Approved by
😲 #3 PINKBAR® replaces #4 steel rebar in residential applications per ICC-EER 4593
🤯 PINKBAR® no longer requires engineer approval per ICC-EER 4593 for residential applications
FIBERGLAS™ REBAR
International
Building Code (ICC)
😲 #3 PINKBAR® replaces #4 steel rebar in residential applications per ICC-EER 4593
🤯 PINKBAR® no longer requires engineer approval per ICC-EER 4593 for residential applications
HOW WE BUILD:
STRONGER. FASTER.
MORE DURABLE.
Leave the rust and weight of traditional steel behind for a lighter weight, stronger, rustproof concrete reinforcement.
Designed with DOTs (Department of Transportation), engineers and contractors in mind, Fiberglas™ Rebar by Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions is setting a new bar in concrete reinforcement.
This is HOW WE BUILD NOW™
PINKBAR® Fiberglas™ Rebar vs. Steel
Fiberglass Rebar – also known as FRP, GFRP or Composite Rebar – is a more durable, proven and successful reinforcing alternative to steel.
2X the tensile strength compared to steel
Up to 7x lighter in concrete flatwork applications
4x lighter compared to the same size diameter
Fiberglass rebar will never rust, enabling more durable structures
FEATURED PRODUCTS
Fiberglass rebar for residential and commercial applications, including parking lots, sidewalks, patios, pool decks, driveways and more.
Fiberglass rebar for residential, commercial and structural applications, including parking lots, driveways, pool decks, bridge decks, barriers, seawalls, balconies, and more.
PINKBAR® FIBERGLAS™ REBAR | PINKBAR®+ FIBERGLAS™ REBAR |
Bar sizes: | Bar sizes: |
GLAS-POWERED™ by | GLAS-POWERED™ by |
✔ Code-approved (Learn more) | ✔ Code-approved (Learn more) |
Sand coat finish | PINK, scratch-free handling finish |
Up to 7x lighter1 4x lighter2 | Up to 7x lighter1 4x lighter2 |
2x stronger in tensile strength | 2x stronger in tensile strength |
Rustproof, more durable | Rustproof, more durable |
Heat-free handling | Heat-free, smooth handling |
Non-conductive | Non-conductive |
Mean tensile modulus | Mean tensile modulus |
Productivity Challenge
What would you do with 30% more time?
CODE-APPROVED
Thought to enable the increased productivity and safety your job-site needs. Engineered to meet the codes and standards you trust.
PINKBAR® Fiberglas™ Rebar is a proven stronger, lighter, and more durable alternative to traditional concrete reinforcement materials.
PINKBAR® Fiberglas™ Rebar can be used in residential concrete, including footings and foundation walls, as prescribed in ACI 332 using ACI 440 design methodology
The city of Austin, TX has approved PINKBAR® Fiberglas™ Rebar for use in riprap, driveways, sidewalks, and other residential and commercial applications
¹Owens Corning PINKBAR®+ Fiberglas™ Rebar currently holds ICC-ES approval as an ASTM D7957 compliant material. PINKBAR® Fiberglas™ Rebar meets the same requirements as PINKBAR®+ as an ASTM D7957 compliant material with similar properties.
Savings Estimator
Estimate how much rebar you will need and how much you could save with PINKBAR® Fiberglas™ Rebar on weight, trips from truck to job site, time, labor and material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fiberglas™ Rebar is a reinforcing material intended to be used in concrete to replace traditional steel type reinforcement. Made from fiberglass rovings to give the material it’s strength, and a vinyl ester resin to ensure its long life, Fiberglas™ Rebar has been used for over 20 years with excellent results.
The term GFRP/FRP stands for Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer and is the same material as Fiberglas™ Rebar.
One of the largest contributors to our failing infrastructure is corrosion of reinforcement in concrete. This results in shortened lifespans for concrete, higher repair costs, and can present safety issues.
Fiberglas™ Rebar is a completely non-metallic material that removes rust from the equation. With nothing to corrode, Fiberglas™ Rebar offers a longer lasting solution that is price competitive with steel. It is also electro and magnetically inert, making it ideal for sensitive areas.
