I

n the February 1984 issue of CON -

CRETE CONSTRUCTION, page
155, general principles for bar plac -
ing were discussed. That article ex -
plained concrete cover or pro t e c t i o n
re q u i rements and re v i ewed toler -
ances in bar placement. This art i c l e
i l l u s t rates and describes common
types of bar ties.
Ti e wi re
Although the practice of carry i n g
tie wire va ries somewhat in differe n t
regions across the country, tie wire
is usually available in 3- to 4-pound
c o i l s. The coils are readily placed in
a tie wire holder or reel especially
designed for this purpose. These
reels are suspended from an iro n-
w o rk e rs belt for easy accessibility
and use.
Wi re used for tying re i n f o rc i n g
bars is usually No. 16
1
2- or No. 16-
gage black, soft-annealed wire. In
some cases a heavier gage wire may
be used. No. 15- or No. 14-gage tie
w i re (or double No. 16
1
2- or No. 16-
gage) may be used when tying bars
in heavily re i n f o rced caissons or
walls to maintain the proper posi-
tion of the re i n f o rc e m e n t .
Types of t i es
T h e re are va rious types of ties
used when securing re i n f o rc i n g
b a r s. Much of the tying is done on
flat, hori zontal form w o rk such as
floor slabs, and many backaches
can be saved if one learns to bend
and tie stiff-legged instead of squat-
ting. Se ve ral of the most common
types of ties are described on these
pages and illustrated in Fi g u re 1.
A snap or single tie is norm a l l y
used in flat hori zontal work to se-
c u re the re i n f o rcing bars in position
against displacement due to work
done by other trades and by con-
c rete placing. This is a ve ry simple
tie; it is wrapped once around the
two crossing bars in a diagonal
manner with the two wire ends on
t o p. The wires are then twisted to-
gether with a pair of pliers until they
a re tight against the bars. The wire is
cut with pliers and the ends flat-
tened, to pre vent them from snag-
ging clothing and from pro t ru d i n g
t h rough the concrete surf a c e s. This
type of tie is also used when tying
bars in caissons, at times using No.
15- or No. 14-gage wire. The snap or
single tie may be made stronger by
Fi gur e 1. Di f ferent t ypes of t i es may
be needed for fl oors, wal l s, heavy
mat s, col umns or preassembl ed
cages. Bars must be hel d securel y i n
posi t i on so t hat t hey don t shi ft
whi l e work i s bei ng done by ot her
t rades or duri ng concret e pl aci ng.
Types of rebar ties
Proper tying is essential to maintain bar position
doubling the wire rather than using the heavier gage
w i re. This tie would then be called a double snap tie or a
single tie-double wire.
The wrap and snap tie is normally used when tying
wall re i n f o rcement and holds the bars securely in posi-
tion so that the hori zontal bars do not shift while work
is done by other trades or during concrete placing. The
tie is made by wrapping the wire 1
1
2 times around the
ve rtical bar, and then diagonally around the intersect-
ing hori zontal bar, completing the tie in the same man-
ner as for a snap tie (single tie).
A saddle or U tie is more complicated than the first
two described but is favo red in certain re g i o n s. It is used
for tying of footing bars or other mats to hold hooked
ends of bars in position; it is also used for securing col-
umn ties to ve rtical bars. The wires pass halfway aro u n d
one of the bars on each side of the crossing bar, then are
b rought squarely around the crossing bar and then up
and around the first bar where they are twisted as
s h ow n .
The wrap and saddle tie is similar to the saddle tie ex-
cept that the wire is wrapped 1
1
2 times around the first
b a r, then completed as described for the saddle tie. This
type can be used to secure heavy mats that are lifted by
c rane and for securing column ties to ve rtical bars where
t h e re is a considerable strain on the ties.
A figure eight tie is occasionally used in walls instead
of the wrap and snap tie.
In addition, there is the nailhead tie (Fi g u re 2), used
when nails are employed as spreaders to hold wall bars
away from the form s. The wire is wrapped once aro u n d
the nailhead, then around the outside bar of the wall
mat, drawing the bar securely against the nailhead by
twisting the ends of the wire.
General pri nci pl es of bar t yi ng
The proper tying of bars is essential in order to main-
tain bar positions during work done by other trades and
d u ring concrete placing. It is not necessary to tie bars at
e ve ry intersection. Tying adds nothing to the strength of
the finished stru c t u re. In most cases, a tie at eve ry 4th or
5th intersection is all that is necessary (Fi g u re 3). Ends of
finished ties should be kept clear of the concrete surf a c e.
When tying bars in slabs that are being assembled in
p l a c e, the spacing of ties should be gove rned by the bar
s i ze s. Usually snap ties are used.
Wall bars that are assembled in place should be tied
sufficiently to pre vent shifting as concrete is being
placed. The snap tie or wrap and snap tie is genera l l y
used, but in most cases the snap tie is adequate.
For preassembled mats, a sufficient number of bar in-
tersections should be tied to make the mats rigid enough
for handling (Fi g u re 4). When snap ties are used, eve ry
bar intersection around the perimeter and alternate in-
tersections within the interior of the mat should be tied.
Fi gure 2. Nai l head t i es are used when nai l s are empl oyed as
spreaders t o hol d wal l bars away from t he forms. Si deform
spacers or bar suppor t s are more commonl y used t o
mai nt ai n adequat e concret e cover.
Fi gure 3. It i sn t necessary t o t i e bars at ever y i nt ersect i on.
A t i e at every four t h or fi ft h i nt ersect i on i s usual l y
suf fi ci ent .
Fi gure 4. When snap t i es are used for preassembl ed mat s,
every bar i nt ersect i on around t he peri met er and al t ernat e
i nt ersect i ons wi t hi n t he i nt eri or of t he mat shoul d be t i ed.
Thi s hel ps t o make t he mat s ri gi d enough for handl i ng.
Editors note:
This article is based upon information
in the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Insti-
tutes book Placing Reinforcing Bars.
Copies of the 193-page book are
available from CRSI, 933 North Plum
Grove Road, Schaumburg, Illinois
60195.
PUBLICATION #C840499
Co py right 1984, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved