Standards and Tolerances for Prefabricated Reinforcement: Supply Chain Coordination and Logistics

standards and tolerances in rebar supply chain

Prefabrication of construction elements in either a full, or modular methodology can increase efficiencies at the site level, from program time to SHEQ targets. Prefabricated reinforcement is becoming the standard choice, with just-in-time delivery minimising the need for lay-down areas and site attendance.

Standards and tolerances for off-site manufactured steel cages, for columns, beams, caps and piles, are of a much higher level of accuracy than site-built items. The controlled conditions of a factory-build mean that tolerances can better be met and exceeded.

Quality checks made at a supply chain partner’s fabrication facility will be more meticulous, easier to carry out, and as a result, more likely to be of the correct standard before the concrete arrives on a building site.

Logistical Tolerances: Material Handling

Prefabricated steel reinforcement can be heavy, and construction site regulations in the UK will require a lifting plan devised by a suitably qualified person. 

  • A temporary works coordinator will require details of each item to be lifted to make sure the action can be carried out safely.
  • Items that are larger than the standard size may also be subject to stressors and pressures that will require additional modifications. 
  • The original design must ensure that a prefabricated structure remains within expected quality standards and tolerances during deployment.
standards and tolerances

Logistical Tolerances: Length

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations are quite complex, with comprehensive conditions for the transportation of goods on UK roads. Briefly, while it is permissible to transport a load up to 27.4 metres in length, UK traffic enforcement and Police Authorities require notice of any exceptional abnormal indivisible load (AIL).

The authorities will need to be informed of the timing and route taken of any AIL at least two days before the scheduled delivery. Time should also be allowed for any queries from enforcing and local authorities.

Logistical Tolerances: Weight

The weight of prefabricated steel reinforcement adds another level of tolerance that needs to be considered. The ageing infrastructure of the UK includes many bridge structures with weight limits that would also have to be factored into any logistical exercise.

An articulated load of up to 44 tonnes can be transported on a vehicle, but it must have six axles in order to take the weight. To put that in perspective, it equates to more than 9,000 3-metre lengths of standard 16mm rebar.

Logistical Specialist Contractors

There are specialist transport contractors in the UK who can take on exactly this kind of logistical challenge, should a client require an indivisible item of prefabricated steel reinforcement delivered in one piece.

This work is usually carried out when large, reinforced bridge sections, that require a high level of tolerance during prefabrication, are to be delivered to major infrastructure projects. The logistical costs for these projects are, more often than not, borne by government contracts.

Prefabricated Reinforcement Adaptability

The benefit of using a steel reinforcement contract supplier with decades of design experience is that premade items can be configured to make it as straightforward as possible when it comes to logistics.

  • The golden rule is that the simpler a thing can be made, then the easier it can be done.
  • Transporting a series of piles in sections, or a ring-beam that simply requires connecting on-site, makes delivery fast, and keeps costs down.
  • Getting a project completed on time, and within budget is always a challenge with changing site conditions and access issues that come with every project.
  • Planning for the fewest vehicle movements, while maintaining a manageable delivery schedule should be the aim of every sustainability-minded contract manager.
safe handling of rebar on-site

Modern Methods of Construction

Reinforcement prefabrication embodies the construction industry’s drive for a more sustainable business model that features less waste and pushes toward more modern methods of construction (MMC).

  • By engaging with the steel reinforcement fabricator early on in the pre-construction design stage, savings can be identified and waste reduced. 
  • Planning for modular construction and just-in-time delivery of steel sections can help reduce the number of operatives required on a building site.
  • Helping to deliver a faster, leaner program of work during the active part of a project program, reduces the client and contractor’s exposure to potentially hazardous activities.

Managing Expectations

Consulting closely with the fabricating company to ensure that expectations are aligned is a key part of the process. A client who expects everything to be made off-site may not allow for the right number of steel fixers required to attend the site to final fix.

  • Build methodology needs to be set out clearly in a rapidly changing industrial landscape where modern methods of construction are developing. 
  • Innovation lies at the heart of the construction industry, but it has to sit within logistical tolerances and parameters.
  • Members of supply chains in the construction industry are essential partners who can bring this specialist knowledge to the table.
  • Engaging at an early stage will ensure that the standards and tolerances understood by these companies help to support the success of a project.

Next Steps

Heaton Manufacturing works hard to ensure that any prefabricated steel reinforcement made at their premises can be transported within normal size and weight limits on the UK’s road system. This approach leads to fewer issues with regard to meeting quality standards and tolerances from inception to completion.

However, exceptional, bespoke design can also be catered for within the regulation transportation limits on UK highways.Talk to our experts today to find out how we can help deliver your site project requirements.

Stay focused on your project,
let us handle the reinforcement.

Simple, accurate, and rapid solutions direct from a leading UK manufacturer.

Stay focused on your project,
let us handle the reinforcement.

Simple, accurate, and rapid solutions direct from a leading UK manufacturer.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informative purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information.

Always consult a qualified engineer and/or architect when designing or carrying out any construction project. Always work within regulations set out by your government, and within recommended safety guidelines.

Get a quote

Need a Quote for Rebar?

Want to Get Updates on UK Rebar Pricing and News?

*Newsletter will be from our Reinforcement Products Online site. Our Privacy Policy can be viewed here.

We do not sell or pass on your information under any circumstances.