2/18/2021 BS8666 Shape Codes – KB Rebar Limited

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British Standard Sh
Codes
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BS8666 Shape Codes

Steel Reinforcement For Concrete – BS 8666:2005
British Standard BS 8666 the ‘Specification for scheduling, dimensioning, bending and cutting of steel
reinforcement for concrete’.

This standard supersedes BS4466.

Table 1 – Maximum limit for which a preformed radius is

required
www.rebar.co.uk

Radius of bending:- maximum values requiring bending.

Bar Size 6 8 10 12 16 20 25 32 40

Radius 2.5 2.75 3.5 4.25 7.5 14.0 30.0 43.0 58.0
(m)
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Note. Bars to be formed to a radius exceeding the above 790 8635
dimensions  sales@kbrebar.co.uk
will be supplied straight.

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Table 2 – Minimum scheduling
Home Shape Codes radii,
Productsformer
Companydiameters
History Contactand
bend allowances

Nominal size of Minimum radius Minimum General (min 5d Links where bend
bar, d, mm for scheduling, r diameter of straight), ≤ 150° (min 10d
bending former, including links straight) mm
M where bend ≥
150° mm

6 12 24 110* 110*

8 16 32 115* 115*

10 20 40 120* 130

12 24 48 125* 160

16 32 64 130 210

20 70 140 190 290

25 87 175 240 365

32 112 224 305 465

40 140 280 380 580

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50 175 350 475 725
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* The minimum end projections for smaller bars is governed by the practicalities of bending bars. 
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Note 1. Due to ‘spring back’ the actual radius of bend will be slightly greater than half the diameter of
former.

Note 2. BS 4449:2005 grade B500A in sizes below 8mm does not conform to BS EN 1992-1.1:2004.

Table 3 – Standard shapes, their method of measurement

and calculation of length
Method of Total length of bar (L) Method of Total length of bar (L)
measurement of measured along measurement of measured along
bending dimensions. centre line. bending dimensions. centre line.

Shape Code 00 Shape Code 33

A 2A + 1.7B + 2(C) -4dA
  shall not be less than
12d + 30mm. B shall
  not be less than
2(r+d). (C) shall not be
less than P in Table 2,
nor less than B/2 + 5d.
Key See Note 3.
1 Semi-circular

Shape Code 01 Shape Code 34

A A +B +C +(E)-0.5r -d
Stock lengths. Neither A nor (E) shall
See Note 4. be less than
P in Table 2.
See Note 1.
 

Shape Code 11 Shape Code 35

A+(B)- 0.5r-d A +B +C +(E) -0.5r -d
Neither A nor B shall be Neither A nor (E) shall
less than be less than P in Table
P in Table 2 2. See Note 1.

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A+(B)- 0.43R – 1.2d  0161 790 8635  sales@kbrebar.co.uk

A +B +C +(D)-r -2d
Neither A nor B shall be Neither A nor (D) shall
less than
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be less than P in Table
P in Table 2Shape
Home nor less 2. See Note
Codes Products Company History 1.
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than (R + 6d)

Shape Code 13 Shape Code 41

A + 0.57B+(C)- 1.6d A+B+C+D+(E)-2r-4d
B shall not be less than Neither A nor (E) shall
2(r + d). be less than P in Table
Neither A nor C shall be 2.
less than
P in Table 2 nor less
than (B/2 + 5d).
Key See Note 3.
1 Semi-circular

Shape Code 14 Shape Code 44

A + (C)- 4d A +B +C +D +(E) -2r
Neither A nor (C) shall -4d
be less than Neither A nor (E) shall
P in Table 2. be less than P in Table
See Note 1. 2.

Shape Code 15 Shape Code 46

A+(C) A +2B +C +(E)
Neither A nor (C) shall Neither A nor (E) shall
be less than be less than P in Table
P in Table 2. See Note 1. 2. See Note 1.

Shape Code 21 Shape Code 47

A + B + (C)- r – 2d 2A +B +2C +1.5r -3d
Neither A nor (C) shall
be less than P in Table
2.

Shape Code 22 Shape Code 51

A +B +C +(D) -1.5r – 3d 2(A +B +(C)) -2.5r -5d
C shall not be less than (C) and (D) shall be

2(r + d). equal and not more
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Neither A nor (D) shall  0161 790 8635  sales@kbrebar.co.uk

than A nor less than P
be less than in Table 2.Where (C)
P in Table 2. (D) shall and (D) are to be
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not be less Shape Codes Products Company History
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Contact
than C/2 + 5d. following formula may
be used:L = 2A + 2B +
max (16d, 160)

Key
1 Semi-circular

Shape Code 23 Shape Code 56

A + B + (C) – r – 2d A +B +C +(D) +2(E)
Neither A nor (C) shall -2.5r -5d
be less than P in Table (E) and (F) shall be
2. equal and not more
than B or C, nor less
than P in Table 2.
 

Shape Code 24 Shape Code 63

A + B + (C) 2A +3B +2(C) -3r -6d
A and (C) are at 90° to (C) and (D) shall be
one another. equal and not more
than A or B nor less
than P in Table
2.Where (C) and (D)
are to be minimized
the following formula
may be used: L = 2A +
3B + max(14d, 150)

Shape Code 25 Shape Code 64

A + B + (E) A +B +C +2D +E +(F)
Neither A nor B shall be -3r -6d
less than P in Table 2. If Neither A nor (F) shall
E is the critical be less than P in Table
dimension, schedule 2. See Note 2.
as 99 and specify A or
B as the free
dimension.See Note 1.

