Concrete cover

For a safe bond between reinforcement and concrete as well as for the protection of the reinforcement against corrosion, harmful environmental impacts, extreme heat, etc. the reinforcement must be embedded in a concrete layer of sufficient thickness. The thickness of the concrete layer between the top edge of the reinforcement and the surface of the structural element is defined as concrete cover. The standard thickness of the concrete cover is between 2.5 and 5 cm. An additional treatment of the concrete surface or the exposure of the structural elements to high impacts, may require a considerably thicker concrete cover.