods include the 'single diagonal tie (Katadasuki)' and 'figure-eight cross tie (Jūji)' for general intersections, and the 'double-folded diagonal tie (Futatsu-ori katadasuki)' or 'bag tie (Fukuro)' to firmly hold vertical column bars or heavy beam bars. Also, 135° hook positions on hoops and stirrups must be alternated (staggered) at each tier.

Key points


  • Perform 'layout marking' and 'pitch marking on main bars' before assembly, and alternate (stagger) the 135° hook positions of hoops and stirrups

  • Minimum clear spacing between bars is the greatest of '≥ 25 mm', '≥ 1.5d', and '≥ 1.25 × max coarse aggregate size' to prevent honeycombing

  • Tighten 0.8 mm or 0.9 mm annealed tie wire with a Hakka hook while pulling toward yourself, and bend the wire tail 'inward' away from the cover zone
WordMeaning
layout marking (Sumidashi) and pitch marking (Waritsuke)
clear spacing between reinforcing bars (Aki)
annealed iron wire (0.8 mm / 0.9 mm) and Hakka tier hook
single diagonal tie and double-folded diagonal tie

Anchorage of Reinforcing Bars, Lap Splices, and Welded Wire Mesh Construction

Embedding a reinforcing bar into the concrete of an intersecting member for a specified length so it will not pull out under tension is called 'anchorage (Teichaku)'. Main girder bars are anchored into columns, secondary beam bars into main girders, and slab bars into beams or walls.

When anchoring the bottom bars of a secondary beam into a main girder, they must be placed 'on top of' the bottom bars of the main girder. Furthermore, at the 'beam-column joint core (Shikuchibu)', which experiences severe seismic forces, column hoops must never be omitted even when bars are congested.

A 'lap splice (Kasane tsugite)' joins two bars by overlapping them for a specified length and tying them tightly with annealed wire at two or more points. Splices should be located where tensile stress is small and 'staggered (Chidori)' so adjacent splices do not concentrate in the same cross-section.

Note that even if a deformed bar has a hook at its end, 'the hook portion is not included in the lap splice length'. Under Standard Specifications, lap splices are not used in principle for large bars 'D35 and larger'. For 'welded wire mesh', lap splices require the distance between outermost cross wires to be at least 'cross-wire spacing + 50 mm' and at least '150 mm'.

Key points


  • Anchor beam main bars into columns to the specified length, place secondary beam bottom bars 'on top of' main girder bottom bars, and never omit column hoops in joint cores

  • Place lap splices in low-stress zones in a 'staggered arrangement', exclude end hooks from the required lap length, and tie at two or more points

  • Do not use lap splices in principle for bars 'D35 and larger', and overlap welded wire mesh by 'at least cross-wire spacing + 50 mm and at least 150 mm'
WordMeaning
anchorage length and beam-column joint core (Shikuchibu)
lap splice (staggered arrangement / Chidori)
rule against lap splicing bars D35 and larger
welded wire mesh (overlap ≥ cross-wire pitch + 50 mm and ≥ 150 mm)

Construction and Quality Inspection of Gas Pressure Welded Splices and Mechanical Splices

A 'gas pressure welded splice' butts two bar end faces together and applies axial pressure with a hydraulic clamp while heating the joint with an oxy-acetylene flame to bond the bars integrally in the solid phase. Operators must hold a 'Manual Gas Pressure Welding Qualification (JIS Z 3881)'.

On the day of welding, bar end faces are ground flat and perpendicular to the axis with a grinder to remove all rust, oil, and paint, keeping the gap within 2 to 3 mm when butted. Gas pressure welding is prohibited when nominal bar diameters differ by 'more than 7 mm' or during rain/strong wind without shelter.

Quenching a red-hot weld with water is strictly prohibited. Acceptance criteria require a bulge diameter of '1.4d or more', bulge length of '1.1d or more', axial eccentricity of '1/5d (0.2d) or less', and bulge peak offset within '1/4d', verified by 100% visual inspection plus lot-sampled ultrasonic testing.

'Mechanical splices' joining bars with couplers (threaded-lug lock-nut couplers or grout-filled sleeves) are less affected by weather and widely used for large bars. Before assembly, a 'reference insertion mark (Hyōsen)' is drawn on the bar and verified after torque-wrench tightening or grouting.

