TUF-BAR develops and produces Fiberglass Rebar and accessories. TUF-BAR Fiberglass rebar is a stronger and lighter alternative to conventional steel rebar.
It is ¼ the weight of steel, superior in tensile strength, non-magnetic, and non-conductive rebar that has a life cycle of 100+ years. GFRP products, including TUF-BAR Fiberglass Rebar, are specified for use in roadways, bridges, dams, concrete slabs, barrier walls, marine applications, tunneling and temporary reinforcement, and power generation facilities.
TUF-BAR meets ASTM D7957 standard and is a fully approved GFRP Rebar. It is available for shipping worldwide.
Fiberglass rebar design codes, fiberglass rebar properties, fiberglass rebar vs steel rebar.
1. Fibreglass GFRP Rebar
for Concrete Reinforcement
www.tuf-bar.com
info@tuf-bar.com
5522-36 St. NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T6B 3P3
Tel: +1 (780) 462-8100
Toll: +1 (888) 997-3227
2. BACKGROUND
In 1995 the Canadian Government National
Research Council (NRC) formed a research team
(SIMTReC) to find a solution to the crumbling
infrastructure of North America.
In 1998, BP Automation developed a threaded
fibreglass rebar for mining applications.
In 2000, BP Composites was formed to supply
the mining industry threaded fibreglass
rebar rock bolts.
In 2007, NRC (SIMTReC) encouraged BP
Composites to develop fiberglass rebar (TUF-
BAR) for infrastructure applications.
3. HISTORY
1999, Developed and patented GFRP Threaded Rebar manufacturing system
1999, BP Composites (BPC) was incorporated to manufacture GFRP Rebar
2005, BPC developed non-threaded GFRP Rebar (TUF-BAR)
2008, Development of bend technology
2009, Chair Member of National Research Council SIMTReC
2009, BPC launched their 40 GPa GFRP Rebar
2012, BPC launched their 60 GPa GFRP Rebar
2013, BPC moved its operations into its new pilot plant facility
2016, BPC was renamed TUF-BAR Inc. after a rebranding marketing plan
2018, Development of large diameter Dowels
2019, Development of 60 GPA Bend technology
2020, Develop Headed Anchor Bar
4. GFRP BUILDING CODES
• CSA S806 code for “Design and Construction of Building
Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers”
• 2006 CSA S6 Highway Bridge Design Code updated for GFRP
• CSA-S807-19 Material Specifications for FRP Rebar
• ASTM D7957 Material Specification 20172006
• ACI 440.1R-15 Guide for Structural Concrete Reinforced with
FRP Bars
• ACI-440.6: Specification for Carbon and Glass Fiber-Reinforced
Polymer Bar Materials for Concrete Reinforcement
• 2009 AASHTO GFRP-1 Bridge Design Guide for GFRP-
Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks and Traffic Railings
5. CSA-S807: Mechanical Properties
Mechanical Properties
(Straight & Bent Bars)
1. Cross-Sectional Area
2. Tensile Strength
3. Modulus of Elasticity
4. Ultimate Elongation
5. Bond Strength
6. Transverse Shear Strength
7. Cold Temperature Tensile Properties
8. Flexural Modulus and Strength
TUF-BAR® Tensile Strength Testing
6. CSA-S807: Physical Properties
Physical Properties
1. Fibre Content
2. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
• Longitudinal & Transverse
3. Density
4. Void Content
5. Water Absorption
6. Cure Ratio
7. Glass Transition Temperature
TUF-BAR® Creep Rupture Strength Test
7. CSA-S807 Durability Properties
Durability Properties
1. Alkali Resistance in High pH Solution
(60C 3 months 14 pH)
• With Load
• Without Load
2. Creep
• Test Creep at 10,000 Hr
3. Creep Rupture Strength
• Extrapolate Creep failure to 1 million
Hr
• Must hold >35% UTS @ 1 million Hr
TUF-BAR® Alkaline Durability Test
8. FIRE RATINGS BRIDGE SLABS
NRC Laboratories Ottawa Canada
Fire Rating Building Codes:
• 1 Hour Bridges
• 2 Hours Parking Garage
TUF-BAR Rebar lasted over 3 Hours
during both tests for:
- 40 mm concrete cover
&
- 60 mm concrete cover
The fire test was done on full size
bridge deck slabs 228 mm thick.
Hydraulic jacks were used to exert
50% of the ultimate allowed load
on the decks during the fire test.
10. MARKET STRATEGY
• The company vision from the beginning was to become
the largest supplier of GFRP Rebar in the world by:
– develop the technology
– secure the patents
– Automate the manufacturing process for scalability
• The growth strategy is to setup Licenced Manufacturing
and Joint Ventures in other countries.
