Cut Sheet

CADWELD
®
Connections Used
for Grounding Reinforcing Bars
CADWELD provides efficient and permanent connections for both grounding and attaching
lightning protection conductors to rebar. When making CADWELD connections to rebar, the
normal materials required are: mold, handle and weld metal. In addition, packing material is
also required. These materials act as a seal between the mold and rebar to prevent leaks.
One unit of packing material must be ordered for each weld.
CADWELD Connections to Structural
Reinforcing Bar and Anchor Bolts
Welding of ground conductors to reinforcing bars (rebar) by the CADWELD process should
not be harmful if stresses in the rebar are below yield. As design stresses are normally only
about 50% to 60% of the nominal yield strength of the rebar, welding by the CADWELD
process should not be detrimental under design stresses.
As the ACI Building Code (ACI318-89 commentary, 12.15) advises, “splices should, if
possible, be located away from points of maximum tensile stress.” The same advice should
apply to locations of CADWELD connections of a ground conductor to rebar. Where
possible, locate the weld area away from areas of maximum tensile stress, e.g., near the
free end of the bar in a lap splice, on the hook extension for a hooked bar, etc. The same
considerations apply to CADWELD connections to anchor bolts.
NOTE:
For lightning protection applications where the main lightning protection conductor is
connected to the rebar, ERICO recommends a 2/0 AWG copper conductor for
structures over 75 feet in height and a #2 AWG copper conductor for structures under
75 feet. For a bonding conductor, a #6 AWG copper may be used. These sizes meet
NFPA78 Code requirement. Anchor bolts are connected in the same way.
All welds to rebar requiring larger than a #150 weld metal will
be sold only after review by ERICO.
8-3
Ph: 1-800-677-9089
www.erico.com
CADWELD CONNECTIONS