An Introduction To Bar Support In Construction

As a student of engineering or an engineer, you know that construction is all about accuracy and paying close attention to details.

For a safe, sturdy, and reliable structure, every part, from the foundation to the finishing touches, must be carefully planned and put in place.

One of the most important parts of this process is bar support, which is the act of holding steel reinforcing bars in place while concrete is being poured.

Even though it might seem like a small thing, the right way to use bar support is crucial to the strength and longevity of any concrete construction project.

In this blog post, I'll talk about the ins and outs of bar support, including its purpose, its different types, the best ways to use it, and the things you should watch out for.

By the end of this article, you'll know a lot about bar support and how it helps your construction projects go smoothly.

So, let's get started and jump into the world of bar support!

Introduction to Bar Support in Concrete Construction

Formal definition:

A device used to support or hold steel reinforcing bars in proper position before or during the placement of concrete.

Concrete is a common building material that is strong when it is compressed but weak when it is stretched.

Reinforcing bar is used in concrete construction to make the concrete stronger and make it less likely to crack or break.

But just putting rebar into concrete might not be enough to make it stronger.

Bar support comes into play here.

What is bar support in building with concrete?

Bar support is a tool used in concrete construction to hold up rebar, separating it from the concrete form or subbase so that it is embedded in the concrete at a certain depth.

The point of using bar support is to absorb forces of stretching and bending and let the concrete stick tightly to the rebar.

Without proper bar support, the rebar may move or sink while the concrete is being poured.

This could cause the concrete to be weak or uneven.

The Importance of Proper Bar Support in Concrete Construction

Still hard to understand? Let me change the point of view a bit:

Who needs bar support, anyway? Just toss those steel bars in there and hope for the best! After all, what could possibly go wrong when building a concrete structure?

This is the furthest thing from the truth, of course.

For any concrete construction project to be safe, stable, and last a long time, the bars must be supported properly.

So, let's look more closely at bar support and why it's so important to do it right.

Okay, that was just a joke made to look like a TV ad.

Now let's go back to the explanation.

Types and Functions of Bar Supports

Reinforcing bars are held in place by bar supports, which are made of formed wire, plastic, or concrete.

Depending on what they are used for, they come in different shapes and sizes.

High chairs: In slab-on-grade applications, high chairs are often used to hold up reinforcing bars.

They each rest on a support bar and raise the rebar to the right height.

Bar chairs are made to sit on a flat surface, like a form, and provide support for reinforcing bars.

They come in different heights so that they can fit slabs of different thicknesses.

Beam Bolsters: Bolsters are used in beams to hold up horizontal rebar.

Most of the time, they are in the shape of a U, and they can be changed to fit different beam widths.

Slab Bolsters: These are like beam bolsters, but they are used to hold up vertical rebar in slabs.

Basket Assemblies: Basket assemblies are wire arrangements that are used to hold and space dowel bars along the expansion joints in concrete pavement.

What do bar supports do?

The purpose of bar supports is to keep the rebar in the right place while the building is being built.

They help keep concrete from shifting when it shakes or settles.

Without the right support, the rebar could move or sink while the concrete is being poured, which could cause the concrete to be weak or uneven.

Selecting the Right Bar Support

Things to consider about when buying bar supports:

There are different kinds of bar supports that can be used for different things.

Standard Rebar Chairs: Standard rebar chairs are often used on foundation projects where there is no need for extra height or adjustments.

Spacer Wheels: You can use spacer wheels to change how high or low the reinforcing bar is.

Multi-Level Rebar Chairs: By adding layers, you can change the height of multi-level rebar chairs.

Tip (Round-Cap) (Round-Cap) Tip (round-cap) spacers are put on the end of the rebar to hold it up.

They have a thin, long tip that supports the rebar.

How to Choose the Best Bar Support:

Choosing the right bar support for a project depends on a number of things, such as the size and spacing of the rebar, the type of surface under the concrete, the type of concrete formwork, and the project's design specifications.

To make sure the concrete construction project goes well, it is important to choose the right bar support.

If you don't know what kind of bar support to use for your project, you should talk to a concrete supplier or manufacturer in your area.

They can tell you what kind of bar support to use.

Proper Placement and Spacing of Bar Supports

Best practices for putting bar supports in concrete construction in the right places and at the right distances:

• Follow the Placing Drawings.

The Reinforcing Bar Placing Drawings tell the contractors how to build the structure so that it can withstand the expected loads.

These give details and instructions on where to put the reinforcing bars so that ironworkers can do it on the job site.

• Use bar supports.

Bar supports hold the reinforcement bars in place while the concrete is poured over them.

The concrete cover reaches a certain depth, which keeps the bars from rusting.

Use supports made of steel wire, precast concrete, or plastic that come in different heights and can hold reinforcing bars of different sizes and positions.

• Correct Spacing: The size of the reinforcing bar being supported determines how far apart the bar supports should be.

Sometimes structural and placing drawings are very clear about where reinforcing bars should go, so ironworkers have to figure out how those bars fit into the structure as a whole.

• Location of Reinforcement: Steel reinforcing bars should be placed in the top third of the slab's thickness because shrinkage cracking starts at the surface and moves down.
• Concrete Cover: The amount of concrete that goes on top of a reinforcing bar is very important because it keeps it from rusting.

If the concrete is built right, it protects the steel reinforcement.

Reinforcing bars must be placed and supported correctly for concrete structures to be strong and last a long time.

Before putting in reinforcement bars, ironworkers should look at the structural and placement drawings and think about how it fits into the whole structure.

