National Structural

Code of the Philippines

Sections 407.1 407.9
Details of Reinforcement
407.1 Notations
d = distance from extreme compression fiber to
centroid of tension reinforcement, mm
db = nominal diameter of bar, wire or
prestressing strand, mm
fci = compressive strength of concrete at time of
initial prestress, Mpa
fy = specified yield strength of nonprestressed
reinforcement, Mpa
Ld = development length, mm. See Section 412.
407.2 Standard Hooks
Standard Hook as used in this code is one of the following:

407.2.1 180-degree bend plus 4db extension, but not less than 60 mm
at free end of bar.

407.2.2 90-degree bend plus 12db extension at free end of bar.

407.2.3 For stirrup and tie hooks:

1. 16 mm bar and smaller, 90-degree bend plus 6db extension at
free end of bar; or
2. 20 mm and 25 mm bar, 90-degree bend, plus 12db extension at
free end of bar; or
3. 25 mm bar and smaller, 135-degree bend plus 6db extension at
free end of bar

407.2.4 Seismic hooks as defined in Section 402.

407.3 Minimum Bend Diameters
407.3.1 Diameter of bend measured on the inside of the bar, other than for
stirrups and ties in sizes 10 mm through 16 mm, shall not be less than the
values in Table 407 1.

407.3.2 Inside diameter of bends for stirrups and ties shall not be less then
4db for 16 mm bar and smaller. For bars larger than 16 mm, diameter of
bend shall be in accordance with Table 407 1.

407.3.3 Inside diameter of bends in welded wire fabric (plain or deformed)

for stirrups and ties shall not be less than 4db for deformed wire larger than
MD40 and 2db for all other wires. Bends with inside diameter of less than
8db shall not be less than 4db from nearest welded intersection.

Table 407 1 Minimum Diameters of Bend

Bar Size Minimum Diameter
10 mm through 25 mm 6db
28 mm, 32 mm and 36 mm 8db
42 mm and 58 mm 10db
407.4 Bending of Reinforcement
407.4.1 All reinforcement shall be bend cold,
unless otherwise permitted by the engineer-of-
record.

407.4.2 Reinforcement partially embedded in

concrete shall not be field bent, except as shown
on the design drawings or permitted by the
engineer-of-record.
407.5 Surface Conditions of Reinforcement
407.5.1 At the time concrete is placed, reinforcement shall be
free from mud, oil or other nonmetallic coatings that decrease
bond. Epoxy coatings of steel reinforcement in accordance
with Sections 403.6.3.8 and 403.6.3.9 shall be permitted.

407.5.2 Reinforcement, except prestressing tendons, with

rust, mill scale or a combination of both, shall be considered
satisfactory, provided the minimum dimensions (including
height of deformations) and weight of a hand-wire-brushed
test specimen comply with applicable ASTM specifications
referenced in Section 403.6.

407.5.3 Prestressing tendons shall be clean and free of oil,

dirt, scale, pitting and excessive rust. A light coating of rust
shall be permitted.
407.6 Placing Reinforcement
407.6.1 Reinforcement, prestressing tendons
and ducts shall be accurately placed and
adequately supported before concrete is placed,
and shall be secured against displacement within
tolerances of this section.

407.6.2 Unless otherwise specified by the

engineer-of-record, reinforcement, prestressing
tendons and prestressing ducts shall be placed
within the following tolerances:
407.6 Placing Reinforcement
407.6.2.1 Tolerance for depth d, and minimum
concrete cover in flexural members, walls and
compression members shall be as follows:
Effective depth, d Tolerance on d Tolerance on
Minimum
Concrete Cover
d 200 mm 10 mm -10 mm
d 200 mm 12 mm -12 mm

except that tolerance for the clear distance to formed

soffits shall be minus 6 mm and tolerance for cover shall
not exceed minus one-third the minimum concrete cover
required by the approved plans or specifications.
407.6 Placing Reinforcement
407.6.2.2 Tolerance for longitudinal location of bends
and ends of reinforcement shall be 50 mm except at
discontinuous ends of members where tolerance shall be
12 mm at the discontinuous ends of brackets and
corbels, and 25 mm at the discontinuous ends of other
members. The tolerance for concrete cover of Section
407.6.2.1 shall also apply at the discontinuous ends of
members.

407.6.3 Welded wire fabric (with wire size not greater

than MW30 or MD30) used in slabs not exceeding 3 m
in span shall be permitted to be curved from a point near
the top of slab over the support to a point near the
bottom of slab at midspan, provided such reinforcement
is either continuous over, or securely anchored at,
support.
407.6 Placing Reinforcement
407.6.4 Welding of crossing bars shall not be
permitted for assembly of reinforcement.

Exceptions:
1. Reinforcing steel bars are not required by design.
2. When specifically approved by the engineer-of-
record, welding of crossing bars for assembly
purposes in Seismic Zone 2 may be permitted,
provided that data are submitted to the engineer
to show that there is no detrimental effect on the
action of the structural member as a result of
welding of the crossing bars.
407.7 Spacing Limits for Reinforcement
407.7.1 The minimum clear spacing between
parallel bars in a layer shall be db but not less than
25 mm. See also Section 403.4.2.

