CONCRETE ADVICE No.

19

Historic reinforcing bars and steel fabric

John Clarke MA PhD MICE MIStructE CEng

As part of the assessment of an existing structure, there is often a need to determine the
load capacity of reinforced concrete elements. Original design drawings, if available, can
provide information on the amount and distribution of the steel reinforcement, but they will
have been prepared in accordance with the Standards that were in force at the time. This
Concrete Advice sheet provides information on how Standards for steel have changed
over the years, covering strengths, identification of reinforcement types, fabric sizes etc.

1 Symbols

The symbols used on reinforcement

drawings to indicate the type of bar
reinforcement have been specified in
Deformed flat bar without sharp edges
various Standards over the years, as
indicated in Table 1.

3 Bars sizes
2 Bars types
Prior to metrication, the generally available
size range for both round and square (or
Many types of reinforcing bar have been
chamfered) square bars was ¼ inch to 1½
used over the years, especially in earlier
inch in increments of 1/8 inch. A 3/16
structures. These vary in cross-section
square area bar was also available for a
(e.g. round, ribbed, square twisted, twin
time as were round area bars in sizes up
twisted etc) and in the method of
to 2¼ inches.
manufacture (cold worked or hot rolled). If
there is any doubt about the type of steel
Prior to 1964 most square and chamfered
used in a structure being assessed, the
square bars were of square area so that
cover concrete should be broken away and
nominal 1 inch bars had an area of 1 sq.
the bar visually inspected. If necessary
inches. During the late 1960s a transition
samples of the reinforcing bar can be
to round areas occurred with nominal 1
removed for testing.
inch bars having an area of 0.785 sq.
inches.

The nominal size range for twin twisted

bars was from ¼ inch to 1¼ inches, again
in increments of 1/8 inch. In addition
Twisted round cross-section with beading
smaller twin twisted bars were produced
from 12, 10, 8, 6 and 5 SWG (Standard
Wire Gauge) wires. The nominal size of a
twin twisted bar referred to the size of one
bar in the pair and a nominal 1 inch bar
provided a steel area of 1.571 sq. in.
Twisted square cross-section with lugs

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British Standard Symbols used

BS 1478:1948 Not specified: many variants for square and twisted bars.
BS 1478:1964 MR = round mild, HR = round high yield, HS = square high yield
BS 1478:1967 M = round mild steel, H = round area high yield,
S = square area high yield
BS 4466:1969 R = round mild steel, Y = round area high yield
BS 4466:1981 R = Grade 250, T = Grade 460/425 type 2
BS 4466:1989 R = Grade 250 plain, T = Grade 460 type 2, S = Grade 460 stainless,
W = Grade 460 plain, D = Grade 460 type 1
BS 8666:2000 R = Grade 250 plain, T = Grade 460 type 2, S = Grade 460 stainless, W = Grade
460 plain, D = Grade 460 type 1, X = Type of reinforcement not included in the
above but having properties defined in the design or contract specification.
BS 8666: 2005 H = Grade B500A, B500B or Grade B500C according to BS 4449: 2005
HA = Grade B500A according to BS 4449: 2005 (similarly HB and HC)
S = Specified grade and type of ribbed stainless steel to BS 6744: 2001
X = Type of reinforcement not included in the above but having properties defined
in the design or contract specification.

Table 1: British standards symbols for reinforcement bar types

When Imperial units were used in the original

4 Design stresses standard they have been retained. (1 inch =
2
25.4mm and 1000psi = 7 N/mm approximately.)
The reinforcement stresses to be used in design, as Where there is any doubt about the type of steel
specified in the British Standard design code used in a structure being assessed, samples should
current at the time, have changed over the years as be removed and tested to determine the yield
indicated in the Table 2. stress.

