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IS 15607:2005 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for fibre reinforced concrete - code of practice. This code provides guidelines on materials, mix proportioning, properties, and quality control for Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC). It covers the use of steel, glass, and polymeric fibres to enhance properties like toughness, ductility, and crack resistance in concrete applications such as industrial flooring, pavements, and shotcrete.
Provides guidelines for design, manufacture, and use of fibre reinforced concrete.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Proper mixing is crucial to prevent fibre 'balling' (clumping); add fibres gradually to the aggregate or into the prepared concrete mix.
! FRC mixes often have reduced workability, so the use of superplasticizers is common to achieve the desired slump without increasing the water-cement ratio.
! FRC is typically used for secondary reinforcement to control cracking and improve durability, not as a replacement for primary structural steel reinforcement in major load-bearing members.
ACI 544.4R-18American Concrete Institute (ACI), USA
HighCurrent
Guide to Design with Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Provides design guidance for structural and non-structural elements using FRC, focusing on post-cracking performance.
fib Model Code 2010Fédération internationale du béton (fib), International
HighCurrent
fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010
A pre-normative code with comprehensive chapters on the design of FRC for structural applications.
TR34 (Fourth Edition)The Concrete Society, UK
MediumCurrent
Concrete industrial ground floors - a guide to design and construction
A highly specific guide for the design of slabs-on-ground using FRC, a major application area.
EN 1992-1-1:2004 + AnnexesEuropean Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
LowCurrent
Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings
The primary concrete design code which incorporates clauses for FRC, but it is not a dedicated FRC code.
Key Differences
≠IS 15607 is a general 'Code of Practice' offering guidance, whereas fib Model Code 2010 and ACI 544.4R provide detailed, quantitative design methodologies using post-crack residual strength parameters for structural calculations.
≠International codes like ACI 544.4R and fib Model Code 2010 mandate performance-based characterization using specific toughness tests (e.g., ASTM C1609, EN 14651) to derive design values. IS 15607 recommends toughness testing but does not integrate it into a formal design framework.
≠The IS code provides general guidelines for replacing conventional secondary reinforcement, while documents like TR34 provide specific design methods and equations to calculate the required FRC performance for replacing mesh or rebar in slabs-on-ground.
≠IS 15607 has a broad scope covering steel, polymeric, glass, and natural fibers. Advanced international codes focus primarily on steel and macro-synthetic fibers for which predictable structural performance models exist.
Key Similarities
≈All standards recognize the primary purpose of adding fibers is to enhance post-cracking behavior, including toughness, ductility, and crack width control, transforming concrete from a brittle to a quasi-ductile material.
≈All codes provide similar practical guidance on concrete mix design, mixing procedures (e.g., introducing fibers gradually), and placing techniques to prevent fiber balling and ensure uniform distribution.
≈Both IS 15607 and international standards acknowledge that adding fibers generally reduces workability (slump) and recommend the use of water-reducing admixtures or superplasticizers to compensate.
≈The fundamental material parameters for fibers, such as aspect ratio (length/diameter), material type (steel, polymer), and shape (hooked, crimped), are recognized as critical to performance in all standards.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Design Philosophy
Guidance-based 'Code of Practice' with recommendations on material and application.
Performance-based design using residual flexural tensile strength (f_R,k) derived from beam tests.
fib Model Code 2010
Replacement of Crack Control Reinforcement
Permitted for partial or complete replacement of secondary reinforcement for crack control and shear.
Permitted if the residual strength of the FRC meets or exceeds the strength provided by the minimum conventional reinforcement (As,min).
ACI 544.4R-18
Typical Steel Fibre Dosage (by volume)
Typically 0.5% to 2.0% (approx. 40-160 kg/m³).
Not prescribed; determined by performance requirements. Typical slab-on-ground applications use 0.25% to 0.6% (20-45 kg/m³).
TR34
Flexural Toughness Test
Recommends testing but does not specify a mandatory method or derived design parameter.
Mandates beam test as per ASTM C1609/C1609M to determine residual strengths used in design calculations.
ACI 544.4R-18
Typical Steel Fibre Aspect Ratio
Generally in the range of 30 to 100.
Typically in the range of 40 to 80.
General (ACI/fib)
Creep and Shrinkage
Acknowledges that fibers have a minor effect on creep but provide restraint to reduce plastic and drying shrinkage cracking.
Provides models for tension stiffening and crack width calculation that implicitly account for shrinkage effects. Fibers reduce free shrinkage but increase tensile restraint.
fib Model Code 2010
Quality Control - Workmanship
Emphasizes proper mixing time, slump control, and finishing techniques.
Emphasizes the same workmanship aspects, with TR34 being highly prescriptive about finishing methods for industrial floors.
TR34
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Typical steel fibre dosage20 to 80 kg/m³
Typical aspect ratio for steel fibres40 to 100
Maximum nominal aggregate size20 mm
Minimum individual cube strength for acceptanceCharacteristic Strength - 3 N/mm²
Minimum average strength of 4 consecutive samplesCharacteristic Strength + 0.825 * standard deviation (or 3 N/mm²)
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Physical Properties of Different Types of Fibres
Table 2 - Typical Dosage of Fibres for Various Applications
What is the typical dosage of steel fibres in FRC?+
Between 20 to 80 kg/m³ depending on the intended application, such as crack control or impact resistance (Table 2).
Can FRC be used instead of steel rebar?+
Generally no. FRC provides secondary reinforcement for crack control and toughness, but it does not replace the primary load-bearing reinforcement specified by IS 456 (Clause 7.1).
What is the main challenge when mixing FRC?+
Preventing fibres from clumping together, a phenomenon known as 'balling'. This is managed through proper mix sequencing and ensuring uniform distribution (Clause 5.4).
How is the quality of FRC assessed?+
Primarily through testing hardened concrete properties like compressive strength, flexural strength (toughness), and impact resistance (Clause 6.3 & Clause 8).