Fletcher Reinforcing Adding Strength to Landmark Projects in Christchurch

Fletcher Reinforcing supplies steel mesh and reinforcing steel that is used to enhance the strength of concrete foundations, such as the Cathedral cardboard structure project in Christchurch. Internationally renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban worked with Cathedral staff to design the cardboard structure as a temporary shared-use facility. The brief was to design a building that would be sustainable, environmentally friendly, safe, durable, beautiful, innovative and versatile.

Over a two week period in early October 2012, Fletcher Reinforcing placed 120 tonnes of reinforcing steel from Pacific Steel to enable the 800m2 concrete slab to be poured in front of national television. Six steel placers worked on site during this period to ensure the reinforcing was ready for the scheduled concrete pour.

Reinforcing bar, or “rebar” is the core of Fletcher Reinforcing’s business, and they offer a complete range of both grade 300E and 500E plain, deformed and threaded reinforcing steel rebar. Each grade has a variety of diameters available.
All the steel rebar supplied by Fletcher Reinforcing is produced in New Zealand by Pacific Steel. Seismic reinforcing bar, made by Pacific Steel, is made specifically to meet New Zealand’s unique seismic conditions and is found in commercial, industrial, infrastructure and residential buildings.

The essence of successful seismic design is three-fold, and any new build in the Christchurch region must adhere to the new regulations. First, the design team must take a multi-hazard approach towards design that accounts for the potential impacts of seismic forces as well as all the major hazards to which an area is vulnerable. Second, performance-based requirements, which may exceed the minimum life safety requirements of current seismic codes, must be established to respond appropriately to the threats and risks posed by natural hazards on the building's mission and occupants. Third, and as important as the others, because earthquake forces are dynamic and each building responds according to its own design complexity, it is essential that the design team work collaboratively and have a common understanding of the terms and methods used in the seismic design process.

All Fletcher Reinforcing steel meets the demanding requirements of the seismic structural design methods employed in New Zealand as required by national Standards, and they have one of the most comprehensive and advanced ranges of cutting and bending machines in New Zealand. These include shearlines, single and double-ended benders and automatic benders as well as pile fabrication services and on-site placing (steel fixing).

For more information on steel reinforcement, reinforcement bars and stainless steel mesh NZ please go to http://www.fletcherreinforcing.co.nz/page/max_frank/ .