KENYA STANDARD      KS 574:2017  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steel fabric for reinforcement of concrete  
— Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© KEBS 201 7 FifthEdition 201 7 
 
 
  KS 574 :2017 
 
ii  KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved  TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRES ENTATION  
 
The following  organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
 
1. Architectural association of Kenya  
2. Blue Nile group of companies   
3. Brollo Kenya Limited  
4. Consumer Information Network  
5. Dedan Kimathi University Of Technology \ 
6. Devki Steel Mill Ltd  
7. Doshi & co(H) Ltd  
8. Howard Humphreys  
9. Insteel Limited  
10. Kenya Association of manufacturers  
11. Kenya Institute of Research and development   
12. Kenya National Accreditation Services     
13. Nails and Steel Products  
14. National Housing Corporation  
15. Palak international limited  
16. Steel Makers Ltd  
17. Tononoka Steels  
18. University of Nairobi  
19. Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
 
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  Suggestions 
for improvements to published sta ndards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 201 7 
 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 12 of 2001  of the Laws of Kenya, copyr ight 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 26 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bure au of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in  writing 
from the Managing Director . 
 
  KENYA STANDARD              KS 574 :2017 
KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved    iii  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steel fabric for reinforcement of concrete  
— Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS)  
 
Head Office: P.O. Box 549 74, Nairobi -00200, Tel.: (+254 020) 605490, 602350, Fax:  (+254 020)  604031  
E-Mail: info@kebs.org, Web:http://www.kebs.org  
 
Coast Region     Lake Region      Rift Valley Region  
P.O. Box 99376, Mombasa -80100   P.O. Box 2949, Kisumu -40100        P.O. Box 2138, Nakuru -20100  
Tel.: (+254  041) 229563, 230939/40  Tel.: (+254 057) 23549, 22396        Tel.: (+254 051) 210553, 210555  
Fax: (+254  041) 229448    Fax: (+254 057) 21814  
 
  KS 574 :2017 
 
iv  KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved   
Foreword  
 
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Steel Technical Committee under the guidance of the Standards 
Projects Committee and it is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of Standards.  
 
Steel fabric is widely used in the country in the reinforcement of concrete, and there exists a great potential 
for its development and use. This standard lays down the specifications of such fabrics and emphasis was 
laid on the metrication of the meshes.  
 
This fourth edition of KS 574 has incorporated more reference meshes and width measurements to broaden 
its scope. Additional illustrations were also included dur ing the revision of this s tandard.  
 
This fourth edition of KS 574:2015 cancels and replaces the third edition of KS 574:2014, Steel fabric for 
reinforcement of concrete — Specification.   
 
During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following documents:  
   
BS 4483: 2005: Specification for steel fabric for the reinforcement of  concrete.   
 
IS 1566: 1967 Hard drawn steel wire fabric for concrete reinforcement.  
 
MS 145 :2001 , Specification for steel welded fabric for the reinforcement of concrete (second 
revision).  
 
KS 574:2014, Steel fabric for reinforcement of concrete — Specification.   
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived  from these sources.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
KENYA STANDARD                  KS 574 :2017 
 
 
KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved    1  
Steel fabric for reinforcement of concrete — Specification  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
This Kenya Standard covers the requirements for hard -drawn steel wire fabric for the reinforcement of 
concrete consisting of hard -drawn wire with cross wires welded to them.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following documents, in whole or in part, are norma tively refe renced in this document and are 
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated  references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
KS 105, Specifica tion for hard drawn steel wire for reinforcement of concrete   
  
 
3 Definitions  
 
3.1  
dimensions  
dimensions of sections shall be in accordance with the tables of this standard  
 
3.2  
welded fabric  
arrangement  of longitudinal and transverse bars of the same or different nominal diameter and length that 
are substantially perpendicular to each other and welded together at all points of intersection  
 
3.3  
longitudinal bar  
reinforcing  steel in the manufacturing direction of the welded fabric  
 
3.4   
transverse bar  
reinforcing steel perpendicular to the manufacturing direction of the welded fabric  
 
3.5  
length of a welded fabric sheet  
longest side of  a sheet of welded fabric, irrespective o f the manufacturing direction  
 
3.6  
width of a welded fabric sheet  
shortest side of a sheet of welded fabric, irrespective of the manufacturing direction  
 
3.7  
elongation  
the increase in length of  a tensile test piece under stress  
 
3.8  
mesh size  
the pitch or centre to centre distance of line and  cross wires e.g. 100 mm x 200 mm all be taken to mean 
rods or bars  
  
2  KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved  4 Types  
 
Hard -drawn steel wire fabric shall be of the following four types:  
 
i)  square mesh;  
 
ii)  structural  fabric;    
 
iii)  long mesh ;  
 
iv)  wrapping fabric .  
 
5 Designations and description for ordering purposes  
 
When ordering fabric to this standard, the purchaser shall give the following requirements in the same 
sequence:  
 
i) the reference number of fabric; and  
 
ii)  the number and size of sheets or rolls.   
 
