Lap lengths for reinforcing steel mesh fabric
- Valid from
- 1/02/2016
- Information provider
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Information type
- Guidelines
- Format
- Website
Description
To ensure good performance, you need to make sure sheets of reinforcing steel mesh are properly lapped to prevent a crack from forming and the slab (or other concrete member) from failing, at the lap joints.
Reinforcing steel mesh fabric is used (with and without other reinforcing steel) in concrete members such as floor slabs and walls. It resists forces and displacements induced by gravity loads, earthquake shaking, ground movement and shrinkage strains. Reinforcing steel mesh fabric is made from wires that are welded together to form sheets.
Laps need to be able to develop more than the elastic yield strength of the reinforcement, otherwise sudden failure can occur at the lap. This may be achieved either by following the Building Code supporting documents, or by an alternative solution proposal.
Scope
This guidance includes:
- Building Code supporting document methods
- Verification Method B1/VM1
- Acceptable Solution B1/AS1
- Alternative solution proposal methods