An epoxy-coated rebar submittal is the package of documents that shows the engineer the coated bar you plan to supply meets the project specification. It usually includes the bar lists and placing drawings with coated bars identified, mill test reports for the steel, the coater's certification of compliance with ASTM A775 or A934, product data sheets for the epoxy powder and the patching material, evidence of coating plant certification where the specification asks for it, and details of the coated or non-metallic accessories. Exactly what is required comes from the specification section for reinforcing steel, so start there.
This guide walks through each piece, what the reviewer looks for, and where submittals most often get sent back. It covers paperwork. For whether epoxy is needed at all, see when epoxy-coated rebar is required.
What the submittal is for
Coated bar is not a stock item that can be checked on arrival with a tape measure. Its performance depends on the steel, the coating material, how the coating was applied and how the bar is handled afterwards. The submittal lets the engineer confirm each link in that chain before the bar is coated and shipped:
- the steel meets CSA G30.18 in the specified grade
- the coating material is one that qualifies under the specified ASTM standard
- the coating process is controlled, and the plant meets any certification requirement
- the coated bars are detailed with the right laps and hook dimensions for coated bar
- the repair and handling approach will keep the coating intact through to the pour
The Reinforcing Steel Institute of Canada (RSIC) Manual of Standard Practice lists the standards that govern this: ASTM A775/A775M and D3963/D3963M, plus local, municipal and provincial specifications such as the Ontario Provincial Standard Specifications (OPSS) on MTO work. These cover coating integrity, thickness, adhesion, flexibility and the quality control behind them.
What goes in an epoxy-coated rebar submittal
Specifications vary, but most packages are built from these items:
| Document | What it shows | Who usually provides it |
|---|---|---|
| Bar lists and placing drawings | Which marks are coated, bar sizes, shapes, lap and hook dimensions for coated bar | Rebar detailer or fabricator |
| Mill test reports | Steel grade to CSA G30.18, heat numbers, chemistry and mechanical test results | Steel mill, through the supplier |
| Certificate of compliance for the coating | The coated bar meets ASTM A775 or A934 and any project additions | Coating applicator |
| Plant certification | Proof the coating plant holds the certification the specification calls for, such as CRSI | Coating applicator |
| Epoxy powder product data sheet | The coating product, its qualification to the ASTM standard, application and storage information | Coating manufacturer |
| Patching material data sheet | The repair epoxy, its compatibility with the coating, and how to apply it | Coating or patch manufacturer |
| Accessories data | Coated tie wire and coated, plastic or other non-metallic chairs and supports | Accessory supplier |
| Handling and placing procedure | How bar is lifted, stored, protected and repaired | Supplier and placing contractor |
Some owners add their own items, such as test reports for specific coating properties or sampling for independent testing. MTO, municipalities and parking structure owners often have requirements beyond the ASTM minimums, so read the contract documents closely.
Product data sheets: what reviewers look for
"Epoxy coated rebar data sheet" can mean several different documents. The ones that matter are for the specific products going on your bar:
Epoxy powder data sheet. Issued by the powder manufacturer. The reviewer is checking that the coating material is a product intended for reinforcing bar and that it qualifies under the ASTM specification named in the project spec (A775 or A934). A data sheet for a pipe coating or a general-purpose epoxy will not pass.
Patching material data sheet. Every cut end and every damaged spot on coated bar has to be repaired with a patching material that is compatible with the coating. The RSIC manual calls for patching all visible damage with an approved compound, following the patch manufacturer's instructions. The reviewer wants to see the patch is approved for the powder being used and that the application instructions (surface preparation, mixing, cure) are on file for the site crew.
Accessory data. RSIC practice is that tie wire, chairs and bar supports used with epoxy-coated bar are non-metallic or carry an acceptable protective coating. A data sheet showing coated tie wire and plastic or coated chairs closes off a common review comment.
A generic PDF downloaded from the internet is not a substitute. Submit the sheets for the actual powder, patch and accessories the coater and placer will use, and keep them consistent with the certificates.
Mill certificates, coating certificates and plant certification
Mill test reports. Every shipment of rebar comes from the mill with a test report listing the bar size, heat number, chemistry and mechanical properties, and the standard the steel was certified to (CSA G30.18). For coated bar, the reviewer wants to see the steel under the coating meets the specified grade, usually 400W.
