The CARES Bar Mark
All CARES approved reinforcing steel is identified by rolling marks on the surface of the bar at intervals of not greater than 1.5m.
The rolling mark comprises:
- The CARES bar mark
- The country
- The mill
The dot-dash-dot shown below is the CARES registered certification mark (number 2150684) and indicates that the product is CARES approved.
The number of ribs between the next two dots after the CARES approval mark, indicate the country of origin.
The number of ribs between the next two dots indicates the steel mill number.
Similarly to carbon steel bars, CARES approved cold reduced steel also can be identified by the CARES bar mark. In the case of material to BS4482:1985, the country number is indicated by the bar rolling mark which, is denoted by missing ribs.
- The dot-dash-dot shown below is the CARES registered certification mark (number 2150684) and indicates that the product is CARES approved.
- The number of ribs between the CARES mark and the first missing rib indicates the country of origin and the coding is as above.
- The number of ribs between the first and second missing ribs indicates the steel mill number.
BS4449: 2005 has introduced new B500 grades with ductility classes A, B and C. The new B500 grade material uses the same bar marking system described above but is distinguished from grade 460 material by a trailing dash:
Ductility classes A and B are differentiated by the direction of the slope on the ribs on the reverse side of the bar.
Ductility class A is denoted by the ribs on the reverse side of the bar sloping in the same direction:
Ductility class B is denoted by the ribs on the reverse side of the bar sloping in the opposite direction:
Ductility class C is denoted by a slightly more complex double rib pattern:
The mill numbers are allocated by CARES and are shown in the CARES online certificate database and the list of "Firms Holding CARES Certificates of Approval". Further details or confirmation of bar marks can be obtained from the CARES office.
Please note that a few special products such as GEWI 500 and stainless steel bars, have nonstandard bar marking systems which do not comply with the above system. In order to check whether these types of products are approved, the CARES on-line database should be interrogated using the company name and/or scope fields or contact the CARES office.
