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BS 4466 - Measurement of bending dimensions - 1989

In April 2000 a new British Standard the 'Specification for scheduling, dimensioning, bending and cutting of steel reinforcement for concrete' was
introduced; BS 8666 displacing BS 4466, the previous standard described here for reference purposes.

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BS 4466 - Measurement of bending dimensions - 1989

Preferred Shapes
Non-Preferred Shapes
BS 4466 Notes
Bar Mass Data Table
Minimum former radii, bend and hook allowances

BS 4466 - Preferred Shapes

Method of measurement of Total length of bar (L) measured Method of measurement of Total length of bar (L) measured
bending dimensions along centre line bending dimensions along centre line
Shape A Shape If angles with the horizontal are 45° or
Code Code
less:

20 41 A+B+(C)

see note 4.
Shape A+h Shape If angles with the horizontal are 45° or
Code Code
less:

32 43 A+2B+C+(E)

Shape A+2h see note 4.

Code Shape A+(B)-½R-d
Code

33 This formula is approximate, if R is

51 minimum, use shape 37. If R is greater
Shape A+n than 200mm, see note 2 to clause 10
Code BS 4466 1989.
Where the overall dimension of the Shape 2(A+B)+12d
34 Code
bob is critical, use shape code 37.
Neither A nor B are to be less than
61 12d or 150mm, whichever is the
Shape A+2n
Code greater, for grade 460 in sizes not
Where the overall dimension of either exceeding 20 mm nor less than 14d
35 bob is critical, do not use this shape for sizes of 25mm and over.
code. Neither A nor B are to be less than 10d for grade 250 with a
Shape A+(B)-½r-d minimum value of A and B of 100mm. See note 3.
Code Shape If angle with horizontal is 45° or less.
Code
This formula is approximate. Where r
37 is greater than the minimum value in A+(C)
table 3 BS 4466 1989, use shape code 62
51. See note 4.
Shape A+B+(C)-r-2d Shape 2A+3B+18d
Code Code

If B is greater than 400+2d, see note 2

38 82 to clause 10 BS 4466 1989.

See note 3
Notes:
for the BS 4466 notes - click here

BS 4466 - Quick Navigation go back

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BS 4466 - Non-Preferred Shapes

Method of measurement of Total length of bar (L) measured Method of measurement of Total length of bar (L) measured
bending dimensions along centre line bending dimensions along centre line
Shape A+0.57B+(C)-1.57d Shape 2A+B+20d
Code Code

If B is greater than 400+2d, see note 2 See note 3

39 to clause 10 BS 4466 1989 77

Shape If angle with horizontal is 45° or less. Shape 2A+B+C+3d

Code Code

A+B+C+n See note 3

42 78
See note 4.
Shape If angle with horizontal is 45° or less. Shape 2A+3B+10d
Code
Code
A+B+(C)-½r-d Neither A nor B shall be less than 12d
45
79 or 150mm, whichever is the greater,
See note 4. for grade 460 in sizes not exceeding
Shape If angle with horizontal is 45° or less. 20mm not less than 14d for sizes of
Code
25mm and over.
A+B+(C) Neither A nor B are to be less than 10d for grade 250 with a
49
minimum value of A and B of 100mm. See note 3
See note 4. Shape A+B+0.57C+(D)-½r-2.57d
Shape A+B+C+(D)-1½r-3d Code
Code
If C is greater than 400+2d see note 2
85 to clause 10 BS 4466 1989
52

Shape where B is not greater than A/5.

Code
Shape A+B+C+D+(E)-2r-4d
Code
C⁄B π (A-d) (L<12m)
87
53 Where A is the external diameter of
helix (in mm)
B is the pitch of helix (in mm)
Shape A+B+(C)-r-2d C is the overall height of helix (in
Code mm).

54 Where B is greater than A/5 the

formula does not apply.
Shape A+B+C+D+(E)-2r-4d There shall be at least two full turns in the helix.
Code Note, unless A is small relative to d, this shape is fabricated in a
closed form and pulled to shape on site.
55 Shape All other shapes To be calculated
Code

A dimensional sketch shall be drawn

Shape A 99 out over schedule columns A to E.
Code

These bars will be supplied straight
65 when the radius is greater than that
given in table 5 of BS 4466 1989
BS 4466 - Quick Navigation
Every dimension that is to allow for the permissable deviations
shall be indicated in parenthesis, otherwise the fabricator is free to
choose which dimension shall allow for the tolerance. If a shape
that is given in this table or in table 1 BS 4466 1989 is required but
a different dimension is to allow for the permissable deviations, the
shape code 99 & the free dimension shall be indicated in
parenthesis. The tolerances given in table 4 BS 4466 1989 also
apply.
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Notes:
1. r indicates the minimum value in the table 3 BS 4466 1989
2. The dimensions in parenthesis are the free dimensions
3. To avoid separate equations for each steel grade and bending radius,
simplified total length formulae are used for shape codes 61, 77, 78,
79 and 82. These formulae are necessarily approximate.
4. The length formula is approximate and when bending angles exceed
45° the length should be calculated more accurately allowing for the
difference between the specified overall dimensions and the true
length measured along the central axis of the bar or wire. When the
bending angles approach 90°, it is preferable to specify shape code 99
with a fully dimensional sketch.

BAR MASS per linear metre (kg/m) :-

50mm: 15.413kg/m 40mm: 9.864kg/m 32mm: 6.313kg/m 25mm: 3.854kg/m 20mm: 2.466kg/m
16mm: 1.579kg/m 12mm: 0.888kg/m 10mm: 0.616kg/m 8mm: 0.395kg/m 6mm: 0.222kg/m

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Minimum former radii, bend and hook allowances

Grade 250 bars complying with the Grade 460 bars complying with the Sheet Fabric complying with the
Bar Bar Fabric
requirements of BS 4449 (type and grade requirements of BS 4449 (type and grade requirements of BS 4483
Size Size Size
R) and BS 6744 type S T) and BS 6744 type S standard size 4.8m x 2.4m
d r† n h d r† n h d r† n h
6†‡ 12 100 100 6†‡ 18 100 100 5 15 100 100
8 16 100 100 8 24 100 100 6 18 100 100
10 20 100 100 10 30 100 110 7 21 100 100
12 24 100 110 12 36 100 140 8 24 100 100
16 32 100 150 16 48 100 180 9 27 120 135
20‡ 40 100 180 20‡ 60 110 220 10 30 120 135
25‡ 50 130 230 25‡ 100 180 350 12 36 130 145
32‡ 64 160 290 32‡ 128 230 450
40‡ 80 200 360 40‡ 160 280 560
50‡ 100 250 450 50‡ 200 350 700
**The use of hooks as end anchorages is not normally necessary with deformed bars.

† It should be borne in mind that special precautions such as reducing the speed of bending or increasing the radius of
bending may necessary in cold weather. For bending and rebending on site refer to BS 8110.
‡ Non-preferred size for grade 250 bars.
• Non-preferred size for grade 460 bars.

NOTE: These radii are the minimum radii of the formers for material complying with the relevant British standard. Certain
design situations may call for larger radii and for these the recommendations in BS 8100 should be followed.

Radius of bending:- maximum values requiring bending

Bar Size 6 8 10 12 16 20 25 32 40
see clause 8 BS 4466 1989
Radius (m) 2.5 2.75 3.5 4.25 7.5 14 30 43 58 for definition of y.
N.B. Bars to be formed to a radius exceeding the above
dimensions will be supplied straight.

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