Spacers serve the following three purposes in particular:
Provision of the cover layer – spacers keep the reinforcement at a specified distance from the formwork (surface of the structure) to provide an adequate thickness of the concrete layer. This layer protects the reinforcement from moisture, corrosion and mechanical damage.
Stabilisation of reinforcement – spacers prevent the reinforcement from moving during concrete pouring, thus making sure that the reinforcement stay in the correct position and the structure has the desired properties.
Maintenance of precise spacing between rods – spacers are used in welded wired mesh and complex reinforcement systems to ensure that the rods and mesh stay at precise distances. This is the only way to guarantee an even distribution of forces across the structure.
