TRMA launches crusade for 'Proper Steel Reinforcement'

S. Hiranandani honoured as 'Pioneer in Building Construction' at TRMA inaugural event

Thermex Rebar Manufacturers' Association (TRMA) officially flagged off its all-India drive for 'Proper Steel Reinforcement' in Mumbai city in the presence of a sterling group of government and non-government bodies. TRMA, a no-profit company comprising Thermex steel rebar manufacturers, has set out to uplift the quality of steel rebars used in India's civil construction by spreading awareness of desirable properties in rebars. 

At its inaugural Mumbai seminar, TRMA laid bare the myths and realities of rebars to eminent representatives from MMRDA, CIDCO, MCGM, Indian Society of Structural Engineers, India Chapter of American Concrete Institute, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers, Larsen & Toubro, Hiranandani Group, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, and several structural engineers.

Attention was drawn to 4 key points:

1. India’s continued used of improper Cold Twisted Deformed (CTD) rebars in construction activity since 1972. While such rebars were discontinued in Europe almost 40 years ago, many Indian builders continue to use these improper rebars in their current projects.
2. India’s need for high-strength and high-ductility rebars because 60% of India (Mumbai, Thane, Kutch, Delhi and many other parts of North and North-East India) lies in the high-hazard seismic zones 3, 4 and 5.
3. Myths surrounding rebars such as Earthquake Resistant Steel bars, X-pattern ribs etc. 
4. Potential savings of Rs. 8,000 crore per year if India switches from the rebars it has been using since 1972 to today's high-strength and high-ductility rebars such as Thermex Grade500 that are easily available across the country.

Lending credibility to TRMA's crusade were independent professors, engineers and auditors who drew attention to:

1. Production of spurious 'TMT' steel reinforcement bars. These impartial speakers regretted that the new Indian Standard (IS):1786-2008 gave a license for use of improper TMT quenching technology by stating that non-uniform peripheral quenching was not a ground for rejection!  
2. 70-year old buildings on Mumbai's Marine Drive continue to stand tall, while newer stories built atop the same buildings using CTD steel rebars need repair within 5-6 years, testifying to CTD's poor performance. Even so, many Indian builders continue to use CTD rebars. 
3. The need for IS to specify the same level of high ductility for rebars irrespective of the Yield Strength, as is specified in the codes of European countries. 
4. The need for IS to specify higher values of elongation and stress ratio for rebars to be used in earthquake prone areas. 
5. IS code gives importance to elongation at fracture instead of uniform elongation of rebar. This poses a grave risk to residents of buildings in high seismic hazard places. Other countries have already shifted to uniform elongation since the past 5 years - the correct option. 
6. Many expressed surprise that different chemical compositions were specified for 7 differing rebar grades in the code.

All speakers felt the IS code must be urgently revised to keep pace with global standards.

This conference will travel to many other Indian cities and towns to address the civil engineering fraternity. The conference's next instalment will be in Chennai.

The inventor, Mr. Franz Tamm, of the world-famous and much-in-demand 'Thermex Quenching & Self Tempering' technology of HSE technology graced the occasion. He was felicitated at the event for his contribution to steel reinforcement, as was Mr. Surendra Hiranandani, Managing Director and Founder of the Hiranandani Group. In keeping with its outstanding reputation for quality and innovation, the construction conglomerate was the first to adopt Thermex Grade500 rebars in its projects. Mr. Hiranandani received the 'Pioneer in Building Construction' award.

At the event, the new Thermex symbol was officially unveiled. From now onwards structural engineers can use the new symbol in all their project drawings/designs to specify use of Thermex rebars.

The patented Thermex technology enjoys front-runner status in the world for 'quenching and self-tempering' technology. The technology enables production of desired high-strength steel reinforcement bars that meet all requirements of civil construction - yield strength ranging from 500MPa or more, toughness, ductility, weldability and excellent bend properties. Ductility is key as it prevents the rebar from snapping outright and causing the immediate collapse of a building during an earthquake. High-strength, high-ductility rebars drastically reduce the risks of total building collapse - as witnessed in the Bhuj quake of 26 January 2001 - thereby increasing the opportunity for residents to escape instead of being crushed to death.

Thermex systems are installed worldwide, ranging from  Asia, Australasia, Europe, Russia, Africa, Americas, and the Indian sub-continent. In the Indian sub-continent, Thermex systems have already been commissioned in 128 steel mills, while 22 are currently under execution. Today, more than 60% of the steel reinforcement bars produced in India are Thermex rebars.

Although Thermex rebars are produced by 128 different steel plants or companies, great effort is made to ensure consistency in quality. Thermex rebars from each Thermex Licensee are subject to quarterly, third-party, quality audit to ensure that besides meeting the IS Code they also a) exhibit uniform peripheral tempered martensite and b) meet the strict Thermex standards of tensile properties and ductility as per global norms. Steel mills found to be producing rebars of lower quality risk the danger of losing their Thermex licence. Thus Indian builders can source Thermex rebars from any of the several Thermex licensees in their region, while at all times being assured the quality of the rebar will be consistent no matter from which steel plant it is sourced.

In the Indian sub-continent, Thermex systems are supplied, installed and commissioned by H&K India, the exclusive and perpetual collaborator of HSE Germany.