TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THE SUPPLY
OF WELDED REINFORCEMENT
Australian and New Zealand AS/NZS 1554.3.2008 Structural steel welding – Welding of reinforcement steel (Page 14 & 15)
• 3.3.1 General – Requires that welds be kept to a minimum necessary in order to protect the reinforcement steels performance properties and must not result in any reduction in cross sectional area or strength.
• 3.3.2 Tack Welds – Requires that all tack welds have a throat thickness 0.3 times the size of the smaller bar and have a length not less than the size of the smaller bar.
• 3.3.3 Cross Joints– This section details size an application of cross welds for the temporary positioning of reinforcement steel during transportation and placement. These welds are assumed not to have any structural performance in the structure. Welds under 3.3.3 cannot be subjected to lifting load stresses unless capacity is assessed in relation to AS/NZS 1554.3.2008 Clause 3.3.4. Cross –Joint welds must also have a width of more than 0.45 times the size of the smaller bar however not less than 6mm and a minimum length of not less than half the size of smaller bar or 12mm whatever is the smaller. All welds not meeting the minimum size requirements in 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 are still subject to qualification testing as defined in AS/NZS 4671 Appendix C. Welds that do not meet the minimum requirement are only suitable for in situ welding.
• 3.3.4 Lifting Loads – The standard details that welds which may be subjected to lifting loads stresses during manufacture or assembly, shall have their minimum size and location shown on drawings meet the requirement for tack welds AS/NZS 1554.3.2008 Clause 3.3.2 or Clause 3.3.3(c)(i). Welds for lifting loads also need further testing in accordance with sections 7 & 8 of AS/NZS 1554.3.2008 and be of a significant dimension to carry loads without failure. Lifting points for fabricated reinforcement cages are to be clearly marked on the fabricated cages.
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads MRTS71 Reinforcing steel June 09
• 9. A) Placing and Fixing – All welding needs to comply to the requirements of AS/NZS 1554.3.2008. Have a throat dimension of not less than 4mm and have a length no smaller than the diameter of the smaller bar. Controlled hydrogen consumables must also be used in the welding process. Qualification and requalification is required for all staff undertaking tack welding on a 6 monthly basis.
• 9. C) Placing and Fixing – For reinforcing bars at any cross section no more than one-third can be welded
Note: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads MRTS71 Reinforcing Steel Technical Specification will be amended early 2011. Cagemaker will detail any significant changes on our web site www.cagemaker.com.au