Epoxy-coated rebar in Ontario is bought through rebar fabricators and distributors, not off the shelf. The bar is coated at specialist fusion-bonded epoxy coating plants, either straight (to ASTM A775) or after bending (to ASTM A934), and a fabricator or distributor details, orders and delivers it to your bar list. Because coating is an extra step with its own plant schedule, the best way to buy it is to send your drawings early and have coated and uncoated items quoted and scheduled separately.
This guide explains how the supply chain works, what to put on the order, how to judge a supplier and what to check when the bar arrives.
How epoxy-coated rebar reaches your site
Epoxy-coated bar passes through more hands than plain bar:
- The mill rolls ordinary deformed rebar to CSA G30.18, usually Grade 400W.
- The coating plant blast-cleans the bar, heats it and applies epoxy powder that melts and cures into a continuous film.
- The fabricator cuts and bends the bar to your bar list, then tags and bundles it.
- Delivery to site, with handling rules that are stricter than for plain bar.
The order of steps 2 and 3 depends on the specification:
| Route | Standard | How it works | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coat, then fabricate | ASTM A775/A775M | Straight bars are coated, then cut and bent | Cut ends and any bend damage are patched with repair epoxy |
| Fabricate, then coat | ASTM A934/A934M | Bars are cut and bent first, then coated as finished shapes | Shapes are fully coated, but the bar list must be final before coating |
Your specification may name one or allow either. If it is silent, ask the engineer before ordering, because the two routes lead to different scheduling and inspection. Our guide on when epoxy-coated rebar is required covers the specs and where coated bar is used.
Who sells it
You will meet three kinds of seller:
| Seller | What they offer | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Rebar fabricator | Detailing, coated and plain bar cut and bent to your bar list, tagged and delivered | Most projects, especially with bent shapes and mixed coated and plain bar |
| Distributor or supply yard | Straight coated bar and accessories, sometimes cut to length | Small quantities of straight bar |
| Coating plant | Coating service, usually for fabricators and large orders | Fabricators, precast plants and large infrastructure jobs |
For most contractors, one fabricator handling both the coated and the plain bar on a job is simplest. It keeps the bar list, the laps and the deliveries under one set of drawings.
Home centres and general building supply stores rarely carry epoxy-coated rebar. If you only need a few pieces for a repair, a distributor may sell straight lengths, but you still need repair epoxy for every cut end.
What to put on the order
An epoxy-coated order needs more information than plain bar. Make sure the order, drawings or specification cover:
- Bar grade and size, for example 400W to CSA G30.18.
- Coating standard: ASTM A775 or ASTM A934, and any project requirements beyond the ASTM minimums.
- Which elements are coated. Many jobs coat only the top mat of a deck, or only certain members. The bar list should keep coated and plain marks separate.
- Lap and development lengths for coated bar. Coating increases laps under CSA A23.3, so the bar list must use the coated values. See epoxy-coated rebar lap length.
- Accessories: coated or non-metallic chairs and bar supports, and coated tie wire.
- Repair material: the patching epoxy approved by the coating manufacturer, in enough quantity for cut ends and site damage.
- Documentation: mill test certificates for the steel and coating certificates or test reports as the specification requires.
Choosing a supplier
A few questions sort out who can actually deliver what your specification needs:
- Where is the bar coated, and is the plant certified? The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) runs a voluntary certification program for fusion-bonded epoxy coating plants, covering quality control, handling and storage, surface preparation, curing, holiday testing, coating thickness and adhesion, with third-party inspections at least once a year. CRSI publishes a roster of certified plants. Some transportation agencies require certified plants, and project specifications may too.
- Which route do they use, A775 or A934, and does it match the specification?
- How do they protect the coating in their shop and on the truck? Padded slings, spreader bars, timber dunnage and separation between bundles are signs of a supplier that handles coated bar regularly.
- Can they supply the plain bar on the same job? Coordinating both from one bar list reduces mistakes at the interface between coated and plain elements.
- What paperwork comes with the bar? Ask before ordering, not after the pour.
What drives lead time
There is no general lead time for epoxy-coated rebar. It depends on:
- The coating plant's schedule, which is outside the fabricator's control.
- The route. Fabricate-then-coat (A934) needs a final bar list before coating can start, so late changes are more disruptive.
- Quantity and sizes. Large orders or uncommon sizes may need their own coating run.
- Approvals. Bar lists for coated bar are usually reviewed carefully because mistakes are harder to fix.
The practical advice is to get coated bar lists approved first and build the coated delivery into the pour schedule rather than assuming it will arrive as quickly as plain bar. Ask your supplier for a lead time when you send drawings.
Receiving and checking coated bar
Damage in shipping and handling is the main reason epoxy-coated bar underperforms. When it arrives:
- Look at the coating for scrapes, cracks at bends and bare spots. The ASTM specifications limit how much damaged and repaired area a bar can have.
- Check cut ends are patched, for A775 bar that was cut after coating.
- Unload with nylon or padded slings and a spreader bar, never chains, and do not drag bundles.
- Store off the ground on timber, and cover bundles with an opaque material if they will sit outside for a long time, because sunlight degrades the coating.
- Keep repair epoxy on site so damage found during placing can be patched before the pour.
Our when epoxy-coated rebar is required guide has the full list of handling practices.
Before you buy: is epoxy the right bar?
Epoxy is one of several corrosion-protection options. Ontario's highway work has largely moved to stainless steel and GFRP in the most severe exposures, and some owners' specifications exclude epoxy-coated bar unless it is specifically called for. If you are still choosing, compare the options in types of rebar in Canada and galvanized vs epoxy-coated rebar, and see epoxy-coated rebar cost for what drives price. Any switch from what the drawings show needs the engineer's approval.
Getting a quote for coated bar
We supply straight and fabricated steel rebar and GFRP bar, detailed from your drawings and delivered across the GTA and Ontario. We don't supply epoxy-coated bar. If your designer allows black steel or GFRP instead, contact us with the drawings and specification, or request a quote for the rebar package. See our rebar products for what we supply.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy epoxy-coated rebar?
Through rebar fabricators and distributors, who buy coated bar from fusion-bonded epoxy coating plants or send fabricated bar to be coated. Home centres rarely stock it. For a project, send the drawings or bar list so the supplier can quote coated and uncoated items separately.
Who makes epoxy-coated rebar?
Specialist coating applicator plants clean, heat and coat ordinary steel rebar with fusion-bonded epoxy powder. The steel itself still comes from a rebar mill, usually Grade 400W to CSA G30.18 on Canadian work.
What is fusion-bonded epoxy-coated rebar?
It is rebar coated by electrostatically applying epoxy powder to heated bar. The powder melts and cures into a continuous film that bonds to the steel. ASTM A775 covers bar coated straight and ASTM A934 covers bar fabricated before coating.
Is there a certification for epoxy coating plants?
Yes. The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) runs a voluntary certification program for fusion-bonded epoxy coating plants, with at least annual third-party inspections. Some transportation agencies require it, and project specifications may too.