Coating certification. The coating applicator certifies that the coated bar meets the ASTM specification. RSIC describes the quality control behind that: inspecting the steel surface, monitoring primer where used, monitoring steel temperature, keeping production samples of the epoxy, electronic holiday detection (testing for pinholes), monitoring coating thickness, bend tests for flexibility, adhesion testing, and documenting the results.
Plant certification. The Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) runs a voluntary certification program for epoxy coating plants. It covers quality control procedures, handling and storage, surface preparation, curing, holiday testing, thickness measurement and adhesion testing, with independent third-party inspections at least once a year. The RSIC manual recognizes the CRSI program as an effective tool for keeping quality high. CRSI publishes a roster of certified plants, so a reviewer can check the plant named in your submittal. Our guide to buying epoxy-coated rebar in Ontario covers choosing a supplier with that in mind.
Keep traceability in mind. The heat numbers on the mill reports, the plant on the coating certificate and the tags on the delivered bundles should all line up.
Why epoxy submittals get sent back
The same handful of comments come up again and again:
- Laps detailed for uncoated bar. CSA A23.3 lengthens development and lap lengths for epoxy-coated bar, by a factor of 1.2 or 1.5 depending on cover and spacing. A bar list using black-bar laps will be rejected. See epoxy-coated rebar lap length.
- Hook dimensions not adjusted. The RSIC manual gives separate, larger minimum hook dimensions and bend diameters for epoxy-coated bar.
- Wrong ASTM route. The specification calls for A934 (fabricate, then coat) and the submittal shows A775 (coat, then fabricate), or the other way around.
- Coated and uncoated marks mixed up. Many jobs coat only certain elements, such as a top mat. The bar list has to make coated marks unmistakable.
- Generic data sheets. Product data that does not match the actual powder or patch.
- No accessories information. Bare steel chairs or plain tie wire on coated bar.
- Missing plant certification where the specification requires it.
Timing the submittal
Epoxy-coated bar has a longer chain than plain bar: the steel has to be cut and bent (for A934) or straight (for A775), shipped to a coating plant, coated, inspected and shipped again. Fabrication and coating generally wait for an approved bar list, so a late or rejected submittal pushes back everything downstream. Submit early, answer review comments quickly, and confirm the approved lap lengths before anything goes to the coater.
On site, the approved submittal becomes the checklist: bar handled with nylon or padded slings, stored off the ground and covered against sunlight, cut with a saw or shear and never a torch, and every cut end and damaged spot patched before the pour. RSIC also limits the amount of repaired damage, setting it at less than two percent of the surface area per metre of each coated bar.
Getting coated bar detailed and supplied
A clean submittal starts with a clean bar list: coated marks separated from plain ones, laps and hooks worked out for coated bar, and quantities that match the drawings.
We detail and fabricate reinforcing steel from your structural drawings and supply steel and GFRP bar across the GTA and Ontario. We don't supply epoxy-coated bar, so the coated-bar documentation comes from the coated-bar supplier. Contact us about your project, or see our rebar products.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in an epoxy-coated rebar submittal?
Typically the bar lists and placing drawings with coated bars identified, mill test reports for the steel, the coater's certification that the bar meets ASTM A775 or A934, evidence of coating plant certification if specified, product data for the epoxy powder and the patching material, and data on coated or non-metallic accessories.
Where do I get an epoxy-coated rebar data sheet?
From the coating applicator, who gets the powder and patching data sheets from the coating manufacturer. Your rebar supplier or fabricator should be able to obtain them. Use the sheets for the products actually going on your bar, not a generic download.
Does epoxy-coated rebar need a certified coating plant?
Only if the specification or owner requires it, but many do. CRSI runs a voluntary epoxy coating plant certification program with third-party inspections at least once a year and publishes a roster of certified plants.
What ASTM standards apply to epoxy-coated rebar?
ASTM A775/A775M for bar coated straight and fabricated afterwards, ASTM A934/A934M for bar fabricated first and then coated, and ASTM D3963/D3963M for fabrication and job site handling. The steel bar itself is CSA G30.18 on Canadian jobs.
