BBS

Standard Length of the Steel Bar (Bars are sold at standard Length) ⇒12m or 40'

Weight of Bar for length = 1m ⇒ 1*(D2/162) (were D = Dia of Bar)

*If length of bar is 12m with 10mm Dia then Weight of bar
=( D2/162)*12
=(102/162)*12
=7.40Kgs
Density of Steel ⇒ 7850Kg/m3

Bar Bending Member Percentage

Slab 1% of total volume of concrete

Beam 2% of of total volume of concrete

Column 2.5% of total volume of concrete

Footings 0.8% of total volume of concrete

1. Hook Length or Cutting length of Stirrups:-

length of hook = [(Curved Portion) + 4d] = [(4d+d)+4d] = 9d

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Hook Length = 9d (d is dia of the bar)

Example Calculation considering stirrup with the hooks at ends:
For clear understanding, look at the below image for calculation of the total length of stirrup
the with two hooks at ends.

Total Cutting Length of stirrup or tie = Total length of Bar + 2 x Hook Length (Two hooks)

Total Cutting Length = L+2(9d)

Therefore Total Cutting length = L+18d (d is the Diameter of a bar)

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2.Bend Length:-

(i) Bend Length calculation in Cranked Bars:-

As Shear stress is maximum at supports in Slab. To resist these stresses we usually crank the
bars at the ends of supports in the slab. The below figure depicts the bent up bar in Slab. To
calculate the bend length the below procedure is followed.

From the above figure as the bar is bent at an angle θ0 the additional length (la) is introduced.

Where, la = l1 – l2–(i)

Tanθ = D/l2 ; Sinθ = D/l1

Hence l1 = D/Sinθ and l2 = D/tanθ

Therefore from (i) :- la = D/Sinθ – D/tanθ

Giving different θ values as 300 , 450, 600 results different additional length la values as
below.

θ0 D/
Sinθ
D/
tanθ la =D/Sinθ – D/tanθ
300 D/0.500 D/0.573 0.27D
450 D/0.707 D/1.000 0.42D
600 D/0.866 D/1.732 0.58D
900 D/1 0 1D
1350 D/0.707 D/-1 2.42D
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The additional length is added to the total length of the bar if the bars are cranked at a certain
angle.

Example Calculation considering Bent up bar in Slab (Cranked bar):-

To keep the crank bar in position, an extra bar of length (L/4) is provided below the crank bar
as shown in the below figure.

Therefore, the total length of bar = L+0.42D+0.42D+(L/4)+(L/4) = 1.5L+0.84D

Remember D = Depth of Slab-Top Cover-Bottom cover

(ii) Bend Length calculation when bars are bent at corners:-

The important standards used while calculating the bend length at corners

1. 45° Bend length = 1d

2. 90° Bend length = 2d
3. 135° Bend length = 3d

Here, ‘d’ = Diameter of bar

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Example Calculation considering stirrup with the bends at corners:

From above fig, There are 3 bends which are bent at an angle of 900 and two bends are bent
at an angle of 1350
Total bend length = 3 x 900 Bend length + 2 x 1350 Bend length = 3 x 2d + 2 x 3d = 12d = 12
x 8 = 96mm

Below table represents the total length of bar calculation for different types of bar shapes.

Total
Total Bend Total Length of
Bar Shapes Length of
Length Bar
Hooks
Straight Bar

Two Hooks
= 9d + 9d No bend l + 18D
= 18d

Bent Up at one End only

One bend
Two Hooks
bent at an
= 9d + 9d l + 18D + 0.42D
angle 45
= 18d
= 0.42D
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Total
Total Bend Total Length of
Bar Shapes Length of
Length Bar
Hooks
Double Bent up Bar

Two Hooks Two bends l + 18D + 0.42D +

= 9d + 9d bent at an 0.42D
= 18d angle 450 =l+18D+0.84D

Overlap of bars

Two Hooks
= 9d + 9d No bends
= 18d

3. Overlap Length / Lap Length in Reinforcement:-

The standard length of Rebar is 12m. Suppose the height of the column is 20 m. To purvey this
requirement, two bars of length 12m and 8m are overlapped (joined) with overlap length.