By following these best practices, construction workers can make sure that reinforcing bars are placed and supported correctly.

This will help protect against corrosion, stop cracks, and make concrete structures stronger and last longer.

Bar supports are very important to make sure that reinforcing bars stay in place while concrete is being poured and reach a certain depth below the concrete cover.

There are many different kinds of bar supports, from simple concrete blocks to chairs made of plastic or wire.

They come in different heights and are used to hold up reinforcing bars of different sizes and positions.

It's important to know that these bar supports are not made or meant to be used with construction tools like concrete pumps, buggies, or laser screeds.

Common Mistakes and Issues with Bar Supports

When building with bar supports, there are a few common mistakes and problems to watch out for that can hurt the structure's strength.

Some of these mistakes include putting the bar supports in the wrong place or too close together, not putting enough concrete over the reinforcing bars, using the wrong type of bar supports for the job, and not securing the bar supports properly.

Other things to watch out for are using broken or faulty bar supports, not making sure the reinforcing bars are in the right place before pouring the concrete, and not using bar supports according to the manufacturer's instructions or industry standards.

Improper Placement and Spacing

To keep a concrete structure from falling apart, the bar supports must be placed and spaced in the right way.

If the bar supports aren't spaced out right, there might not be enough cover, which can cause the reinforcing bars to rust and the structure to get weaker over time.

It's important to follow the instructions on the placing drawings and make sure that the reinforcing bars are properly supported at the right times.

Inadequate Concrete Cover

For the reinforcing bars not to rust, there has to be enough concrete on top of them.

If there isn't enough concrete cover, the reinforcing bars can rust, which can weaken the structure and make it last less long.

Using the Wrong Type of Bar Supports

If you choose the wrong type of bar supports for a certain job, the reinforcing bars might not be properly supported, which could cause them to move as the concrete is poured.

This can hurt the structure's stability and cause it to crack or fall down.

Failing to Secure the Bar Supports Properly

Bar supports must be properly fastened so that they don't move while the concrete is being poured.

If the bar supports are not properly fastened, the reinforcing bars can move, which can weaken the structure and cause it to crack or fall apart.

Using Damaged or Defective Bar Supports

If you use broken or faulty bar supports, the reinforcing bars might not be properly supported, which could cause them to move as the concrete is poured.

This can hurt the structure's stability and cause it to crack or fall down.

Not Checking for Proper Alignment of Reinforcing Bars

Before putting down the concrete, it's important to make sure that the reinforcing bars are lined up correctly and that the bar supports are holding them in place.

If you don't do this, the reinforcing bars might not be supported properly, which could cause them to move while the concrete is being poured.

This could make the structure less stable.

Not Following Manufacturer Instructions or Industry Standards

Reinforcing bars need to be held in place properly, so bar supports must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions and industry standards.

If you don't follow these rules, the structure could become weak and start to crack or fall down.

To avoid these mistakes and problems, it's important to carefully follow design and placement guidelines, choose the right type of bar support for the job, and properly secure and check the bar supports before and during the concrete pouring process.

Removing Bar Supports in Concrete Construction

In concrete construction, bar supports are used to keep reinforcing steel bars in place while the concrete is being poured.

After the concrete has set, the bar supports must be taken away so that the reinforcement can do what it was made to do.

To keep the reinforcement bars from getting any worse, this process needs to be carefully planned and carried out.

Determining the Location of Bar Supports

The first step in removing bar supports is to use a bar locator or covermeter to figure out where the steel bars are, how deep they are, how big they are, and how many of them there are.

This information will help make sure that the reinforcement bars are not damaged and that the right way to take them out is used.

Removing Bar Supports

Once the bar supports have been found, the right methods for removing concrete should be used to get rid of broken or loose concrete around the steel bars without hurting them.

At the level of the concrete surface, you can use pliers or a hammer and chisel to take off the parts of the bar supports that stick out.

Care should be taken not to hurt the concrete around the area.

If all of the damaged concrete is taken out and some of the steel bars are still visible, it is not necessary to take out all of the concrete around the bars.

But if necessary, the process of removing concrete should keep going until there is enough room for the largest aggregate size.

Potential Risks and Challenges

If you don't do it carefully, removing bar supports after the concrete has hardened could cause more damage to the reinforcement bars.

Another problem is that you have to work around, under, and in between the bars.

It can be very hard to get rid of contaminated concrete in this zone.

Repairing Concrete Degradation

Degradation of concrete can also be caused by things like chloride attack from de-icing salts or corrosion of reinforcement bars caused by carbonation of hardened cement paste.

Since reinforced concrete was first used, it has been fixed on a lot of projects.

The Bureau of Reclamation provides a guide for repairing cracks in existing structures that includes preparing existing concrete for repair by saw cutting perimeters and removing damaged areas before patching or rehabilitating with new materials.

Use cases

Conclusion

In conclusion, bar support may seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of concrete construction.

But it is a very important part that should never be ignored or undervalued.

Bar support is an important part of the success and longevity of any construction project.

It helps make sure that reinforcing bars are placed and supported correctly and helps avoid common mistakes and problems.

But maybe the most unique thing to think about is how the bar support affects the safety and health of the people who will use and enjoy the structure in the end.

By taking the time to carefully plan and carry out bar support, we can help avoid potential dangers and make sure everyone is safe.

So, the next time you're building something out of concrete, keep in mind how important bar support is, not just for the project itself but also for the safety and security of everyone who will use it in the years to come.