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Construction Methods (Fabrication, Placing, Anchorage & Splices, Gas Pressure Welding, Scheduling)

Rebar Worker Certificate 鉄筋技能士 (Grade 1/2 theory) · 技能検定「鉄筋施工」1級・2級 学科 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Principles of Cutting and Bending Rebar, Hook Standards, and Tolerances

When cutting reinforcing bars with an electric bar cutter, place the bar deep between the blades and hold it perpendicular using the backstop. Bar ends intended for gas pressure welding must be cut square and smooth rather than left with sheared burrs.

Bending must be performed at ambient temperature ('cold bending') because heating alters steel properties; re-straightening a bent bar is prohibited. The standard fabrication dimensional tolerance for general stirrups, hoops, and bent bars is '±5 mm.'

For deformed bars (SD295, SD345), the minimum inside bend diameter of end hooks (90°, 135°, 180°) is '3d or more' for D16 and smaller, '4d or more' for D19–D25, and '5d or more' for D29–D41. For 90° anchorage bends of column/beam main bars of D25 or smaller, it is at least 4d.

The straight tail extension beyond the bend is 'at least 4d for a 180° hook,' 'at least 6d for a 135° hook,' and 'at least 8d for a 90° hook (or 12d for 90° anchorage hooks on column and beam main bars).'

Principles of Cutting and Bending Rebar, Hook Standards, and Tolerances

Key points


  • Rebar bending must be done by cold working, re-bending is prohibited, and the standard fabrication tolerance is ±5 mm

  • Minimum inside bend diameters for SD295/SD345 hooks: D16 or smaller ≥ 3d, D19–D25 ≥ 4d, D29 or larger ≥ 5d

  • Hook tail lengths: 180° hook ≥ 4d, 135° hook ≥ 6d, 90° hook ≥ 8d (12d for column/beam main bar 90° anchorage)
WordMeaning
cold working and prohibition of re-bending
fabrication dimensional tolerance (±5 mm)
inside bend diameter (3d, 4d, 5d)
hook tail extension (4d, 6d, 8d, 12d)

Clear Spacing Between Bars, Concrete Cover, and Spacer Placement

The minimum clear surface-to-surface distance between parallel reinforcing bars is called 'clear spacing (aki).' Adequate clear spacing is essential so fresh concrete flows around every bar without honeycombing and develops full bond.

Under the Public Building Standard Specifications and JASS 5, the minimum clear spacing between main bars in columns and beams is the greatest of: (1) 25 mm, (2) 1.5 times the nominal bar diameter d, and (3) 1.25 times the maximum coarse aggregate size.

'Concrete cover (kaburi atsusa)' is the shortest distance from the outer surface of the outermost bar to the concrete surface. Design cover adds a 10 mm construction margin to the statutory minimum cover (20, 30, 40, or 60 mm) specified in Article 79 of the Enforcement Order.

Under Table 5.3.7 of the Public Building Standard Specifications, concrete/mortar block spacers or rust-proofed steel spacers are placed under foundations and beam bottoms near the ends and at about 1.5 m intervals in the span; floor and roof slabs (top and bottom bars) use a standard spacer spacing of 'about 0.9 m,' while donut-type plastic spacers are clipped onto wall bars and column hoops.

Key points


  • Minimum clear bar spacing is the largest of 25 mm, 1.5d, and 1.25 times the maximum coarse aggregate size

  • Under Table 5.3.7 of the Public Building Standard Specifications, beam bottom spacers are placed near the ends and at ~1.5 m intervals, while floor slab spacers are placed at '~0.9 m' intervals

  • Use donut-type plastic spacers on wall bars and column hoops to maintain side formwork cover
WordMeaning
clear spacing between bars (25 mm, 1.5d, 1.25x max aggregate)
design concrete cover and minimum concrete cover
concrete spacers and steel spacers
donut-type plastic spacers

Standards for Development (Anchorage) Length and Lap Splices

The embedment length required to transfer stress safely into a supporting member is the 'development (anchorage) length,' specified as straight anchorage length L1 or hooked anchorage length L2 according to steel grade and specified concrete strength Fc.