407.7.2 Where parallel reinforcement is placed in

two or more layers, bars in the upper layers shall be
placed directly above bars in the bottom layer with
clear distance between layers not less than 25 mm.

407.7.3 In spirally reinforcement or tied reinforced

compression members, clear distance between
longitudinal bars shall not be less than 1.5db or less
than 40 mm. See also Section 403.4.2.
407.7 Spacing Limits for Reinforcement
407.7.4 Clear Distance limitation between bars
shall apply also to the clear distance between a
contact lap splice and adjacent splices or bars.

407.7.5 In walls and slabs other than concrete

joist construction, primary flexural
reinforcement shall not be spaced farther apart
than three times the wall or slab thickness, nor
farther than 450 mm.
407.7 Spacing Limits for Reinforcement
407.7.6 Bundled Bars

407.7.6.1 Groups of parallel reinforcing bars bundled in contact to

act as a unit shall be limited to four bars in one bundle.

407.7.6.2 Bundled bars shall be enclosed within stirrups or ties.

407.7.6.3 Bars larger than 36 mm shall not be bundled in beams.

407.7.6.4 Individual bars within a bundle terminated within the

span of flexural members shall terminate at different points with at
least 40db stagger.

407.7.6.5 Where spacing limitations and minimum concrete cover

are based on bar diameter db, a unit of bundled bars shall be treated
as a single bar of a diameter derived from the equivalent total area.
407.7 Spacing Limits for Reinforcement
407.7.7 Prestressing Tendons and Ducts

407.7.7.1 Center-to-center spacing of pre-tensioning tendons

at each end of a member shall not be less than 5db for wire,
nor 4db for strands, except that if concrete strength at transfer
of prestress, fci is 28 MPa or more, minimum center to center
spacing of strands shall be 45 mm for strands of 12 mm
nominal diameter or smaller and 50 mm strands of 16 mm
nominal diameter. See also Section 403.4.2. Closer vertical
spacing and bundling of tendons shall be permitted in the
middle portion of a span.

407.7.7.2 Bundling of post-tensioning ducts shall be

permitted if it is shown that concrete can be satisfactory
placed and if provisions is made to prevent the tendons, when
tensioned, from breaking through the duct.
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
407.8.1 Cast-in-Place Concrete (Nonprestressed)
Unless a greater cover is required by Section 407.8.6 or 407.8.8, specified
cover for reinforcement shall not be less than the following:

Minimum Cover
1. Concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth ............... 75 mm
2. Concrete exposed to earth or weather:
20 mm bar through 36 mm bar .................................................. 50 mm
16 mm bar, MW200 or MD200 wire, and smaller ....................... 40 mm
3. Concrete not exposed to weather or in contact with ground:
a) Slabs, walls, joists:
42 mm and 58 mm bars ............................................................... 40 mm
36 mm bars and smaller ................................................................ 20 mm
b) Beams, columns:
Primary reinforcement, ties, stirrups, spirals ................................. 40 mm
c) Shells, folded plate members:
20 mm bar and larger .................................................................... 20 mm
16 mm bar, MW200 or MD200 wire, and smaller ........................ 12 mm
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
407.8.2 Precast Concrete (Manufactured Under Plant Control
Conditions)
Unless a greater cover is required by Section 407.8.6 or 407.8.8, specified cover for
prestressed and nonprestressed reinforcement, ducts, and end fittings shall not less
than the following:

Minimum Cover
1. Concrete exposed to earth or weather:
a) Wall panels:
42 mm and 58 mm bars ............................................................................. 40 mm
36 bar and smaller, prestressing tendons larger than 40 mm
and smaller, MW200 or MD200 wire and smaller ....................................... 20 mm
b) Other members:
42 and 58 mm bars, prestressing tendons larger than 40 mm .................. 50 mm
20 mm through 36 mm bars, prestressing tendons
larger than 16 mm through 40 mm ................................................................ 40 mm
16 mm bars and smaller, prestressing tendons 16 mm diameter
and smaller, MW200 or MD200 wire, and smaller ...................................... 30 mm
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
Minimum Cover
2) Concrete not exposed to weather or in contact with ground:
a) Slabs, walls, joists:
42 mm and 58 mm bars,
prestressing tendons larger than 40 mm ............................. 30 mm
Prestressing tendons 40 mm and smaller ........................... 20 mm
36 mm bar and smaller,
MW200 or MD200 wire and smaller ................................... 15 mm
b) Beams, columns:
Primary reinforcement db but
not less than 15 mm and need not exceed ......................... 40 mm
Ties, stirrups, spirals ............................................................. 10 mm
c) Shells, folded plate members:
Prestressing tendons ............................................................ 20 mm
20 mm bar and larger ......................................................... 15 mm
16 mm bar, MW200 or MD200 wire and smaller ............. 10 mm
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
407.8.3 Cast-In-Place Concrete (Prestressed)
407.8.3.1 Unless a greater cover is required by Sections 407.8.6 and 407.8.8,
specified cover for prestressed and nonprestressed reinforcement, ducts and end
fittings, shall not less than the following:

