Fiberglass rebar has been a preferred construction material for concrete reinforcement in Canada and across North America due to its superior resistance to corrosion, high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent fatigue performance, and electromagnetic immunity.
Apart from general requirements for proper operation and bearing capacity provision, RC structures of civil and industrial buildings are required to meet specific requirements such as magnetic and radio transparency, corrosion resistance, dielectric resistance, minimum maintenance, etc. There is only one solution to provide concrete structures with these characteristics and that is the implementation of innovative fiberglass construction materials. However, lack of experimental and in-practice data is a hurdle in the way of widespread use of composite materials.
Concrete has long been used as a fundamental construction material for its superior compressive strength and low cost. However, its limited tensile strength and brittleness are major drawbacks. To overcome these drawbacks, engineers have been using steel reinforcing bars. Steel bars, however, have their own own disadvantages: susceptibility to corrosion when exposed to the harsh environment and higher maintenance cost. When steel corrodes, it leads to rapid deterioration of concrete. A number of technologies such as coatings and penetrants were introduced to resolve this problem. Unfortunately, none of these corrosion preventive measures provided sustainable solutions.
There are many reasons why the widespread use of GFRP reinforcing bars make sense considering the annual rehabilitation costs of steel-reinforced concrete structures. The ability of GFRP rebar to withstand harsh environments make it ideal for applications where water is present, such as retaining walls, decks, piers, pools, offshore structures, roadways and bridges, airport runways, etc. In addition, electromagnetic neutrality makes GFRP rebar a good choice for rail LRT, research facilities, and other sensitive applications where metallic construction materials can be problematic. Composite materials also provide solid resistance to a number of chemicals found at water treatment facilities, cooling towers, solid waste sites, paper mills, water tanks, and chimneys.
High tensile strength is another advantage of GFRP rebar which makes it an excellent counterbalance to concrete high compressive strength. Excellent fatigue resistance makes GFRP reinforcement ideal for cyclic loading situations. When we compare GFRP with steel, it is approximately one fourth the weight of steel. The inherent lightweight properties of GFRP enable the construction industry to complete projects quickly without spending much time and money on transportation and installation of reinforcement. Steel, on the other hand, is a heavy construction material which requires heavy equipment during the installation and transportation process.
The initial cost of composite materials can be higher than steel; however, when we take the life-cycle cost into account, composite materials are cost-effective as they offer long service life and require minimum maintenance.
What we do
We have been producing and selling premium quality GFRP rebar, a superior alternative to traditional steel rebar, and accessories in Canada, across North America and throughout the world. As a proud member of Canada Green Building Council, our objective is to develop composite materials in a way that they contribute towards sustainable concrete infrastructure. Visit our site to have a look at the properties of our fiberglass rebar, rock bolts, form ties, and concrete anchors.
