E-SPLICETM

Reinforcing Bar Couplers through Friction-Weld Technology

Contents
About NatSteel
About E-SPLICE
Product features of E-SPLICE and Friction-Weld
Technology
Specifications of E-SPLICE
Method statement for installing E-SPLICE (Standard
& Position)
Advantages of using E-SPLICE system
Areas of Application

ABOUT
NATSTEEL
NatSteel Holdings a leading Pan-Asian
company that delivers premium steel
products and solutions for the
construction industry
NatSteel traces its lineage to 1961, when it
was incorporated as National Iron and Steel
Mills. A pioneer and key partner in Singapores
nation building efforts, our products are used
in most construction projects island-wide,
from the iconic Changi International Airport
to the public housing that is the trademark of
Singapores landscape.
Singapore is home to NatSteels headquarters,
as well as its flagship plant, which boasts
one of the largest single downstream rebar
fabrication operations in the world. The
Singapore plant is the only local steel mill
with an integrated upstream and downstream
operation, where steel is manufactured
through recycling scrap, and fabricated
according to customers needs. With
operations spanning across the region, the
group has an annual steel production capacity
of over 2 million tonnes.

NatSteel today continues to build on its

success as a leading steel producer in Asia
Pacific, with over 3,000 employees across the
region. Tata Steel is among the top global steel
companies with an annual crude steel capacity
of over 28 million tonnes with major foot
prints in India, the UK, Netherlands, Thailand,
China and Australia. As part of the Tata Steel
group, NatSteel is poised for further growth,
with its sights set on becoming the global steel
industry benchmark for value creation and
corporate citizenship.

ABOUT
e-SPLICE

Product Features

Parallel-threaded mechanical splicing designed for the connection

of concrete reinforcement bars of 16 to 40 mm
Designed and manufactured in compliance with BS 8110
Full tension splice: Bar-break guaranteed under tensile load
No reduction of the bar cross section area
Easy installation, no torque wrench required
Couplers and threaded bars are protected by plastic caps
Full traceability of material origin

Friction-Weld
Technology

Friction-weld (FRW) is a welding process that produces a weld under

the compressive force contact of workpieces rotating relative to one
another. It is a solid-state welding process in which joining occurs at
a temperature below the melting points of the workpieces.

The E-SPLICE mechanical splicing system is a proprietary Bar Break

mechanical splicing system designed to be used in the construction
industry for splicing high tensile deformed (HTD) bars.
Through the use of friction-weld technology
for joining mechanical couplers and threaded
studs to HTD bars, the E-SPLICETM mechanical
splicing system is a high-performance
mechanical splicing system with superior
fatigue behaviour and higher ultimate
strength than HTD bars.

E-SPLICETM is designed in compliance with

BS8110. Through the use of fully automated
computer numerical control (CNC) machines,
NatSteel supplies E-SPLICE couplers,
threaded studs and welded joints of
consistently high quality. This ensures that we
produce consistently well-matched threads.

It can be used to join two pieces of similar or dissimilar metals of the

same or different diameters, producing a joint that is much stronger
than the strength of the weaker metal.

Basic Steps in
Friction-Welding

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Specifications of
E-SPLICE

Method statement for

installing E-SPLICE
E-SPLICE (Standard Coupler) - Type A
Friction-welded Standard coupler

Standard stud

Friction-welded

Rebar

Standard Coupler
Bar Diameter (mm)

16

20

25

28

32

40

Outer Diameter (mm)

25

30

36

40

46

55

Length (mm)

40

42

54

56

60

72

Threaded Length (mm)

20

22

27

28

30

36

Pitch

2.5

2.5

3.5

Bar Diameter (mm)

16

20

25

28

32

40

Outer Diameter (mm)

19

22

28

30

34

42

Length (mm)

56

58

65

66

68

80

Threaded Length (mm)

20

22

27

28

30

36

Pitch

2.5

2.5

3.5

Rebar

The E-SPLICETM Standard system consists of the first bar which is

friction-welded with a standard coupler and a continuation bar
with a standard stud.