• The company rebranded BP Composited to TUF-BAR
Inc. to promote the brand licencing internationally.
11. • Rebar Sizes #3-#12, 10 mm-38 mm
• Coiled #8 bar 1000 meters continuous length
• Helical Coils for Piles
• Bent Bars, 50 GPA, 60 GPA
• complex shapes, stirrups, cages
• Lifting Anchors for Precast
• Fence Barrier Panel
• Rock Bolts
• Form Ties
• Dowels
GFRP PRODUCTS
12. CONTINUING R&D
• 2011 BP Composites continued R & D on the bent bars and patented a process
and method of making complex bends and shapes.
• 2012 patents issued for Complex Shapes and Bends
• 2012 continuing R & D produced patents were issued for Concrete Panels and
Lifting Anchors
• 2013 patents Helical Fiber Reinforced Structures
• 2017 patent Profiled Inside Bends
• 2019 60 GPA Bends
13. RESEARCH PARTNERS
• University of Sherbrooke Innovative FRP Concrete Structures
• Queens University Fire resistance Behavior
• University of Edinburgh Bond Strength of FRP at High Temp.
• University of Alberta Seismic Testing
• University of B.C. Light Weight Concrete Impact Testing
• Western University Bond Behavior
• University of Lincoln Nebraska GFRP Concrete Precast Utility Pole
14. MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
• SIMTReC National Research Council Chair Member for research in
“Innovative FRP Reinforcement for Concrete Structures”
• CSA S807 Voting Member
• FRP-RMC Voting Member
• ACI 440G Student Competition Voting member
• ACI 440H Reinforced Concrete Voting Member
• ACI 440K Material Characteristics Voting Member
• ACI 440L Durability Voting Member
• ASTM D30 GFRP Material Specification Voting Member
• CSCE
• ACMA
15. File No. Country Serial No. Filing Date Status Title
84807-132 USA 6800164 Dec 6/01 Issued – Oct 5/04 Method of Making a Fiber Reinforced Rod
84807-201 Canada 2437934 Oct 18/02 Issued – Apr 8/08 Method of Manufacturinga Threaded Fiber ReinforcedRod
84807-207 Australia 2002331512 Oct 18/02 Issued – Sept 18/07 Method for ManufacturingFiber Reinforced Rod
84807-1101 Canada 2666913 Jun 3/09 Issued – Jan 4/11 Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1102 USA 12/477188 Jun 3/09 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1104 Europe 10782849.3 May 17/10 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1106 Japan 2012-513418 May 17/10 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1123 China 201080002833 May 17/10 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1128 India 2279/CHENP/2011 May 17/10 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-11106 GCC 2010/15999 Jan 1/09 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1189 United Arab Emirates 287/2011 May 17/10 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar Formed into a Coil for Transportation
84807-1301 Canada 2731343 Feb 14/11 Issued – Oct 11/11 Fiber Reinforced Rebar with Shaped Sections
84807-1302 USA 8333857 Feb 15/11 Issued – Dec 18/12 Fiber Reinforced Rebar with Shaped Sections
84807-13106 GCC 2012/20443 Feb 4/12 Pending Rebar Shapes
84807-13CA Canada 2792362 Sept 24/12 Issued – Jan 15/13 Helical Fiber ReinforcedRebar Structure
84807-13EP Europe 11858587.4 Dec 29/11 Pending Rebar Shapes
84807-13CN China 201180069607.X Dec 29/11 Pending Rebar Shapes
84807-13IN India 6686/CHENP/2013 Aug 20/13 Pending Rebar Shapes
84807-13JP Japan 2014509964 Dec 29/11 Pending Rebar Shapes
84807-13US1 USA 13/625494 Sept 24/12 Pending Fiber Reinforced Rebar with Shaped Sections
84807-1501 Canada 2731371 Feb 14/11 Issued – Jan 10/12 Concrete Panel with Fiber Reinforced Rebar
84807-1502 USA 8511038 Feb 15/11 Issued – Aug 20/13 Concrete Panel with Fiber Reinforced Rebar
PATENT LIST
16. TRADEMARKS
Country Registration
Number
Renewal Date
Month/Day/Year
Canada 777692 09-21-2025
United States 4013021 08-16-2021
European
Community
009860412 04-01-2021
China 9557338 07-07-2022
Japan 5448451 11-04-2021
Australia 1560246 03-31-2021
Mexico 1244065 05-26-2021
Korea 40-1144193 11-20-2025
Kuwait 142524 05-15-2025
17. High Production Speeds
Automated Repeatable Process
R&D Engineering & Technical Support
Highly Scalable Production
Project Technology to New Markets
ISO Certified,
CSA Certified
