Fiberglass (GFRP) rebar in Ontario is bought through rebar fabricators and distributors, from a small group of manufacturers who qualify their bars to CSA S807, the Canadian specification for fibre-reinforced polymer reinforcement. Buying it well comes down to three things: specifying the right bar, ordering every bent shape in advance (GFRP can't be bent on site like steel), and allowing enough lead time for shapes that are made to order.
This guide covers what to put on the order, how lengths and shapes work, what paperwork to expect and how GFRP is handled once it arrives.
Who makes GFRP rebar and how it reaches your site
GFRP bar is a manufactured composite: continuous glass fibres held in a thermoset resin, pultruded into straight bars or formed into bent shapes, usually with a sand coating or deformed surface for bond. Several Canadian companies make it, and there are also US and overseas producers.
For Ontario projects there are two layers of acceptance to know about:
- CSA S807 sets the material and manufacturing requirements, qualification testing and quality control for FRP bars.
- The MTO Designated Sources for Materials (DSM) list names manufacturers accepted for Ontario transportation work. OPSS.PROV 1640, the provincial material specification for GFRP reinforcement, requires bars to come from a DSM-listed manufacturer.
Building projects follow the engineer's specification, which often references CSA S807 and sometimes the MTO list as well. Our explainer on fiberglass rebar and CSA S807 and S806 goes through what those standards do.
Most contractors don't buy directly from the mill. A fabricator or distributor takes the drawings, prepares the bar list, orders from the manufacturer and delivers to site, often alongside steel rebar for the same job.
What to specify on a GFRP order
A GFRP order needs more detail than a steel order, because there is more variation between products. Make sure your drawings, specification or purchase order cover:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bar designation and diameter | GFRP sizes are not the same as steel 10M, 15M and so on, and designations vary between manufacturers. Order to the designation on the drawings. |
| Grade | CSA S807 grades bars by modulus of elasticity. OPSS.PROV 1640 calls for Grade III on MTO work. |
| Durability class | MTO work calls for the D1 durability classification under CSA S807. |
| Fibre and resin | MTO's specification requires E-CR glass fibre in a vinyl ester or epoxy resin. |
| Bent shapes | Every hook, stirrup, U-bar and corner bar, with dimensions, from a bar list. |
| Documentation | Certificates, test reports and any quality control report the specification requires. |
If the drawings were prepared for steel and someone suggests "just use GFRP", stop. GFRP-reinforced concrete is designed under CSA S806 (buildings) or CSA S6 (bridges), and the switch needs a new design from the engineer. Our comparison of GFRP vs steel rebar explains why.
Straight lengths and bent shapes
Straight bars. GFRP is pultruded continuously and cut to length at the plant, so straight lengths are set by the manufacturer's standard offering and by what can be shipped. Long straight lengths are normal, but ask your supplier what is available in your diameter before the bar list is finalised, so laps fall where the design allows.
Bent bars. This is the biggest difference from steel. GFRP bends are made at the factory while the resin cures, and once cured the bar can't be re-bent. That means:
- Bent shapes are typically made to order rather than taken from stock.
- Bend radii are fixed by the manufacturer's tooling, so not every steel shape can be copied in GFRP. Some manufacturers publish standard shapes and recommend detailing to them.
- The strength of the bent portion is lower than the straight bar, which the designer accounts for.
- A wrong dimension can't be corrected on site. It means a new piece.
Some manufacturers allow large-radius curves to be formed in the field within published limits, for things like circular walls. That is different from bending a hook, and it should follow the manufacturer's guidance.
Cut pieces. GFRP can be cut on site with a saw or abrasive blade. Manufacturer guidance is not to shear it.
Lead times
Lead time for GFRP depends on what you are ordering:
- Common straight diameters may be available from existing stock or production.
- Bent shapes, less common diameters and large quantities may need to be produced for your order.
- Jobs needing quality control reports have to allow time for testing and documentation of the production lot.
There is no reliable general number, so the practical advice is to involve your supplier as soon as the GFRP drawings are issued. Get the bar list approved early, especially the bent shapes, and build the GFRP delivery date into the pour schedule rather than assuming it will arrive as quickly as steel. Ask us about lead times for your job when you send drawings.
Receiving and handling GFRP on site
GFRP is easy to lift but needs different habits from steel:
- Check tags and markings on arrival. OPSS.PROV 1640 requires bars to be marked with the manufacturer, fibre type, diameter, grade, modulus and production lot, and bent bars that can't be stamped to be tagged and colour-coded by sublot. Building projects may be less formal, but bars should still be traceable to their certificates.
- Store bars flat and supported, off the ground and away from damage, and follow the manufacturer's storage guidance.
- Use the right ties. Plastic-coated tie wire or non-metallic ties are common, and fully non-metallic designs call for non-metallic form ties as well.
- Support it well. GFRP is lighter and more flexible than steel, and it can float during vibration if it isn't tied down securely. Some manufacturers recommend closer chair spacing than for steel.
- No field fixes with a bender. Anything that doesn't fit goes back to the detailer.
Ordering mistakes to avoid
Most GFRP problems on site trace back to the order, not the material:
- Ordering from steel drawings. A GFRP job needs GFRP drawings. Bar sizes, spacing, laps and bend details are different.
- Treating bends like steel. A bent shape detailed to a steel bend diameter may not be possible in GFRP. Check shapes against the manufacturer's standard bends before the bar list is approved.
- Leaving out spares where shapes are critical. Because a bent piece can't be fixed on site, talk to your supplier about how a damaged or mis-sized piece would be replaced and how long that would take.
- Mixing up products. On a job with both steel and GFRP, keep bundles separated and clearly tagged so the wrong bar doesn't end up in the wrong element.
- Late paperwork. If the specification needs certificates or quality control reports, ask for them with the order, not after the pour.
A simple ordering checklist
Before you place a GFRP order, have these ready:
- GFRP design drawings and the project specification.
- A bar list with every straight length and bent shape, checked against the drawings.
- The grade, durability class and documentation the specification requires.
- Delivery address, access and the pour schedule, including phases.
- Whether steel rebar is needed for other parts of the same job, so both can be coordinated.
For how GFRP pricing is built, see our guide to GFRP rebar price in Canada. If the same project also needs steel bar, our guide to buying rebar in Ontario covers that side.
Order GFRP with your steel
We supply GFRP rebar along with straight and fabricated steel bar, detailed from your drawings and delivered across the GTA and Ontario. Send your drawings or bar list for a free take-off and quote, and ask about lead times for your shapes and diameters. See our rebar products for the full range.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy fiberglass rebar in Ontario?
GFRP is made by a handful of specialist manufacturers and supplied through rebar fabricators and distributors. A fabricator that also handles steel can detail, order and deliver GFRP alongside the rest of your reinforcing.
Is GFRP rebar made in Canada?
Yes. Several Canadian manufacturers produce GFRP bars qualified to CSA S807, and Ontario's Ministry of Transportation keeps a list of accepted manufacturers for provincial work.
Can GFRP rebar be bent on site?
Not in the normal sense. GFRP uses a thermoset resin, so hooks, stirrups and other bent shapes are made at the factory. Manufacturers allow only gentle large-radius curving in the field, within their published limits.
What are the disadvantages of GFRP rebar?
It is less stiff than steel, cannot be bent on site, does not yield before it breaks, and needs its own design under CSA S806 or S6. Bent shapes also need more lead time than steel.
How is GFRP rebar cut?
With a fine-toothed saw, grinder or abrasive or diamond blade. Manufacturers say not to shear it the way steel bar is sheared.
