The Report on Grade 500E Steel Reinforcement released by the Department of Building and Housing recently raises concerns about the quality of imported steel and recommends that the building and construction industry undertakes education programmes to ensure 500E reinforcing steel is used correctly.
The DBH report came in response to concerns raised by the University of Auckland and other members of the industry about the performance of 500E reinforcing steel. Independent testing from SGS New Zealand Ltd showed that almost all 500E samples met AS/NZS 4671 standards.
Failure of some imported samples in some tests related to low yield stress, low uniform elongation and incorrect bar markings and confi gurations. Pacifi c Steel Group general manager Alan Pearson says the company is proud that it showed 100% compliance with the New Zealand Reinforcing Steel Standard .
“We undertake rigorous quality testing procedures to ensure we provide our customers with top quality steel that they can trust to do the job,” Mr Pearson says. “We complete all testing required under the material standard for every batch that we manufacture, including tensile and bend tests, dimensional checks and chemical analysis of the batch.
“Test certifi cates are available for all batches, and records of our testing are kept for a period of 10 years. Concerned about quality “We continue to be concerned about the quality of imported steel as independent tests performed by SGS New Zealand Ltd found that bars from all of the three sources of imported product failed to fully comply with the standard. “We encourage contractors and consultants to demand and inspect mill certificates so they can be satisfied that the reinforcing steel they use complies with the New Zealand standard.”
The report recommends education of the industry on the properties of Grade 500E and its limitations and benefits to ensure it is handled correctly. “The Department states it is primarily up to industry organisations to educate designers, engineers, reinforcing fabricators, construction companies and steel placers to ensure it is used and handled correctly,” Mr Pearson says.
“Pacific Steel will work closely with industry to help ensure the limitations and benefits of 500E are well understood.”
The DBH’s investigation included:
• surveying Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ) members on problems with 500E steel,
• commissioning a report on the compatibility of the various standards covering the manufacturing, design, welding and handling of 500E steel,
• commissioning a series of tests on bars nominally sold as Grade 500E, both locally manufactured and imported product, and
• reviewing the available evidence of the problems arising from the University of Auckland tests.
Pacific Steel is New Zealand’s only producer of concrete reinforcing steel.