Shape Code 26 Shape Code 67

A + B + (C) A
Neither A nor (C) shall See clause 10.
be less than P in Table 
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2. See Note 1.
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Shape Code 27 Shape Code 75

A +B +(C) -0.5r -d π (A – d) + B
Neither A nor (C) shall Where B is the lap.
be less than P in Table
2.See Note 1.

Shape Code 28 Shape Code 77

A +B +(C) -0.5r -d Cπ(A-d)
Neither A nor (C) shall Where B is greater
be less than P in Table than A/5 this equation
2. See Note 1. no longer applies, in
which case the
following formula may
be used:L = C((π(A -
C=number of turns d))² + B²)0.5

Shape Code 29 Shape Code 98

A + B + (C) -r -2d A +2B +C + (D) -2r -4d
Neither A nor (C) shall Isometric sketch
be less than P in Table Neither C or (D) shall
2. See Note 1. be less than P in Table
2.

Shape Code 31 Custom Shape Shape Code 99

A +B +C +(D) -1.5r -3d All other shapes To be
Neither A nor (D) shall   calculated See Note
be less than 2.Where standard
P in Table 2. shapes cannot be
  used.No other shape
code number, form of
  designation or
abbreviation shall be
used in scheduling. A
dimensioned sketch
shall be drawn over
the dimension 
columns A to E. Every
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dimension shall be
specified and the
dimension that is to
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deviations shall be
indicated in
parenthesis, otherwise
the fabricator is free to
choose which
dimension shall allow
for tolerance.

Shape Code 32
A +B +C +(D) -1.5r -3d
Neither A nor (D) shall
be less than
P in Table 2.
 

The values for minimum radius and end projection, r and P respectively, as specified in Table 2, shall
apply to all shape codes (see 7.6).

The dimensions in parentheses are the free dimensions. If a shape given in this table is required but a
different dimension is to allow for the possible deviations, the shape shall be drawn out and given the
shape code 99 and the free dimension shall be indicated in parentheses.The length of straight between
two bends shall be at least 4d, see Figure 6. Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 should be used in the
interpretation of ending dimensions.

Note 1

The length equations for shape codes 14, 15, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 36 and 46 are approximate and
where the bend angle is greater than 45°, the length should be calculated more accurately allowing for
the difference between the specified overall dimensions and the true length measured along the central
axis of the bar. When the bending angles approach 90°, it is preferable to specify shape code 99 with a
fully dimensioned sketch.

Note 2

Five bends or more might be impractical within permitted tolerances.

Note 3

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For shapes with straight and curved lengths (e.g. shape codes790
12 13,8635 sales@kbrebar.co.uk
47)
22, 33 and the largest practical
mandrel size for the production
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of a continuous curve is 400 mm. See also
Home Clause
Shape 10.
Codes Products Company History Contact

Note 4

Stock lengths are available in a limited numer of lengths (e.g. 6m, 12m). Dimension A for shape code 01
should be regarded as indicative and used for the purpose of calculating total length. Actual delivery
lengths should be by agreement with supplier.

Table 4
BAR MASS per linear metre (kg/m) :-

50mm: 40mm: 32mm: 6.313kg/m 25mm: 20mm:

15.413kg/m 9.864kg/m 3.854kg/m 2.466kg/m

16mm: 1.579kg/m 12mm: 0.888kg/m 10mm: 0.616kg/m 8mm: 0.395kg/m 6mm: 0.222kg/m

Excerpts From Section 8 – Drawing Forms for Scheduling

and Dimensioning
Figure 4 – Dimensioning of an acute angle

8.6 – If the angle between two portions of the shape meeting at

a bend is not a right angle, it shall be defined by co-ordinates
and not by degress of arcs or radians.

8.7 – When dimensioning an acute angle the tangential lines

shown in Figure 4 shall be used.

Figure 5 – Dimensioning of cranked bars

 
8.8 – Apart from shape code 98, bars bent in two planes shall
be sketched isometrically or shown in two elevations, using first
angle projection. The words “bent in two planes” or “isometric
sketch” shall appear on the schedule adjacent to the sketch.
8.9 – The overall offset dimension of a crank shall be not less
than twice the size of the bar.

The angled length (see Figure 5) shall be not less than:

a) 10d for bars not exceeding a nominal size of 16mm 
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b) 13d for nominal 790
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16mm
 
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Figure 6 – Example of bar with more than one bend

8.10 – For all shapes with two or more bends in the same or
opposite directions (whether in the same plane or not), the
overall dimension given on the schedule shall always include a
minimum straight of 4d between the curved portion of the
bends, as shown in Figure 6.

 
The value of x in Figure 6 shall be not less than the following:
a) 10d for bars not exceeding a nominal size of 16mm
b) 13d for nominal sizes greater than 16mm
NOTE: The minimum values of x are expressed in terms of the
nominal size of the reinforcement. In practice, rolling and
bending tolerances, and the fact that the circumscribing
diameter of deformed reinforcement may be up to 10% greater
than the nominal size, should be considered.
 

 
Contact Details
 
KB Rebar
Unit 5, Dobson Park Industrial Estate
Dobson Park Way
Ince, Wigan
WN2 2DY

Tel: 0161 790 8635

Email: sales@kbrebar
Fax: 0161 799 7083
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