British Standard Steel type Design stress*

CP 114: 1948 Steel with guaranteed fy
0.5fy but not more than 27,000 psi
Mild steelNot more than 18,000 psi
CP 114: 1957 Steel with guaranteed fy
0.5fy but not more than 30,000 psi
Mild steelNot more than 20,000 psi for bar sizes up to 1½
inches
Not more than 18,000 psi for bar sizes above 1½
inches
CP 114: 1957 High bond bars and fabric 0.55 fy but not more than 33,000 psi for bar sizes up
amended 1965 to 7/8 inch
0.55 fy but not more than 30,000 psi for bar sizes
above 7/8 inch.
Mild steel and plain bars Not more than 20,000 psi for bar sizes up to 1½
inches
Not more than 18,000 psi for bar sizes above 1½
inches
CP 110: 1972 All reinforcement fy values of the relevant material standards
BS 8110: 1985 All reinforcement fy values of the relevant material standards
* It should be noted that the stresses in CP 114 were for a permissible stress design methodology. Those
in CP 110, and in subsequent codes, are for a limit state design approach.

Table 2: The change over the years in the reinforcement stresses as specified in the British Standards

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An example of fabric properties, taken from BRC

5 Fabric
Earlier structures may be reinforced with woven
fabric and expanded metal, as well as with the
more familiar welded fabric. The relevant British
Standards are given in the Table 3 below.
Fabric was produced from twisted square sections,
twin twisted material and plain drawn round wire.
The wire was measured in SWG (Standard Wire
Gauge) sizes, whereas the fabric itself was usually
described in terms of its mesh type and weight per
square yard (1 yard = 0.9144 m.). Prior to 1969
manufacturers’ reference numbers were generally
used instead of those in the British Standard; where
possible reference should be made to the
manufacturer’s literature.
literature, is given in the Table 4 below. Note that
the BS 1221 fabrics 101 to 113 are oblong, 121 to
130 are square.
The design stress for the steel in the fabric would
be in the order of 30,000 psi. Care is needed in
determining the bond and anchorage lengths for
fabric because of the variety of types of wire used
and the quality of the welds. If in doubt a
conservative approach should be adopted and the
lowest bond characteristics assumed. It is not
practical to summarise the range of expanded
metal that has been used over the years;
identification will require reference to contemporary
manufacturer’s literature.

British Standard Scope

BS 1221: 1945 Part A, Welded fabric
Part B, Woven fabric
Part C, Expanded metal
BS 1221: 1964 Part 1, Welded and woven fabrics
Part 2, Expanded metal
BS 4483: 1969 Welded and woven fabrics only
BS 4483: 1985 Welded fabric only

Table 3: Relevant British Standards for reinforcement in earlier structures

Centre to centre spacing Gauge of wire Area of wires

BS 1221
BRC Ref. of wires (in.) (SWG) per ft width
Ref.
Main Cross Main Cross (sq. in)
1 101 3 16 4/0 4 0.5027
2 102 3 16 3/0 4 0.4347
3 103 3 16 2/0 6 0.3805
4 104 3 16 1/0 6 0.3298
5 105 3 16 1 6 0.2827
6 106 3 16 2 7 0.2393
7 107 3 16 3 8 0.1995
8 108 3 12 4 9 0.1691
9 109 3 12 5 10 0.1412
10 110 3 12 6 10 0.1158
12 112 3 12 8 12 0.0894
13 113 3 12 10 12 0.0515
61 121 6 6 1 1 0.1414
62 122 6 6 2 2 0.1197
63 123 6 6 3 3 0.0998
64 124 6 6 4 4 0.0845
65 125 6 6 5 5 0.0706
66 126 6 6 6 6 0.0579
610 130 6 6 10 10 0.0257

Table 4: Example of fabric properties, taken from BRC literature

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Further reading
CONCRETE SOCIETY. Historical approaches to the design of concrete buildings and structures, Technical
Report 70, Concrete society, Camberley, 2009.
CONCRETE SOCIETY. Diagnosis of deterioration in concrete structures, Technical Report 54, Concrete
society, Camberley, 2000.
rd
INSTITUTION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, Appraisal of existing structures, 3 Ed, London, 2010.

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Issued Jan 2000

Reviewed Oct 2016

CONCRETE Advice Sheets are produced and published by The Concrete Society. The information and advice
contained in the Advice Sheets is based on the experience and knowledge of the Concrete Society’s
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