The Sustainable Choice for Concrete Structures
Sustainable development is defined as: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs – by attempting to balance social, economic and environmental effects.”
Epoxy-coated bars are widely used and help achieve the goals of sustainable development in the following ways:
Recycled content
Epoxy-coated bars are made using readily available reinforcing bar products. These bars are made generally using over 97 percent of recycled materials from primarily post-consumer sources. They are coated using environmentally friendly coatings in safe operations.
Embodied energy
The embodied energy of epoxy-coated bars during manufacture is lower than that of other corrosion-resistant reinforcing steels.
Shipping: Epoxy-coated bars are made from locally sourced materials available near most major cities. Other products are produced in limited locations, requiring additional energy inefficient shipping.
Durability
Epoxy-coated bars have provided over 40 years of excellent performance and substantially increase the durability of concrete structures.
Cost
Epoxy-coated bars cost less than other corrosion-protection systems.
Black | Epoxy-coated | Low Carbon/Chrome | Galvanized | Stainless | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITEM
|
ASTM A615/ASTM A706 | ASTM A775/A934 | ASTM A1035 | ASTM A767 | ASTM A955 |
% recycled
|
>97 | >97 | >75 | >97 | >75 |
Embodied energy
|
Low | Low | High | Moderate | High |
Availability
|
Nationwide | Nationwide | Single source | Multiple sources | Few sources |
Durability
|
Low | High | Moderate | Moderate | Very High |
Cost
|
Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Very High |