Cover to steel in reinforced concrete structures and their spacers

The durability of reinforced concrete structures is strongly dependent on the concrete cover of the steel and its thickness. Failure to obtain the right cover is the most influential factor in the premature corrosion of reinforcing steel, which in turn is the main pathway to the deterioration of these structures. Research indicates that the cover is not been fully obtained in the current building projects adopting this structural solution, indicating a chronic instead of a sporadic problem. The most exposed structural elements are the slabs and the bottom of the beams. Failure to obtain the minimum cover required by the standards is often attributed to the incorrect use of spacer elements. The lack of regulatory standards from a responsible technical body for the quality certification of these product and the lack of recommendations for their use and application are also factors that contribute to this technical negligence in several countries.