GENERAL DESIGN INFORMATION CHAPTER 15

Design Aid 15.4.4 Required Development Lengths,a in., for Reinforcing Bars (Grade 60)
Tension development length: (f) F
 or tension lap splices, item (e) does not apply.
d Lap splice lengths must conform to ACI 318-05,
d = 2400 b ' ; min. 12 in. (#6 and smaller)
fc Section 12.15.
db Compression development length:
d = 3000 ; min. 12 in. (#7 and larger) 1200d b
fc' dc = larger of or 18db but no less than 8 in.
fc'
Note: For Grade 40 bars, replace 2400 and 3000 with 1600
and 2000, respectively. Note: For Grade 40 bars, replace 1200 with 800 and 18 with
12.
Multiply d values by : Multiply d values by:
(a) 1.3 for lightweight concrete (a) A s (required)/As (provided) for excess
(b) 1.3 for “top bars”b reinforcement
(c) 1.5 for epoxy-coated bars with cover < 3db or clear (b) 0.75 for adequate spiral or tie enclosure
spacing < 6db, otherwise multiply by 1.2 (see ACI 318-05, Section 12.3.3b)
Note: Product of factors (b) and (c) need not exceed Compression splice lap length:
1.7. Lap length = 30db; min. 12 in. for fy = 60,000 psi
(d) 1.5 for bars with less than minimum stirrups or ties, Lap length = (0.0009fy – 24) db for fy > 60,000 psi
clear spacing less than 2db, or clear cover less than
db
The values of fc' used in these equations shall not exceed
(e) As (required)/As (provided) for excess reinforce-ment
100 psi (see ACI 318-05, Section 12.1.2).
unless development of fy is specifically required. This
multiplier is not to be applied to lap splices per  
ACI 318-05, Section R12.15.1. 15

fc' = 3000 psi fc' = 4000 psi fc' = 5000 psi fc' = 6000 psi
Bar Com- Com- Com- Com- Min.
size, Tension pres- Tension pres- Tension pres- Tension pres- comp.
# sion sion sion sion splice
d 1.3d 1.5d d d 1.3d 1.5d d d 1.3d 1.5d d d 1.3d 1.5d d
3 16 21 25 8 14 18 21 8 13 17 19 8 12 15 17 8 12
4 22 28 33 11 19 25 28 9 17 22 25 9 15 20 23 9 15
5 27 36 41 14 24 31 36 12 21 28 32 11 19 25 29 11 19
6 33 43 49 16 28 37 43 14 25 33 38 14 23 30 35 14 23
7 48 62 72 19 42 54 62 17 37 48 56 16 34 44 51 16 26
8 55 71 82 22 47 62 71 19 42 55 64 18 39 50 58 18 30
9 62 80 93 25 54 70 80 21 48 62 72 20 44 57 66 20 34
10 70 90 104 28 60 78 90 24 54 70 81 23 49 64 74 23 38
11 77 100 116 31 67 87 100 27 60 78 90 25 55 71 82 25 42

fc' = 7000 psi fc' = 8000 psi fc' = 9000 psi fc' ≥ 10,000 psi
Bar Com- Com- Com- Com- Min.
size, Tension pres- Tension pres- Tension pres- Tension pres- comp.
# sion sion sion sion splice
d 1.3d 1.5d d d 1.3d 1.5d d d 1.3d 1.5d d d 1.3d 1.5d d
3 12 14 16 8 12 13 15 8 12 12 14 8 9 12 14 8 12
4 14 19 22 9 13 17 20 9 13 16 19 8 12 16 18 8 15
5 18 23 27 11 17 22 25 11 16 21 24 8 15 20 23 8 19
6 22 28 32 14 20 26 30 14 19 25 28 9 18 23 27 9 23
7 31 41 47 16 29 38 44 16 28 36 42 11 26 34 39 11 26
8 36 47 54 18 34 44 50 18 32 41 47 13 30 39 45 12 30
9 40 53 61 20 38 49 57 20 36 46 54 14 34 44 51 14 34
10 46 59 68 23 43 55 64 23 40 52 60 16 38 49 56 15 38
11 51 66 76 25 47 61 71 25 45 58 67 17 41 54 62 17 42
a. For limitations and items related to hooked bars, stirrups or ties in excess of minimum, and spacing of non-contact lap splices, etc., see ACI 318-05, Chapter 12.
b. A top bar is any horizontal reinforcement placed such that more than 12 in. of fresh concrete is cast below the development length.
Note: comp. = compression; min. = minimum.

PCI DESIGN HANDBOOK/SEVENTH EDITION First Printing/CD-ROM Edition 15–39