Fiberglas™ Rebar

Fiberglas™ Rebar is a reinforcing material intended to be used in concrete to replace traditional steel type reinforcement. Made from fiberglass rovings to give the material it’s strength, and a vinyl ester resin to ensure its long life, Fiberglas™ Rebar has been used for over 20 years with excellent results.

The term GFRP/FRP stands for Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer and is the same material as Fiberglas™ Rebar.

One of the largest contributors to our failing infrastructure is corrosion of reinforcement in concrete. This results in shortened lifespans for concrete, higher repair costs, and can present safety issues.

Fiberglas™ Rebar is a completely non-metallic material that removes rust from the equation. With nothing to corrode, Fiberglas™ Rebar offers a longer lasting solution that is price competitive with steel. It is also electro and magnetically inert, making it ideal for sensitive areas.

Fiberglass should be used in environments where corrosion is an issue and other rust-inhibiting measures are being considered. Fiberglas™ Rebar is also ideal in areas where no metal is allowed to be present for various reasons. Some examples of prime candidates for Fiberglas™ Rebar:

• Bridge decks near marine environments or exposed to de-icing salts
• Seawalls
• Ports & Harbors
• MRI Rooms
• Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Historical Rehabilitation
• And Many More…

Fiberglas™ Rebar tends to cost about the same as epoxy coated rebar, but does not have the same price volatility as steel. It is significantly cheaper than Stainless Steel, MMFX, and other steel reinforcing options.

Fiberglas™ Rebar tends to be about double that of steel in tension. However, it does have a lower modulus of elasticity which can drive different design requirements.

Yes, Fiberglas™ Rebar absolutely can and is being used to replace steel in many structures of all shapes and sizes. However, this does not mean it can or should be used as a direct replacement. Oftentimes, depending on the demands, you may need a bit more or less Fiberglas™ Rebar. Typically, our designed are dictated by serviceability and crack widths.

To help with the implementation of Fiberglas™ Rebar, Owens Corning has engineers on staff to help ensure a safe and efficient design and layout for your project. Some of the more important tools that we and others use in making you project a success include:

• ASTM D7957 – State of the art material specification
• ACI 440.1R – Reinforced Concrete design guide for Fiberglas™ Rebar
• ACI 440.5R – Specifications for construction with FRP bars
• CSA S806 – Canadian design guide for Fiberglas™ Rebar
• AASHTO LFRP Bridge Design Guide Specification for GFRP Reinforced Concrete Bridge(s)

At 1/4th the weight of steel, the weight of Fiberglas™ Rebar is a big positive! Some ways in which this can work to your advantage:

• Speed of placement. Lighter weight results in more productivity, which could cut your install time by over 50% depending on the complexity.
• Safety. Carrying lighter loads can reduce injures and result in less fatigue, and it poses less of a threat if dropped.
• Shipping costs are likely to be a source of savings on some projects due to being able to ship more material on every truck.
• The lighter weight will result in a lighter concrete structure, which may be beneficial in some applications.

Tying the Material:
Fiberglas™ Rebar can be tied similar to steel bars, and a plastic-coated tie wire is most common. In applications where no metal is allowed, nylon zip ties are an option.

Lap Splices:
Lap splices are done in the same manner as steel and can be tied to steel as well. The length required may vary, so it is best to confirm the correct value prior to placement.

Handling:
Although it is a durable material, some care should be taken just as it should with any material. Handle as you would epoxy coated rebar and avoid dragging the material or physically damaging it.

Cutting:
Fiberglas™ Rebar is a very easy to cut material and can be cut with a variety of different saws. The recommendation would be to use a circular saw with a diamond tipped blade, but reciprocating saws with a blade for cutting metal will work for individual bars. Do NOT attempt to shear or torch the bar, as this will damage it and render it unusable.

All bends must be made in the factory and field bending is NOT allowed. We can work directly with you to make sure you get exactly what you need. We can manufacture the majority of your standard steel shapes as drawn. In some cases, we may break a larger, more complex shape down into multiple smaller pieces to meet your needs.

Straight bar is available ranging from #2 to #13 bar, while bent bar is available from #2 to #8

Our Fiberglas™ Rebar is acquired in a similar fashion to how you would buy your steel. We can take your bar list or drawings and convert it into a quote for you, and upon receipt of a purchase order we would begin fabrication. If requested, we can come up with our own bar list and will also help to optimize your project.

While we do have some distributors, we do most of our work direct. And if we do have a distributor in your region, we will gladly point you in their direction. If you have a specific material supplier you prefer to work through, we would gladly work directly with them to your benefit.

If you wish to purchase all of your rebar of any type from one source, we often work with and maintain a good working relationship with steel suppliers and manufacturers. As with distributors, we would gladly work with them to your benefit.

Unlike with steel, we do NOT sell on a price per pound basis. Rather, we sell on a linear foot basis.

Depending on the size of your project, the lead time may vary. In general, we can ship a truckload of material per week if it needs to be manufactured from scratch. Remember, at 1/4th the weight of steel, one truckload of Fiberglas™ Rebar would be equivalent in footage to four truckloads of steel!

From orders that pull from stock, lead times tend to be about business days to ship.

The average lead time on a standard project with some bends is 3-5 days.

We stock #2-#8 bar in 20’ lengths and have a minimal amount of 40’ bars available as well.

We also maintain stock on standard 90 degree bent shapes for #3, #4, #5, and #6 bar.