Overlap Length for compression members (columns) = 50d

The Overlap Length for tension members (beams) = 40d

[d is the Diameter of the bar]

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Have You seen the below picture on your top floor of the building? We generally project
some length of Bar on the last floor i.e., 50D. It is used for further construction purpose.
(Constructing a new floor)

How to Prepare Bar Bending Schedule:

To understand clear, Here I am considering the below structural member RCC Column and
preparing a BBS for it.
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BBS of Column
Column
Structural Member
(3mx0.3mx0.3m)
1. Main Bars
Bar Marking
2. Stirrups (Longitudinal bars)
1. Main Bars = 16mm ;
Dia of Bar 2. Stirrups
(Longitudinal bars) = 8mm
1. Main bars = 4
No. of Bars used
2. Stirrups = 30
1. Main bars = 3.16m
Cutting length
2. Stirrups = 2.64m
1. Main bars = 18.4m
Total Length of bar
2. Stirrups = 43.2m
1. Main bars = 29Kgs
Weight of Steel bar
2. Stirrups =17Kgs

Calculation part of above table:

No. of Bars calculation:

Main bars = 4
To calculate the No. of longitudinal bars adopt spacing between bars is 0.1m
No. of Longitudinal bars = Length of column / Spacing = 3/0.1 = 30bars
Longitudinal bars = 30

Cutting length calculation:

Main bars = 3m + 50d + 50d = 3 + 50×0.016 + 50×0.016 = 4.6m
Stirrups:
Hook length = 9d + 9d = 18d = 18×0.08=1.44m
Bend length =3 x 900 Bend length + 2 x 1350 Bend length
= 3 x 2d + 2 x 3d = 12d = 12 x 8 =0.096m

= l +hook length + bend length = 0.3+0.3+0.3+0.3 +0.144+0.096=1.44m

Hence for Main Bars = 4.6m ; Longitudinal bars = 1.44m

Total Length of Bars:

Total length of Main bars = No. of Main bars x length of one bar
= 4 x 4.6 = 18.4m
Total length of Longitudinal bars=No. of longitudinal bars x length of one bar
=30×1.44=43.2m

Weight of steel bar:

Weight of steel bar for 1m = 1m x D2/162
Total weight of Main bars = 18.4 x 162/162 = 29Kgs
Total weight of longitudinal bars = 43.2 x 82/162 =17Kgs

Total weight of steel bar required to do BBS of above column = 46Kgs

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Important rules while preparing Bar Bending Schedule:-

 The bars used in building should be grouped together for each structural unit and
listed seperately for each floor.
 Bars are listed in numerical order.
 To identify the bar in the bundle of bars, each bar is uniquely labelled with reference
details (Length of the bar, size of the bar, Shape of the bar)
 The type of bar and shape of the bar should be in accordance with B8666.
 It is essential that the bar mark reference on the label attached to a bundle of bars
refers uniquely to a particular group or set of bars of defined length, size, shape and
type used on the job.
 The cutting length and bending length calculations are separately calculated and not
included in the detailed list. Like I have listed the Bar Bending details in a table and
calculations are done separately.

How to calculate Cutting length of Stirrups in Beam and column

Steps involved in finding the cutting length of stirrups:-

1. Look at the size of column or beam from drawings
2. Adopt Dia of the bar (generally 8mm Dia is used for stirrups)
3. Deduct the concrete cover or clear cover
4. Find the total outer length of stirrup after deducting concrete cover.
5. Add the length of the hook to the length of the stirrup
6. Deduct the length of bends
7. Use below formula to find the total cutting length of stirrups

Formula:

Cutting Length of Stirrups = Perimeter of Shape + Total hook length – Total Bend Length

Important Basic formulas:

Perimeter of Rectangle = 2 ( length + breadth)

Perimeter of Square = 4 x side length

Perimeter of circle or Circumference of Circle = 2πr = πd (r= radius, d= Diameter of Circle)

Typical Diagram of Stirrup:-

Refer the below image of the typical diagram of stirrup for clear understanding about x & y
length, bends, hooks and concrete cover.
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In the above image, there are 5 bends at 4 corners, 2 hooks and concrete cover around the
stirrup.
x = length of the stirrup in the x-direction after deducting concrete cover &
y = length of the stirrup in the y-direction after deducting concrete cover.

Important standards used in Bends & Hooks:

The below standards are most important in calculating the hook length and bend lengths at
corners while finding cutting length of stirrups.

 1 Hook length = 9d or 75mm

 45° Bend length = 1d
 90° Bend length = 2d
 135° Bend length = 3d

Remember, d = Diameter of Bar

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Cutting length for Rectangular Stirrups:-

Rectangular column or rectangular beam is the most commonly used shape of the column in
any construction. In this shape of beam or column, a rectangular stirrup is usually adopted.