1. Position and align both bars end-to-end.

Standard Stud

Extended Coupler
Bar Diameter (mm)

16

20

25

28

32

40

Outer Diameter (mm)

25

30

36

40

46

55

Length (mm)

42

46

56

58

62

74

Threaded Length (mm)

42

46

56

58

62

74

Pitch

2.5

2.5

3.5

Bar Diameter (mm)

16

20

25

28

32

40

Outer Diameter (mm)

19

22

28

30

34

42

Length (mm)

76

80

92

94

98

116

Threaded Length (mm)

40

44

54

56

60

72

Pitch

2.5

2.5

3.5

2. The continuation bar with a standard stud is rotated into the

standard coupler until full engagement.

3. A pipe wrench is used on the continuation bar to tighten and

complete the assembly.

E-SPLICE (Position Coupler) - Type B

Extended Stud

Friction-welded

Standard stud

Extended coupler

Extended stud

Friction-welded

The E-SPLICETM Position System consists of the first bar which

is friction-welded with a standard stud, the continuation bar
that is friction-welded with an extended stud, as well as an
extended coupler. The extended coupler is fully engaged onto
the extended stud of the continuation bar at the production
line.

1. Position and align both bars end-to-end.

2. The extended coupler is then rotated from the continuation

bar to the first bar until full engagement.

3. A pipe wrench is used on the extended coupler to tighten and

complete the assembly

Advantages of using
E-SPLICE system
Increasingly, the use of mechanical couplers has been recognised by
engineers and contractors to bring about benefits that can accelerate
construction speed, increase productivity and simplify design details.
E-SPLICETM couplers save on lap lengths and
could result in lower construction cost
Enhances construction speed by replacing
the slow and tedious traditional methods
of planting starter bars (e.g. boxing-out
or drilling through formwork in wall
construction, planting of starter bars into the
soil in top-down construction)
Reduces congestion in lap zones, thus
enhancing concrete flow

Areas of Application
Increasingly, the use of mechanical couplers has been recognised by engineers
and contractors to bring about benefits that can accelerate construction speed,
increase productivity and simplify design details.

Areas of application

Schematic diagram

Major benefits

Corewall / beam connection

Access-way closing

Beam starters

Saves cost and time on boxing-out and roughening

Saves on cost of formwork and time as no drillings needed
Enable obstruction-free slipping of system formwork
Reduces cycle time

Wall

Column lap-replacement

4F

Reduces congestion
Enables speedier construction
Does not require cranking of bars
Reduces rebar usage

Column continuation

Future extension

3F

Top-down construction

Soffit
of beam

GF

Soffit
of beam

BI

The fastest possible method

Enables obstruction-free excavation
Least influenced by wet weather
Reduces congestion
Does not require cranking of bars
Reduces rebar usage

Future extension

Roof

Eliminates unsightly stumps or starter bars

Allow screeding and waterproofing work to be done easily
Allows easy extension

Wall-to-slab
connection

Dividing wall joint

Beam-to-column
connection

NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd makes no representation or warranty regarding the accuracy, quality, suitability or reliability of the information contained
herein. NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies contained in any information provided by such third
parties. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information set out herein, there may be inadvertent technical or factual
inaccuracies and typographcal errors. NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd reserves the right to make changes and corrections at any time, without notice.
NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd does not accept any liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information contained
herein. Neither NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd nor any of its employees, agents or officers shall be held liable for any improperor incorrect use of the
informationdescribed and/or contained herein and assumes no resposibilty for anyones use of the information. In no event shall NatSteel Holdings
Pte Ltd or its employees, agents or officers be liable for any loss or damage of whatever nature (direct, indirect, special, exemplary or consequential
damages) howsoever caused whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, which may arise as a result of your use of or reliance on any contect or
information contained herein.
8

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NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd

22 Tanjong Kling Road
Singapore 628048
T: +65 6265 1233
F: +65 6265 8317
E: sales@natsteel.com.sg
W: www.natsteel.com.sg
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2013 NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd. All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be produced or copied in any form or by
any means without the written permission of NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd.

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SS ISO 14001 : 2004

SGBP 2012-075

Cert no: OHS -2003-0057 Cert no: EnMS-2012-0001

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