Corrosion jeopardizes the look and safety of structures and in the worst case can lead to the collapse of the entire construction. The result is generally expensive repairs. In Germany and Switzerland, steel producer Swiss Steel is offering a new material known as 1.4003, a cost-efficient solution made of concrete reinforcement steel. Known as Top12-500, the material is up to five times more resistant to corrosion due to chlorides than standard B500B steel and also withstands carbonatation.
This extends the lifetime of engineering works, such as tunnels or bridges, significantly, resulting in lower lifecycle costs. The material has been generally approved for the German market by Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik for use in construction since September 2016.
The most persuasive argument for Top12-500 is its long life when used as concrete and reinforcing steel. Top12-500 meets the requirements of the standards DIN EN 488, EN 10088, SIA 262 and SIA 2029. Top12-500 rebar is available in Switzerland in diameters of 6 to 20 mm. In Germany, the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik has approved sizes ranging from 8 to 44 mm.
