Alongside our standard product range, the requested cross-section and reinforcement arrangement can be applied after assessing the project requirements and suitability for production. The amount and placement of reinforcement are determined before production, and conformity with the approved plan is checked during production.
The same size does not always mean the same product
The use of a product of the same size at different depths is assessed separately. For example, whether the same cross-section and reinforcement are adequate at depths of 2 metres and 8 metres is determined by calculation; a difference in depth alone does not mean that a different product is required.
Adaptation is carried out by considering together the amount and placement of reinforcement, the properties of the concrete and, where necessary, the wall thickness.
What Determines the Reinforcement?
Both the amount and the placement of reinforcement are determined according to the load the product will be subjected to on site. For infrastructure products, the decisive factors are as follows:
- Earth load and burial depth: the height of fill and the load transfer conditions are assessed together.
- Soil type: sand and gravel do not transfer load in the same way as clayey soils; the result differs even at the same depth.
- Traffic passing overhead: a line beneath a road is assessed differently from a line in open land.
- Excavation and fill conditions: the trench width, the bedding beneath the product and the degree of compaction of the fill feed directly into the calculation.
We can decide together how to proceed. You can send us the approved reinforcement plan and the project specification, if available, or share the ground, loading and installation details so that the required design can be assessed. Where a solution appears difficult, we can carry out the assessment together.
Not only the amount of reinforcement but also its placement within the cross-section is determined before production and checked during production. We draw up the reinforcement plan to cover amount and placement together.
Which Products Can Be Adapted?
Cross-section and reinforcement adaptation becomes relevant for product groups that are buried in service and carry loads from above:
- Precast concrete and reinforced concrete pipes: this is the group most frequently adapted; burial depth and ground conditions directly determine the reinforcement arrangement.
- Inspection manhole and property connection chamber elements: the height of the manhole or chamber and the loads passing over it are assessed together.
- Box culvert and U-channel elements: the span and the height of fill above it are decisive.
- Cover, slab and grating elements: the cross-section and reinforcement are determined according to the loading at the place of use.
If your project has a specific requirement in one of these groups, we can adapt the product to the conditions and manufacture it accordingly.