Placement Of The Reinforcement
Both the top and bottom rows of reinforcement should be cut to size, allowing a full lap at corners and T intersections section. The reinforcement must be held clear of the trench bottom and sides by sufficient distance to provide the correct concrete cover this positioning is achieved by using bar chairs or trench mesh supports.
Service penetration
Pipes and conduit sometimes need to pass through strip footings. This is okay in the middle third of the footings depth, but if it occurs anywhere else the thickness of the footing and possibly the reinforcements need to be modified to increase the strength at this point. This is usually achieved by increasing the depth of the footing by at least the diameter of the pipe that is passing through it and then bending the reinforcement to allow it to passed around the pipe with the correct cover , if bending the reinforcement at this point is not practical, then it can be cut and further reinforcement added.
Footing systems