Higher-yield-strength steel requires a longer anchorage or splice length, whereas higher concrete strength Fc shortens the required length. Under Table 5.3.4 of the Public Building Standard Specifications, for general deformed bar SD345 in normal-weight concrete of Fc21, the straight anchorage length L1 is '45d or more' and the hooked anchorage length L2 is '35d or more' (for SD295A in Fc21, L1 = 40d and L2 = 30d).

When main girder bars are anchored with a 90° bend into a column, the 'horizontal projected anchorage length' from the column face to the outer edge of the bend must be at least 3/4 (0.75) of the column depth. Bottom bars of general floor and roof slabs anchored straight into beams require at least '10d and 150 mm.'

Lap splices are placed in regions of low stress and staggered across adjacent bars. Reinforcing bars of 'D35 or larger' (D35, D38, D41) must not use lap splices in principle; gas pressure welding or mechanical couplers are used instead.

Key points


  • Under Table 5.3.4 of the Public Building Standard Specifications, straight anchorage length L1 for SD345 in Fc21 normal concrete is '45d or more' (hooked L2 is 35d or more)

  • Projected anchorage of girder main bars into columns ≥ 3/4 column depth; slab bottom bar anchorage into beams ≥ 10d and ≥ 150 mm

  • Lap splices are prohibited in principle for bars D35 and larger; beam side-face bars (harakin) have a lap length of about 150 mm
WordMeaning
straight anchorage length L1 and hooked anchorage length L2
horizontal projected anchorage length (≥ 3/4 column depth)
slab bottom bar anchorage (≥ 10d and ≥ 150 mm)
prohibition of lap splices for D35 and larger

Reinforcement Placing for Foundations, Foundation Beams, and Access Openings

Base bars of an isolated footing resist upward soil bearing pressure, placing the bottom face in tension. In a rectangular isolated footing, the bars in the 'long-side direction' carry a larger bending moment and are placed on the bottom (outer) layer, with the short-side bars on top of them.

In a pile cap footing, pile heads are embedded about 100 mm into the bottom of the footing, and the footing base bars are placed directly 'above the pile heads.' Over blinding concrete, a minimum cover of at least 60 mm (about 70 mm design cover) is maintained.

Foundation beams (grade beams, FG) have deep sections, so in addition to main bars and stirrups, side-face bars (harakin) and cross-ties (habadomekin) are installed. The standard lap splice length for side-face bars (harakin) is 'about 150 mm.'

Where inspection access holes (jintsūkō) or sleeve penetrations pass through a foundation beam, dedicated opening reinforcement (top, bottom, vertical, and diagonal corner bars) must be installed around the opening to prevent shear cracking.

Key points


  • In a rectangular isolated footing, long-direction base bars go on the bottom; in pile caps, base bars pass above the pile heads

  • Side-face bars (harakin) use a lap splice length of about 150 mm, and cross-ties (habadomekin) prevent stirrup bulging

  • Access openings (jintsūkō) in foundation beams require dedicated diagonal and perimeter reinforcement
WordMeaning
base reinforcement of isolated footing
pile head embedment and pile cap
side-face bar (harakin) and cross-tie (habadomekin)
access opening (jintsūkō) reinforcement in foundation beams

Column and Beam Reinforcement (Joints, Two-Layer Bars, and Spiral Hoops)

In columns, hoops (obikin) wrap around the longitudinal column bars with 135° hooks anchored into the core concrete. For spiral reinforcement, lap splices must be at least 1.5 turns and at least 300 mm long, with 1.5 extra finishing turns at both top and bottom ends.

At column-girder joints, the strict rule is that girder main bars pass inside the column main bars. Where two main girders intersect at right angles, the top bars of one girder pass beneath the top bars of the other girder so slab cover is not reduced.

