DOES AN INCREASE IN THE STRENGTH OF THE STEEL THAT IS USED IN THE REINFORCEMENT IMPROVE THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE WALL?

For control of cracking, the strength of the steel in the reinforcement has no influence on the amount of reinforcement needed, only the area of the crosssection.

When the reinforcement is assigned a structural role, the fact the steel is stronger, does not mean necessarily that you reduce the amount of reinforcement in the same proportions. Because by the requirements of the minimum amount, in the vast majority of cases, steel does not display even half of the resistance. It is the parameter of steel reinforcement which really improves the mechanical performance in the wall, on account of its ductility, not of the resistance.

For this reason, to prevent cracking and for the transmission of forces it is preferable that the steel has a high percentage of deformation at failure (that is the parameter which determines ductility) than high resistance.

Ghas system

WHAT TYPES OF PROTECTION DOES THE REINFORCEMENT HAVE AGAINST CORROSION DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM?

The Eurocode make it very clear what kind of protection against corrosion must the reinforcement have is depending on the environment where the reinforcement is going to be installed:

Inner environment -> Galvanized
Exterior environment -> Epoxy galvanized
Aggressive marine  -> Stainless steel environment

WHAT ABOUT THE GALVANISATION OF FISUFOR?

According to the standard EN 845-3, Fisufor has a R20 coating, that is to say a galvanized minimum of 60 grs/m2.

This coating does not correspond to the average of the zinc but the minimum in any part of the masonry reinforcement.

Also, according to the Eurocode 6 (table C.3 of the standard ENV_1996-2) and according to the classes of exposure defined in the standard 1996-1-1:

• A galvanized masonry reinforcement is authorized only in a dry ambience.

• In the frontage, always use masonry reinforcement with epoxy coating or stainless steel.

• In the coast or in a chemical aggressive ambience, always use stainless steel masonry reinforcement.