6 Quality of steel  
 
All fabric shall be manufactured from hard -drawn steel wire in accordance with KS 02 -105.  
 
7 Manufacture and design  
 
7.1  Structure  
 
The fabric shall be formed by spacing the main and the cross wires, which shall be fixed at points of inter -
section by fusion electric welding or interweaving, so as to be sufficiently stable to withstand normal handling 
while in transit and during concret ing, without displacement.   
 
7.2  Joints  
 
Butt joints in the wires of the fabric shall be electrically welded and the joints shall be staggered.  
 
8 Condition of finished fabric  
 
All fabric reinforcement shall be delivered free from loose mill scale, lo ose rust, oil and grease and other 
extraneous matter likely to affect the bond with concrete adversely. The sheet or roll shall not contain any 
broken wires, and the number of broken cross -welded joints shall not exceed 4 % of the total number of 
cross wel ded joints, nor exceed half the cross -welded joint along any one wire  
 
9 Dimensions and mass  
 
9.1 Dimensions  
 
The preferred mesh sizes, wire sizes and mass per square metre shall be as given in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5.  
   
9.2 Calculation of mass  
 
The nominal mass of fabric shall be calculated on the basis that a metre length of steel weighs 0.00785 
kg/mm2..  
 
10 Tolerances  
 
10.1 Mesh size  
 KS 574 :2015  
 
KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved    3 The number of spaces between the external wires in sheet or roll shall be determined by the nominal pitch. 
The centre distance between two adjacent wires shall not vary by more than 5 % or 10mm whichever is 
lower from the nominal pitch. All sides of sheets  or rolls shall have overhang on the meshes equal to one half 
the pitch.  
 
10.2 Deviations  
 
When the fabric is to be cut to specified dimensions, the tolerance shall be as specified in Table 1.  
 
10.3 Mass of fabric  
 
The tolerance on the mass of the fabr ic shall be + 6 % and – 4 %. 
 
10.4 Drawn wire     
 
The tolerance on the nominal di ameter shall be +2 per cent and  –1.0 per cent for all sizes.  
 
10.5 Standard mesh sizes  
 
The standard mesh sizes, wire sizes and mass per square metre  shall be as specified in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 
5. 
 
Table 1 — Deviations on dimensions of sheet and roll  
 
Dimensions  
 Deviations  
Up to and including 5 m  25 mm under or over the specified dimension.  
Over 5 m  0.5 % under or over the specified dimension  
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
4  KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved   
 
 
 
Figure  1 — Typical square mesh fabric  
 
 
 
Table 2 — Typical square mesh fabric  
 
Mesh ref  Mesh size 
(Nominal  
pitch of wires)  
(mm ) Wire sizes  
(mm)  Cross -sectional 
area 
per meter width  
(mm2) Nominal  
mass per  
square  
metre  
(kg) 
A1006  200 200 16 16 1006  1006  15.79  
A566  200 200 12 12 566 566 8.88 
A 393  200  200  10  10  393  393  6.16  
A318  200 200 9 9 318 318 4.99 
A 252  200  200  8  8  252  252  3.95  
A 193  200  200  7  7  193  193  3.03  
A 142  200  200  6  6  142  142  2.22  
A 98 200  200  5  5  98  98  1.54  
A 65  180  180  4  4  70  70 1.11  
A 66  180  180  3  3  39 39  0.62 
A 610  180  180  2.5  2.5  27 27  0.43  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KS 574 :2015  
 
KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved    5  
 
Figure 2 — Typical structural mesh  
 
 
 
Table 3 — Structural mesh fabric  
 
 
Mesh 
ref Mesh size 
(nominal pitch of 
wires) (mm)  Wire sizes (mm)  Cross -sectional area 
per metre width 
(mm2) Nominal mass per 
square metre (kg)  
 Main  Cross  Main  Cross  Main  Cross   
B 503  100 200 8 8 503 252 5.93 
B 385  100 200 7 7 385 193 4.53 
B 283  100 200 6 7 283 193 3.75 
B 196  100 200 5 7 196 193 3.05 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 3 — Typical long mesh fabric  
 
 
Table 4 — Long mesh fabric  
 
 
 
6  KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved  Mesh ref  Mesh size 
(Nominal  
pitch of wires)  
(mm ) Wire sizes  
(mm)  Cross -sectional 
area 
per meter width  
(mm2) Nominal  
mass per  
square  
metre  
(kg) 
 main  cross  main  cross  main  cross   
C 785  100  400  10  6  785  70.8  6.72  
C 503  100  400  8  5  503  49.0  4.34  
C 385  100  400  7  5  385  49.0  3.41  
C 283  100  400  6 5  283  49.0  2.61  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 4 — Typical wrapping mesh  
 
 
Table 5 — Wrapping fabric  
 
Mesh ref  Mesh size 
(Nominal  
pitch of wires)  
(mm ) Wire sizes  
(mm)  Cross -sectional 
area 
per meter width  
(mm2) Nominal  
mass per  
square  
metre  
(kg) 
 main  cross  main  cross  main  cross   
D 98  200  200  5  5  98.0  98.0  1.54  
D 49  100  100  2.5  2.5  49.1  49.0  0.77  
 
 
10.6 Standard sheet and roll sizes  
 
KS 574 :2015  
 
KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved    7 The sheet and roll sizes of fabrics shall be as specified in Table 6.  
 