Chair Members NRC SIMTReC
Voting Members CSA, ACI, ASTM
Meets ACI-440 guidelines
7 different patented processes
22 Canada, USA, International Patents
International Trademarks
High Quality Brand Recognition
20 Years Experience
Equipment Manufacturing
TUF-BAR ADVANTAGE
23. NEILS BROOK BRIDGE CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK
• Single span of 44 Meters Long x 13.5 Meters Wide
• 16,540 Meters of GFRP (Sizes 15mm, 20mm, 25mm)
• 2,200 Meters of Bends consisting of 29 different
24. POKEMOUCHE BRIDGE (NB)
• 55 000 feet of
straight bar
• 4000 bends
• 22 000 lbs. on a
single truck
25. Perry’s Creek Bridge (ONT)
• 64.0 m length
• Precast bridge
deck panels
• Approach slab,
wing walls,
barriers and deck
with GFRP
• 45,000 m TUF-BAR
26. Teed Bridge Replacement
Cumberland County Nova Scotia
PRECAST DECK SLAB CONSTRUCTION
• 68 Meters Long x 12.4 Meters Wide
• Over 45,000 Meters of GFRP in total supplied for project
• 725 Meters of Bends consisting of 4 configurations
Canada
CAN/CSA-S6-06 (2006) “Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code” Canadian Standards Association, 800p
CAN/CSA-S806-02 (R2007) “Design and Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers”
USA
ACI 440.1R-06 (2006) “Guide for the Design and Construction of Structural Concrete Reinforced with FRP Bars”
Excellent Bonding
NO DEBONDING
NO MICROCRACKING
NO VOIDS
NO RESIN MICROCRACKING
NO GLASS FIBRE DEGRADATION
NO SIGNIFICANT DELAMINATION/DEBONDING
NO GLASS TRANSITION
NO SIGN OF CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF THE RESIN
NO CHEMICAL DEGRADATION (HYDROLYSIS)
Excellent Bonding
NO DEBONDING
NO MICROCRACKING
NO VOIDS
NO RESIN MICROCRACKING
NO GLASS FIBRE DEGRADATION
NO SIGNIFICANT DELAMINATION/DEBONDING
NO GLASS TRANSITION
NO SIGN OF CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF THE RESIN
NO CHEMICAL DEGRADATION (HYDROLYSIS)
Research teams recommend: That GFRP Be allowed as the Primary Reinforcement
CAN/CSA-S6-06 “Canadian Highway Bridge Code”December 2008), 800p.
CAN/CSA-S806-02 (R2007)“Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers" Product Number 2012972 Update No. 3 was published as notification; it is now a National Standard of Canada.
"If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement.” Dr.Brahim Benmokrane Chair NSER Council of Canada
Research teams recommend: That GFRP Be allowed as the Primary Reinforcement
CAN/CSA-S6-06 “Canadian Highway Bridge Code”December 2008), 800p.
CAN/CSA-S806-02 (R2007)“Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers" Product Number 2012972 Update No. 3 was published as notification; it is now a National Standard of Canada.
"If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement.” Dr.Brahim Benmokrane Chair NSER Council of Canada
Research teams recommend: That GFRP Be allowed as the Primary Reinforcement
CAN/CSA-S6-06 “Canadian Highway Bridge Code”December 2008), 800p.
CAN/CSA-S806-02 (R2007)“Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers" Product Number 2012972 Update No. 3 was published as notification; it is now a National Standard of Canada.
"If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement.” Dr.Brahim Benmokrane Chair NSER Council of Canada
Research teams recommend: That GFRP Be allowed as the Primary Reinforcement
CAN/CSA-S6-06 “Canadian Highway Bridge Code”December 2008), 800p.
CAN/CSA-S806-02 (R2007)“Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers" Product Number 2012972 Update No. 3 was published as notification; it is now a National Standard of Canada.
"If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement.” Dr.Brahim Benmokrane Chair NSER Council of Canada
Research teams recommend: That GFRP Be allowed as the Primary Reinforcement
CAN/CSA-S6-06 “Canadian Highway Bridge Code”December 2008), 800p.
CAN/CSA-S806-02 (R2007)“Construction of Building Components with Fibre-Reinforced Polymers" Product Number 2012972 Update No. 3 was published as notification; it is now a National Standard of Canada.
"If you look at the full life cycle cost, GFRP is far more cost-effective than metallic reinforcement.” Dr.Brahim Benmokrane Chair NSER Council of Canada