REINFORCEMENT WELDING WARNING

The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) has warned construction clients and contractors to check that their prefabricated reinforcement has been welded by a fabricator who is fully certified to the new CARES Technical Appendices 11 and 12. The warning follows industry tip offs that some fabricators are promoting their welded reinforcement is CARES approved when, in fact, they are not fully CARES approved for welding.

The new CARES technical appendices cover welding to the International Standard ISO 17660 and the new British Standard BS 8548:2017 “Guidance for arc welding of reinforcing steel”. The previous appendices and the associated BS 7123: 1989 “Specification for metal arc welding for concrete reinforcement” have been withdrawn.

The main changes of the new ISO and British Standard are more rigorous testing including more tensile and shear tests, new regular production tests in addition to the weld procedure and welder qualification tests, plus new requirements for designated welding co-ordinators.

All fabricator members of the BAR are fully approved by CARES for welding of steel reinforcement to the new Technical Appendices. They have undertaken considerable investment in training and new procedures in order to achieve approval. There is some concern that a number of reinforcement fabricators, not affiliated to BAR, have yet to seek or gain approval.

“There are growing concerns that some reinforcement fabricators are falsely claiming that they are fully compliant with the new Technical Appendices when they are only approved for cutting and bending to BS 8666. Prefabricated reinforcement, such as pile cages and roll mats needs greater welder understanding of the potential problems that can result from the use of inappropriate welding techniques or procedures,” explained Steve Elliott, BAR chairman.

He continued: “Unlike BAR members, not all fabricators have made the necessary significant investment in extra staff training, development of new procedures and the implementation of new testing regimes for welded reinforcement.

For safety and quality assurance it is vital the welding of reinforcement is done by fully CARES approved welders and it is imperative that, as the quality control organisation for reinforcement, that CARES is stringent in policing its quality schemes.”

To determine the scope of approval of a firm check the CARES List of Approved Firms at: www.ukcares.com