Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

The standardisation and regulation of fibre-reinforced concrete, most particularly of steel fibrereinforced concrete, has been promoted steadily over recent years in Europe. In October of 2001, for instance, the Steel fibre-reinforced concrete Guideline [1] was published in Germany. At present this provides the definitive foundation for general building inspectorate approvals and for specific-case agreements. The DAfStb (German Reinforced Concrete Committee) has been occupied since the year 2000 with the preparation of a guideline on the topic of steel fibre-reinforced concrete. In Austria, the Fibre-reinforced concrete Guideline [2], which not only regulates the use of steel fibre-reinforced concrete but also that of polypropylene fibres for fire protection and the improvement of shrinkage behaviour, appeared in March 2002. An entirely new edition of this guideline is at present being prepared. In Germany, the development of steel fibre-reinforced concrete can plainly be seen; it has developed from a material that was used for components with a design purpose only into one used for load-bearing components, thanks to the large number of general building inspectorate approvals for items such as foundation floor slabs and walls, and for steel-fibre reinforced, prestressed concrete beams.