Fiberglass should be used in environments where corrosion is an issue and other rust-inhibiting measures are being considered. Fiberglas™ Rebar is also ideal in areas where no metal is allowed to be present for various reasons. Some examples of prime candidates for Fiberglas™ Rebar:
Bridge decks near marine environments or exposed to de-icing salts
Seawalls
Ports & Harbors
MRI Rooms
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Historical Rehabilitation
And Many More…
Fiberglas™ Rebar tends to cost about the same as epoxy coated rebar, but does not have the same price volatility as steel. It is significantly cheaper than Stainless Steel, MMFX, and other steel reinforcing options.
Fiberglas™ Rebar tends to be about double that of steel in tension. However, it does have a lower modulus of elasticity which can drive different design requirements.
Yes, Fiberglas™ Rebar absolutely can and is being used to replace steel in many structures of all shapes and sizes. However, this does not mean it can or should be used as a direct replacement. Oftentimes, depending on the demands, you may need a bit more or less Fiberglas™ Rebar. Typically, our designed are dictated by serviceability and crack widths.
To help with the implementation of Fiberglas™ Rebar, Owens Corning has engineers on staff to help ensure a safe and efficient design and layout for your project. Some of the more important tools that we and others use in making you project a success include:
ASTM D7957 – State of the art material specification
ACI 440.1R – Reinforced Concrete design guide for Fiberglas™ Rebar
ACI 440.5R – Specifications for construction with FRP bars
CSA S806 – Canadian design guide for Fiberglas™ Rebar
AASHTO LFRP Bridge Design Guide Specification for GFRP Reinforced Concrete Bridge(s)
At 1/4th the weight of steel, the weight of Fiberglas™ Rebar is a big positive! Some ways in which this can work to your advantage:
Speed of placement. Lighter weight results in more productivity, which could cut your install time by over 50% depending on the complexity.
Safety. Carrying lighter loads can reduce injuries and result in less fatigue, and it poses less of a threat if dropped.
Shipping costs are likely to be a source of savings on some projects due to being able to ship more material on every truck.
The lighter weight will result in a lighter concrete structure, which may be beneficial in some applications.
Tying the Material:
Fiberglas™ Rebar can be tied similar to steel bars, and a plastic-coated tie wire is most common. In applications where no metal is allowed, nylon zip ties are an option.
Lap Splices:
Lap splices are done in the same manner as steel and can be tied to steel as well. The length required may vary, so it is best to confirm the correct value prior to placement.
Handling:
Although it is a durable material, some care should be taken just as it should with any material. Handle as you would epoxy coated rebar and avoid dragging the material or physically damaging it.
Cutting:
Fiberglas™ Rebar is a very easy to cut material and can be cut with a variety of different saws. The recommendation would be to use a circular saw with a diamond tipped blade, but reciprocating saws with a blade for cutting metal will work for individual bars. Do NOT attempt to shear or torch the bar, as this will damage it and render it unusable.
All bends must be made in the factory and field bending is NOT allowed. We can work directly with you to make sure you get exactly what you need. We can manufacture the majority of your standard steel shapes as drawn. In some cases, we may break a larger, more complex shape down into multiple smaller pieces to meet your needs.
Straight bar is available ranging from #2 to #13 bar, while bent bar is available from #2 to #8
Our Fiberglas™ Rebar is acquired in a similar fashion to how you would buy your steel. We can take your bar list or drawings and convert it into a quote for you, and upon receipt of a purchase order we would begin fabrication. If requested, we can come up with our own bar list and will also help to optimize your project.
While we do have some distributors, we do most of our work direct. And if we do have a distributor in your region, we will gladly point you in their direction. If you have a specific material supplier you prefer to work through, we would gladly work directly with them to your benefit.
If you wish to purchase all of your rebar of any type from one source, we often work with and maintain a good working relationship with steel suppliers and manufacturers. As with distributors, we would gladly work with them to your benefit.
Unlike with steel, we do NOT sell on a price per pound basis. Rather, we sell on a linear foot basis.
Depending on the size of your project, the lead time may vary. In general, we can ship a truckload of material per week if it needs to be manufactured from scratch. Remember, at 1/4th the weight of steel, one truckload of Fiberglas™ Rebar would be equivalent in footage to four truckloads of steel!
From orders that pull from stock, lead times tend to be about business days to ship.
The average lead time on a standard project with some bends is 3-5 days.
We stock #2-#8 bar in 20’ lengths and have a minimal amount of 40’ bars available as well.
We also maintain stock on standard 90 degree bent shapes for #3, #4, #5, and #6 bar.
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