Types of starter bar
There are several different types of starter bar available to meet the needs of all kinds of construction projects. Bars can be straight or L-shaped, and can have the safety hook at one end that we described earlier. They can also be obtained in a range of sizes, or can be custom-made to specific engineering requirements.
There are also a number of more complex starter bar systems, and these are used to deliver the same structural reinforcement in difficult or unusual situations. Where a slab or wall is to be tied to a pre-existing structure, for example, holes can be drilled into the existing concrete, with starter bars then fixed in place using specialist resins. These resins are usually applied into the drilled holes using an applicator gun, and the starter bar is then pushed into the hole using a gentle screwing motion to ensure maximum contact with the resin.
Another option for starter bars is to use screwed bars. With these, the bar that is embedded in concrete has a female screw fixing, or coupler, on one end. When the concrete is poured, this end remains accessible, and once the concrete is poured and any formers have been removed, the ‘sticking out’ bar is screwed firmly into position. This bar has a ‘male’ coupler fitting on one end, to make the connection. These ‘male’ bars are known as continuation bars. For both male and female starter bars, the area where the screw fixing is positioned is thickened, so that there is no loss of structural strength in the bar at that point.
Another starter bar system uses small metal formers that are positioned in the concrete base to create an anchor point - special starter bars then click or screw into these formers, ready for pouring the next concrete element.