1. Considering the below Rectangular column size 230mm x 450mm for calculation
purpose

2. Adopting Dia of Bar used for stirrups is 8mm

3. Deducting the concrete cover 20mm from all sides
x = 230 – 20-20 = 190mm
y = 450-20-20 = 410mm

4. Total Length of the hooks:

From fig, There are two hooks which means 9d+9d = 18d
5. Total Length of Bends:
From above fig, There are 3 bends which are bent at an angle of 900 and two bends
are bent at an angle of 1350
Total bend length = 3 x 900 Bend length + 2 x 1350 Bend length = 3 x 2d + 2 x 3d =
12d = 12 x 8 = 96mm
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Total Cutting length of Rectangular Stirrup = Perimeter of Rectangle + Total Hook length –
Total Bend Length

= 2 (x+y) +18d – 12d = 2(190 + 410) + 18 x 8 – 12 x 8 = 1248mm = 1.248m

Cutting length for Square Stirrups:-

1. Considered the column size as 450mm x 450mm

2. Adopting Dia of Bar used for stirrups is 8mm

3. Deducting the concrete cover 25mm from all sides (in square all sides are equal)
x = 450- 20-20 = 410mm
y = 450-20-20 = 410mm, Hence x = y (in square all sides are equal)

4. Total Length of the hook:

There are two hooks which mean 9d+9d = 18d
5. Total length of Bends:
There are 3 bends which are bent at an angle of 900 and one is bent at an angle of
1350.
Total bend length = 3 x 900 Bend length + 2 x 1350 Bend length = 3 x 2d + 2 x 3d =
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12d = 12 x 8 = 96mm

Total Cutting length of Square Stirrup = Perimeter of Square + Total Hook length – Total
Bend Length

= 4 x 410 +18d – 12d = 1648mm = 1.64m

Cutting Length for Circular Stirrup:

1. Considered the column dia as D = 1000mm

2. Adopting Dia of Bar used for stirrups is d =8mm
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3. Deducting the concrete cover from diameter of column

D = 1000-25-25 = 950mm

4. Circumference length of Ring = πD = 950 x 3.14 = 2983mm

5. Total Length of the hook:
There are two hooks which means 9d+9d= 18d
6. Total Length of Bends:
There are 2 bends which are bent at an angle of 1350
Total bend length = 2 x 1350 Bend length = 2 x 3d = 6d= 6 x 8 = 48mm

Total Cutting length of Circular Stirrup or Ring = Circumference of Circle + Total Hook
length – Total Bend Length
= 2983 +18d – 6d =3079mm =3.07m

Cutting Length for Triangular Stirrups:

1. Considered the Column size 400mm x 450mm

2. Adopting Dia of Bar used for stirrups is d = 8mm

3. Deducting the concrete cover 25mm from all sides
x = 400-20-20 = 360mm
y = 450-20-20 = 410mm
From Pythagorean theorem,
Hypotenuse2=(Opposite)2 + (Adjacent)2
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look at 2nd triangle in above image

H2=(x/2)2 + y2
H2=1802 + 4102 => = √(447)2 = 447mm
The total length of stirrup till now = 2 x H + 360 = 2 x 447 + 360 = 1254mm
4. Total Length of the hooks:
There are two hooks which means 9d+9d= 18d

5. Total length of Bends:

There are 4 bends which are bent at an angle of 1350
Total bend length =4 x 1350 Bend length= 4 x 3d = 12d= 12 x 8 = 96mm

Total Cutting length of Triangular Stirrup = Perimeter of Triangle + Total Hook length –
Total Bend Length

= 1254+18d – 12d = 1302mm = 1.3m

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Cutting Length for Diamond Stirrups:

1. Considered the Column size 400mm x 400mm

2. Adopting Dia of Bar used for stirrups is d = 8mm

3. Deducting the concrete cover 25mm from all sides
x = 400-20-20 = 360mm
y = 400-20-20 =360mm

From Pythagorean theorem,

Hypotenuse2=(Opposite)2 + (Adjacent)2
H2=(x/2)2 +( y/2)2
H2=1802 + 1802 => = √(254)2 = 254mm
4. The total length of stirrup = 4 x H =4 x 254 = 1016mm
5. Total Length of the hook:
There are two hooks which means 9d+9d= 18d
6. Total length of Bends:
There are 3 bends which are bent at an angle of 900 + 2 bends which are bent at an
angle of 1350
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Total bend length = 3 x 900 Bend length + 2 x 1350 Bend length= 3 x 2d + 2 x 3d =

12d = 12 x 8 = 96mm

Total Cutting length of Diamond Stirrup = Perimeter of Diamond shape + Total Hook
length – Total Bend Length
= 1016+144-96 = 1064mm = 1.064mm