Minimum Cover
1. Concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth .............................. 75 mm
2. Concrete exposed to earth or weather:
Wall panels, slabs, joists ................................................................................. 25 mm
Other members .............................................................................................. 40 mm
3. Concrete not exposed to weather or in contact with ground:
a) Slabs, walls, joists ........................................................................................... 20 mm
b) Beams, columns
Primary reinforcement ................................................................................... 40 mm
Ties, stirrups, spirals ...................................................................................... 25 mm
c) Shells, folded plate members:
16 mm bars, MW200 or MD200 wire, and smaller ..................................... 10 mm
Other reinforcement ............................................................................... db > 20 mm
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
407.8.3.2 For prestressed concrete members exposed to earth, weather or
corrosive environments, and in which permissible tensile stress of Section
418.5.1, Item 3, is exceeded, minimum cover shall be increased 50 percent.

407.8.3.3 For prestressed concrete members manufactured under plant

control conditions, minimum concrete cover for nonprestressed
reinforcement shall be as required in Section 407.8.2.

407.8.4 Bundled Bars

For bundled bars, minimum concrete cover shall not be less than the
equivalent diameter of the bundle, but need not be greater than 50 mm;
except for concrete cast against and permanently exposed to earth,
minimum cover shall not be less than 75 mm.

407.8.5 Headed Shear Stud Reinforcement

For headed shear stud reinforcement, specified concrete cover for the heads
or base rails shall not be less than that required for the reinforcement in the
type of member in which the headed shear stud reinforcement is placed.
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
407.8.6 Corrosive Environments
In corrosive environments or other severe exposure conditions,
amount of concrete protection shall be suitably increased, and the
pertinent requirements for concrete based on applicable exposure
categories in Section 404 shall be met, denseness and nonporosity
of protecting concrete shall be considered, or other protection shall
be provided.

407.8.6.1 For prestressed concrete members exposed to corrosive

environments or other severe exposure categories such as those
defined in Section 404, and which are classified as Class T or C in
Section 418.4.3, specified concrete cover shall not be less than 1.5
times the cover for prestressed reinforcement required by Section
407.8.2 and 407.8.3. This requirement shall be permitted to be
waived if the precompressed tensile zone is not in tension under
sustained loads.
407.8 Concrete Protection for Reinforcement
407.8.7 Future Extensions
Exposed reinforcement, inserts and plates intended
for bonding with future extensions shall be
protected from corrosion.

407.8.8 Fire Protection

If the National Building Code, of which the National
Structural Code of the Philippines forms a part,
requires a thickness of cover for fire protection
greater than the minimum concrete cover specified
in Sections 407.8.1 through 407.8.7, such greater
thickness shall be specified.
407.9 Special Reinforcement Details for Columns
407.9.1 Offset Bars
Offset bent longitudinal bars shall confirm to the following:

407.9.1.1 Slope of inclined portion of an offset bar with axis of

column shall not exceed 1 in 6.

407.9.1.2 Portions of bar above and below an offset shall be

parallel to axis of column.

407.9.1.3Horizontal support at offset bends shall be provided by

lateral ties, spirals or parts of the floor construction. Horizontal
support provided shall be designed to resist one and one-half times
the horizontal component of the computed force in the inclined
portion of an offset bar. Lateral ties or spirals, if used, shall be
placed not more than 150 mm from points of bend.
407.9 Special Reinforcement Details for Columns

407.9.1.4 Offset bars shall be bent before

placement in the forms. See Section 407.4.

407.9.1.5 Where a column face is offset 75 mm

or greater, longitudinal bars shall not be offset
bent. Separate dowels, lap spliced with the
longitudinal bars adjacent to the offset column
faces, shall be provided. Lap splices shall
conform to Section 412.18.
407.9 Special Reinforcement Details for Columns
407.9.2 Steel Cores
Long transfer in structural steel cores of composite compression members
shall be provided by the following:

407.9.2.1 Ends of structural steel cores shall be accurately finished to bear

at end-bearing splices, with positive provision for alignment of one core
above the other in concentric contact.

407.9.2.2 at end-bearing splices, bearing shall be considered effective to

transfer not more than 50 percent of the total compressive stress in the
steel core.

407.9.2.3 Transfer of stress between column base and footing shall be

designed in accordance with Section 415.9.

407.9.2.4 Base of structural steel section shall be designed to transfer the

total load from the entire composite member to the footing; or, the base
may be designed to transfer the load from the steel core only, provided
ample concrete section is available for transfer of the portion of the total
load carried by the reinforced concrete section to the footing by
compression in the concrete and by reinforcement.
The End