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IS 1566:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for hard-drawn steel wire fabric for concrete reinforcement. This standard prescribes the requirements for hard-drawn steel wire fabric (welded wire mesh) used as reinforcement in concrete. It details the manufacturing process, dimensional tolerances, physical properties, and specific testing methodologies like tensile and weld shear tests.
hard-drawn steel wire fabric for concrete reinforcement
Standard Specification for Steel Wire and Welded Wire Reinforcement, Plain and Deformed, for Concrete
Covers both plain and deformed welded wire reinforcement, making it a modern, broader equivalent to IS 1566.
BS 4483:2005BSI (UK)
HighCurrent
Steel fabric for the reinforcement of concrete - Specification
Directly specifies requirements for factory-made welded steel fabric for concrete reinforcement, very similar in scope to IS 1566.
AS/NZS 4671:2019Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand (AU/NZ)
HighCurrent
Steel for the reinforcement of concrete
A comprehensive standard for all reinforcing steels, including a specific class for welded wire fabric (Class L mesh).
ASTM A185-07ASTM International (US)
HighWithdrawn
Standard Specification for Steel Welded Wire Reinforcement, Plain, for Concrete
This withdrawn standard was the direct historical equivalent, covering only plain wire fabric, just like IS 1566.
Key Differences
≠IS 1566:1982 is based on hard-drawn steel wire with a minimum 0.2% proof stress of 480 MPa. Modern international standards like ASTM A1064 specify higher strength grades, commonly 550 MPa (Grade 80) or higher, for more efficient reinforcement.
≠IS 1566 exclusively covers fabric made from plain (smooth) wire. Modern equivalents like ASTM A1064 and AS/NZS 4671 give equal or greater prominence to deformed wire fabric, which provides superior mechanical bond with concrete.
≠The weld shear strength in IS 1566 is specified as a percentage of the wire's breaking load (e.g., 50% for structural fabric). ASTM A1064 uses a performance-based absolute force requirement (e.g., Force ≥ 35,000 x wire area), which is a more direct measure of weld integrity.
≠IS 1566:1982 is a decades-old standard, while its international counterparts are regularly updated to reflect advancements in metallurgy, manufacturing technology, quality assurance, and seismic design requirements.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental product concept is identical across all standards: steel wires arranged in a grid and joined by electrical resistance welding for use as concrete reinforcement.
≈All standards specify mandatory quality control tests covering dimensional tolerances (wire diameter, mesh spacing, sheet size) and key mechanical properties like tensile strength and weld integrity.
≈The primary intended application is the same: reinforcing concrete in elements like slabs, walls, pavements, and precast products to control cracking and provide structural capacity.
≈All standards require the material to exhibit sufficient ductility to be handled and placed without fracture, which is typically verified through bend tests on the wire.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Minimum Yield/Proof Stress
480 MPa (0.2% Proof Stress)
550 MPa (Yield Strength)
ASTM A1064/A1064M (Grade 80)
Minimum Tensile Strength (for ~5mm wire)
570 MPa (as per IS 432 Pt II)
620 MPa
ASTM A1064/A1064M (Grade 80)
Wire Type Specified
Plain, hard-drawn wire only
Plain and Deformed wire
ASTM A1064/A1064M
Weld Shear Strength
50% of wire's minimum breaking load (for structural fabric)
Force (lbf) ≥ 35,000 x Area (in²) of smaller wire
ASTM A1064/A1064M
Strength Grade Basis
Based on hard-drawn wire properties from a separate standard (IS 432)
Defined by specific strength grades within the standard (e.g., Grade 500 in BS 4483)
BS 4483:2005
Ductility Class
Not explicitly defined; ductility implied by bend test
Specifies different ductility classes (e.g., Class L for low ductility mesh)
AS/NZS 4671:2019
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
tolerance on mass±6 percent
minimum proof stress480 N/mm²
minimum tensile strength510 N/mm²
pitch tolerance±7.5 percent
elongation minimum7.5 percent
Key Formulas
P = 0.25 x A x fy — Minimum weld shear load capacity requirement (where A is area of the larger wire)