Where a secondary beam (B) frames into a main girder (G), the secondary beam is supported by the main girder, so the top main bars of the secondary beam must rest on top of the top main bars of the main girder.

When beam main bars are placed in two layers (nidankin), spacer bars (makurakin) are inserted between the first and second layers to maintain clear spacing. Cut-off bars terminated partway into the span must strictly follow the specified cutoff lengths (such as l0/4 or l0/6 plus anchorage extension) from the column face.

Column and Beam Reinforcement (Joints, Two-Layer Bars, and Spiral Hoops)

Key points


  • Spiral reinforcement lap splices require at least 1.5 turns and 300 mm, plus 1.5 extra turns at ends

  • Girder main bars pass inside column main bars; secondary beam main bars rest on top of main girder main bars

  • Spacer bars (makurakin) are placed between first-layer and second-layer beam main bars
WordMeaning
spiral reinforcement (≥ 1.5 turns and ≥ 300 mm)
column-girder joint and girder-beam intersection
second-layer bars (nidankin) and spacer bars (makurakin)
cut-off bars and bent-up bars

Reinforcement for Floor Slabs, Walls, Stairs, and Openings

In a rectangular two-way slab supported on four sides, the 'short-span direction' experiences larger bending moments and serves as the main reinforcement, while the 'long-span direction' serves as distribution reinforcement. Thus short-span main bars are placed on the outermost layers (bottom-most in the lower mat, top-most in the upper mat).

Alternating straight bars and bent-up bars every other pitch is called 'staggered arrangement (chidori haikin).' Bar chairs (high chairs) are placed to support the upper slab reinforcement mat at the correct depth.

RC walls are reinforced with either a single layer ('single reinforcement') or two layers ('double reinforcement'); in double-reinforced walls, cross-ties (habadomekin) are installed to maintain the spacing between the two mats.

Around window, door, or duct openings in walls and slabs, perimeter trimming bars and 45° diagonal corner bars must be placed to prevent corner cracking. Wall opening reinforcement uses deformed bars of 'D13 or larger' as standard.

Key points


  • In rectangular slabs, short-span bars are main bars and placed on the outer layers (bottom of lower mat, top of upper mat)

  • Double-reinforced walls require cross-ties (habadomekin) to hold the two reinforcement curtains apart

  • Wall openings require vertical, horizontal, and diagonal corner trimming bars of 'D13 or larger'
WordMeaning
short-span direction (main bars) and long-span direction (distribution bars)
staggered bar arrangement (chidori haikin) and bar chairs
single reinforcement and double reinforcement
opening trimming reinforcement (diagonal corner bars, D13 or larger)

Gas Pressure Welding Execution and Visual / Ultrasonic Inspection Standards

Gas pressure welding is a solid-state joining method in which the ends of two rebars are pressed together axially by a hydraulic ram while heated to about 1200–1300°C with an oxy-acetylene ring burner without melting. Operators require both a Gas Welding Skill Training certificate and a pressure-welding qualification.

Before welding, bar ends are ground flat and square so the gap between butted faces is '2 mm or less.' Initial heating uses an acetylene-rich 'reducing (carburizing) flame' until the gap closes to prevent oxidation, followed by a 'neutral flame' to heat the joint uniformly.

Acceptance standards for the upset bulge are: (1) bulge diameter 'at least 1.4d,' (2) bulge length 'at least 1.1d,' (3) offset of bulge peak from weld plane '1/4d or less,' (4) axial eccentricity '1/5d (0.2d) or less,' and (5) angular bend '2° or less' (using the smaller bar diameter d for different-size bars).

Inspection consists of 100% visual inspection of all joints plus lot-based ultrasonic testing (or tensile testing). Minor insufficient bulge can be reheated and re-upset, but joints with cracking, burning, or severe eccentricity must be cut out and re-welded.

