General guidance only — all construction work must be overseen by a supervising engineer This handbook is compiled from standards and laws with every source cited, andis being reviewed for certification by engineers Use it to know what to look at, what to ask and what evidence to request on site It is not an engineering determination and can't replace an engineer · Terms of use · Limitations of the handbook

Piles and foundations

Reinforcement for footings and stub columns

Page code P04 · 69 inspection criteria · 9 illustrations

Reinforcing steel is the one thing in the house that is expensive, does the most important job, and can't be seen at all after the concrete is poured. The number of bars, bar sizes, cover, lap lengths, hooks — all of it can only be proven on the day the steel is still exposed. This page goes from the day…

This page contains
The reinforcement sequence — seven steps, from the steel arriving on site
Receiving steel on site and storage
Acceptable condition of steel
Bending steel — cold bending only, and the bend must not be too tight
Hooks at bar ends
Concrete cover and permitted tolerances
Stub-column steel — when the upper column is smaller than the lower one
Lap lengths and where bars may be spliced
Placing, tying and securing the cage
Final inspection before pouring, and keeping evidence

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