 
Table 6 — Sheet and roll sizes  
Length  Width of sheet or 
roll 
 
Sheet of 4.2 m  2.1m or 2.4m  
Roll of 24m and 48m  2.1m or 2.4m  
 
 
 
10.7 Measurement of length/width of sheet or roll  
 
The length/width of sheet or roll shall be measured from the tops of the overhangs.  
 
11 Strength of weld  
 
The manufacturers shall certify that where the inter -sections are welded when tested in accordance with 
Clause 12, all such welds shall be capable of withstanding a load in a shear of not less than one quarter of 
that necessary to develop the load, calcula ted from the specified characteristic proof stress in tension, of the 
smaller intersecting wires.  This certification shall not be invalidated by broken welds provided they are within 
the limits specified in Clause 7.   
 
12 Tests  
 
Test pieces for tensions  and bend tests shall be so cut, from the fabric that each tensile test piece shall 
contain one or more cross welds in its length.   
 
12.1 Tensile test  
 
12.1.1 Tensile tests shall be made on the mesh after fabrication across one or more welds to the 
requi rements specified in ISO 6892 -1: 2016  
 
12.1.2  One tensile test shall be made for every 6 000 m2 of fabric.  
 
12.2 Bend test  
 
12.2.1  The bend test shall be made on the test pieces cut from the longitudinal wire as well as the 
transverse wire, between the welds.  The test piece shall not be annealed or subjected to any heat or 
treatment before testing. The test piece shall withstand one complete cycle of reverse bend around pin of 
size as indicated in Table 7, without showing any signs of fracture when reverse bend test is carried out in 
accordance with 12.2.3.  
 
 
Table 7 — Bend test  
 
 Diameter of pin  
7 mm and under  Equal to diameter of 
specimen  
Over 7  mm  Equal to twice the 
diameter of specimen  
 
 
12.2.2  One reverse bend test shall be carried out for every 6 000 m2
 of fabric.  
7 
12.2.3  The method of reverse bend test shall be such that one end of the test sample  shall be firmly gripped  
8  KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved  in a vice and the free end shall be bent round a pin of diameter as in 12.2.1 above, through an angle of 90° 
and bent back in the opposite direction round the same radius through an angle of 180°, thereafter being 
bent back again t o the original position without fracture.   
 
12.3 Retest  
 
Should a tensile test piece break outside the middle half of the gauge length, the test may be discarded and  
another test made on a piece cut from the same length of wire. In all other cases, should  any of the test  
pieces first selected not fulfill the required test, two additional tests pieces in respect of each failure may be  
taken. Should both the additional test pieces pass the test, the material shall be deemed to comply with this  
standard. Shou ld either of them fail to fulfill such tests, the material represented shall be rejected. The  
additional test shall be carried out in the same manner in all respects as the tests previously carried out.  
 
13 Shear test  
 
13.1 Test pieces  
 
The test specimens for the shear test shall be cut from the fabric so that each specimen conforms to Figure  
5. 
 
 
 
Figure 5 — Shear specimens of welded reinforcing steel fabrics  
 
13.2 Test method  
 
The test specimen shall be firmly gripped in the test device shown in Figure 6 in such a manner that the  
pulled bar is loaded centrally and rotation of the anchoring bar prevented as far as possible. The upper free  
end of the pulled bar shall be so supported (e.g. by means of rollers) that the measured shear force is not  
increased by friction forces. The rate of loading shall not exceed 10 N (mm2.s). 
 
KS 574 :2015  
 
KEBS 2015 — All rights reserved    9  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KEY 
1 – Pulled bar  
2 – Anchoring bar  
3 – Extension for grips of testing machine  
4 – Clamp for anchoring bar  
5 – Rest for anchoring bar  
6 – Support to prevent bending of pulled bar  
7 – Low-friction sliding surface or roller bearing  
 
Figure 6 — Device for performing shear test  
 
14 Defects revealed after delivery  
 
Should any or all material after delivery be found not to be in accordance with this specification, s uch 
material shall be deemed not to comply with this Kenya Standard. However, notwithstanding any previous  
acceptance, material delivered which does not comply with this standard due to poor bending, chemical  
exposure, heating, etc, while on transit or on site shall not be caused for manufacturer’s liability.  
 
NOTE  Damage to the ribs can be avoided by the use of an aluminium sheet insert placed between the specimen and the former.  
 
15 Marking  
 
When the material is delivered in bundles , the manufacturer s shall attach a label bearing the following:  
 
i) manufacturer’s name or trade mark;  
 
ii) mesh reference number;  
 
iii) width of roll;  
 
iv) length of roll; and  
 
v)  wire diameter.  
 
vi)         actual weight of the roll