Construction and Quality Inspection of Gas Pressure Welded Splices and Mechanical Splices

Key points


  • Gas pressure welding must be done by certified technicians after grinding end faces flat and square on the same day; water quenching and welding bars differing by > 7 mm in diameter are prohibited

  • Gas pressure weld standards: 'bulge diameter ≥ 1.4d, bulge length ≥ 1.1d, eccentricity ≤ 1/5d', inspected via 100% visual inspection and lot ultrasonic testing

  • For mechanical splices, always mark the 'insertion length reference line (Hyōsen)' on the bar beforehand to verify full engagement inside the coupler
WordMeaning
gas pressure welded joint (JIS Z 3881 qualification)
grinding of pressure welding end faces
weld bulge (diameter ≥ 1.4d, length ≥ 1.1d)
ultrasonic flaw detection test
mechanical splice (coupler and reference mark Hyōsen)

Civil Engineering Reinforcement (Retaining Walls, Cast-in-Place Piles) and Pre-Assembly Method

In 'inverted-T' and 'L-shaped retaining walls' built in civil engineering works, lateral 'earth pressure' from the backfill acts against the vertical stem wall, producing high tensile force on the 'rear face in contact with the soil'. Therefore, the primary vertical main bars must be placed on the rear soil-contact face.

In bridge abutments, piers, and underground 'box culverts', large-diameter reinforcing bars (such as D29 to D51) are widely used, and diagonal 'haunch bars' are accurately placed at the interior corner haunches to resist stress concentration.

For 'cast-in-place concrete piles' reaching down to a bearing stratum, a cylindrical 'rebar cage' is fabricated with main bars, hoops, and stiffening rings. Curved flat-bar 'skid spacers (or wheel-type spacers)' are attached around the outside of the cage to protect the borehole wall and ensure proper concrete cover.

In the 'pre-assembly method (Sakigumi kōhō)', column and beam rebar cages are pre-assembled on ground racks or in a plant and hoisted into position by crane, reducing work at height and improving safety and quality. During hoisting, stiffening bars and a dedicated spreader beam (lifting beam) prevent cage deformation.

Key points


  • In retaining wall stems (inverted-T and L-type), place primary vertical main reinforcement on the 'rear face in contact with backfill soil' to resist earth-pressure tension

  • Attach 'curved skid spacers (or wheel spacers)' around cast-in-place pile rebar cages to protect the borehole wall and maintain concrete cover

  • In the ground 'pre-assembly method (Sakigumi)', use stiffening bars and a dedicated spreader beam (lifting jig) to prevent deformation during crane hoisting
WordMeaning
backfill earth pressure on retaining walls and tension-side main bars
box culvert and corner haunch reinforcing bar
cast-in-place pile rebar cage and curved skid spacer
pre-assembly method (Sakigumi) and lifting spreader beam (Tenbin)

Rebar Inspection, Concrete Pour Attendance, and Safety and Health in Rebar Work

Before closing formwork (prior to placing concrete), a 'rebar inspection (Haikin kensa)' must be conducted to check steel grades, diameters, bar counts, pitch, concrete cover, anchorage/splice lengths, spacers, and opening reinforcement (diagonal bars at all four corners). Column and wall 'plumbness (Tate-ire)' is checked with a plumb bob or level and braced.

Remove 'loose flaky rust (Ukisabi)', oil, and mortar splash with a wire brush (light adherent red rust is acceptable), and clean wire clippings and wood debris out of the formwork. Lay 'walking boards (Ayumi-ita)' on trestles over slabs to prevent top bars (especially in cantilevered slabs) from sinking, and station a standby rebar worker ('Aiban') during pouring while keeping vibrators off the bars.

For safety, always fit 'protective caps' over the protruding ends of 'starter bars (Sashikin)' rising from foundations or slabs to prevent impalement injuries. Use a 'full-body harness' when working at heights of 2 m or more, and strictly prohibit climbing up or down by stepping on column hoops or horizontal wall bars.

'Slinging work (Tamagake)' for cranes with a lifting capacity of 1 ton or more must be performed by certified personnel using a balanced two-point hitch with a sling angle of 60° or less, pausing for a lift-off check, and never allowing anyone under a suspended load. Connect electric machines through an 'earth leakage breaker and ground wire', shut off power before maintenance, and replenish water and salt in summer.

Key points


  • Before concrete placement, complete rebar inspection, plumbness checks, loose-rust removal, and formwork cleaning; lay 'walking boards' on slabs and assign a 'standby rebar worker (Aiban)' during the pour

  • Install 'protective caps' on starter bar ends, wear a full-body harness at heights of 2 m or more, and never climb on column hoops or wall bars

  • Certified riggers must sling long bundles at two points with a sling angle ≤ 60° while prohibiting entry under suspended loads, and ensure earth leakage breakers, grounding, and heatstroke prevention
WordMeaning
rebar inspection (Haikin kensa) and opening reinforcement
removal of loose flaky rust (Ukisabi) and walking board (Ayumi-ita)
protective cap for starter bars (Hogo cap)
slinging work Tamagake (two-point lift, sling angle within 60 degrees)
earth leakage circuit breaker and grounding (earth)

Rebar Work (Fabrication, Assembly, Pressure Welding, Inspection)

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