Gas Pressure Welding Execution and Visual / Ultrasonic Inspection Standards

Key points


  • End gap before welding must be 2 mm or less; heat initially with a reducing flame and then with a neutral flame after gap closure

  • Weld bulge diameter ≥ 1.4d, length ≥ 1.1d, axial eccentricity ≤ 1/5d, and peak offset ≤ 1/4d

  • Perform 100% visual inspection and sampling ultrasonic testing; cut out and re-weld joints with cracks or severe burning
WordMeaning
end face gap (≤ 2 mm), reducing flame, and neutral flame
bulge diameter (≥ 1.4d) and bulge length (≥ 1.1d)
axial eccentricity (≤ 1/5d) and peak offset (≤ 1/4d)
100% visual inspection and ultrasonic flaw detection

Mechanical Splices, Prefabricated Cage Construction, and Rebar Inspection

Mechanical splices connect reinforcing bars using a metallic coupler, unaffected by weather and ideal for large-diameter or high-strength bars. Major types include the torque-locked threaded-rib coupler system and the grout-filled (mortar-filled) sleeve system.

In a torque-locked mechanical splice, the required insertion depth is marked on the bar ends beforehand, the coupler and locknuts are threaded on, and a calibrated torque wrench tightens the locknuts to the specified torque while verifying the insertion marks.

Assembling column or beam reinforcement into rigid cages in a factory or ground yard and hoisting them into place by crane is called 'prefabricated rebar cage construction (sakigumi kōhō).' It improves safety, quality, and schedule efficiency, requiring sufficient cage rigidity during lifting.

During pre-pour rebar inspection (haikin kensa), steel grade, diameter, bar count, pitch, cover, clear spacing, anchorage/splices, spacers, and opening bars are checked. Loose flaky rust (uki-sabi) and oil must be brushed off, whereas thin adherent surface rust may remain.

Key points


  • Mechanical splices include torque-locked and mortar-filled types; verify insertion depth marks and tightening torque

  • Prefabricated rebar construction (sakigumi) assembles cages on the ground or in a plant and lifts them by crane

  • Remove loose flaky rust (uki-sabi) and oil, and lay walkways (ayumi-ita) during slab concreting to protect top bars
WordMeaning
mechanical splice (torque-locked and mortar-filled types)
insertion depth mark and torque wrench
prefabricated rebar cage method (sakigumi kōhō)
rebar inspection and removal of loose rust

Construction Planning, Schedules (Critical Path), and Man-Day Calculations

The four pillars of construction management (QCDS) are Quality management, Cost management, Delivery (schedule) management, and Safety management. Before starting rebar work, a construction plan specifying work sequences and crew allocation is prepared.

Among schedule charts, a 'bar chart (Gantt chart)' lists work items on the vertical axis and calendar dates on the horizontal axis, showing start and finish dates with horizontal bars. It is simple to prepare and clearly shows each task's duration.

A 'network schedule (arrow diagram)' uses nodes (events) and arrows (activities) to show logical dependencies between tasks. The longest path through the network from start to finish with zero float is called the 'critical path'; any delay on the critical path directly delays total project completion.

In labor productivity (man-day) calculations, Total Quantity (t) = Output per worker per day (t/man-day) × Number of workers × Working days. For example, if one worker places 0.8 t/day and 24 t must be completed in 5 days, the required daily crew is 24 ÷ (0.8 × 5) = 6 workers.

Key points


  • The four pillars of construction management (QCDS) are Quality, Cost, Delivery (schedule), and Safety; a horizontal bar schedule is a bar chart

  • In a network schedule, the longest path with zero float is the 'critical path,' which governs the overall completion date

  • Man-day calculation: Total man-days = Total work quantity ÷ Daily output per worker
WordMeaning
four pillars of management (Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety)
bar chart schedule and network schedule
critical path (longest path)
productivity rate and man-day calculation

Rebar Construction Methods

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