Selection reference
Choose the CFRP system by strengthening method
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer systems are specified by a licensed engineer and installed by experienced professionals under ACI 440 guidance. Start with the strengthening method in the design, then confirm the product type, dimensions, adhesive or saturating resin and anchorage details before ordering.
| Strengthening method | What to confirm | Examples in this category |
|---|---|---|
| Externally bonded laminate strips | Flexural strengthening of beams, slabs and walls with a pultruded CFRP plate bonded to the prepared face. Confirm the specified strip type and width, design tensile values, substrate pull-off strength, length per member and Sikadur-30 paste adhesive coverage. | CarboDur S 1012 strips, Sikadur-30 |
| Near-surface-mounted rods | Rods set in cut grooves for negative-moment slab and deck strengthening, masonry walls, doweling and fabric anchorage. Confirm rod diameter, groove size, cut lengths, the specified groove epoxy and whether the finished surface must accept traffic. | CarboDur rods, Sikadur-30 |
| Unidirectional fabric wrap | Shear, confinement, seismic and flexural strengthening where the fibers run one way, including wraps around columns and irregular shapes. Confirm fabric weight, number of layers, fiber direction, overlap, roll width and the saturating resin named in the specification. | SikaWrap Hex 103C, Hex 117C, Hex 230C |
| Bi-directional fabric | Strengthening where load or restraint is needed in two directions, such as slabs, walls and blast or impact upgrades. Confirm the two-way design values, layer count, 50 in roll handling and the saturating resin before ordering. | SikaWrap Hex 113C, Hex 115C |
| Fabric anchorage and connection | Carbon fiber anchors that hold fabric edges in shear strengthening, connect fabric through members or provide flexible near-surface strengthening. Confirm anchor spacing, embedment, drilled hole size, anchoring adhesive and installation sequence from the drawings. | SikaWrap FX-50C cord, CarboDur rods, anchoring adhesives |
SikaWrap fabrics are field-laminated with Sikadur 300, Hex 300, 301 or 330 saturating resin, and CarboDur strips and rods bond with Sikadur-30 paste. Request the specified resin with your fabric or laminate quote so the complete system arrives together. Design tensile values apply only with the published test method and laminate thickness; use the current product datasheet for submittals.
Field planning
Plan the carbon fiber reinforcement installation
A CFRP system performs only when the design, substrate, adhesive and finish work together. Use the manufacturer product datasheets and method statements with the project drawings and specification.
Engineering design controls the system
The engineer of record sets the strengthening method, fiber direction, number of layers, strip or rod size, spacing, development length and anchorage. Sika publishes SikaWrap and CarboDur products for use by experienced professionals only, following ACI 440 guides for externally bonded FRP.
Do not substitute a fabric weight, strip width or rod diameter without written approval. Design values differ by product and are not interchangeable across fabric grades or laminate types.
Substrate preparation and pull-off testing
Concrete must be clean, sound and free of laitance, curing compounds, coatings and standing water or frost; it may be dry or damp for most SikaWrap and CarboDur work. Fill unevenness and repair spalls with an approved repair mortar before bonding.
Verify adhesive strength after preparation with random pull-off testing at the engineer’s discretion; the CarboDur and Hex 103C datasheets call for a minimum of 200 psi tensile strength with concrete substrate failure.
Adhesive, resin and lay-up method
CarboDur strips and rods bond with Sikadur-30, a high-modulus paste epoxy that holds laminate in place on vertical and overhead work. Rods may also be set with Sikadur-31, Sikadur-32 or Sika AnchorFix resin where the specification allows.
SikaWrap fabrics are saturated in the field by wet or dry lay-up with the specified Sikadur resin. Check working time, ambient and substrate temperature limits and the recoat window before mixing, and plan the anchor sequence with the fabric placement.
Protection, finishing and quality records
Cured CFRP needs the finish the specification calls for, such as a UV-protective topcoat, fire-rated coating or cementitious overlay. Countersink near-surface-mounted rods flush so the wearing surface can carry traffic.
Record batch numbers, pull-off results, ambient conditions and layer counts for the closeout package. Keep each product datasheet and SDS on site for the installers and the inspector.
Before you order
Carbon fiber reinforcement specifications & quantity planning
Use the drawings and the selected manufacturer data to confirm the properties, quantities and documents the strengthening work requires.
Compare the specified properties
Read design tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation with the laminate thickness, cross section or cured fabric thickness they apply to. Confirm fiber direction, areal weight, roll width, strip width and rod diameter against the schedule.
Calculate lengths, area and resin
Take off strip and rod lengths per member with a cutting allowance, and fabric area per layer including overlaps and wraps. Use the datasheet coverage for adhesive or saturating resin, then round up to whole rolls, lengths and units.
Assemble the submittal
Identify the manufacturer, product, size and SKU for each component. Gather the current product datasheet, SDS, ICC evaluation report where published, method statements and installer qualifications. Ask for technical help when a value or limit is unclear.
Project orders
Request carbon fiber reinforcement project pricing
Send the specified CFRP components and quantities for your strengthening project. If the system is still under review, include the drawings, specification section and the structural elements to be strengthened.
Include with your request
- System and product: strip type and width, rod diameter, fabric grade
- Quantities: linear feet, square feet per layer and layer count
- Specified adhesive, saturating resin and anchor details
- Delivery ZIP and required-on-site date
Carbon fiber reinforcement questions
What is carbon fiber reinforcement used for in concrete repair?
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer adds tensile capacity to existing concrete, masonry and timber members. Typical uses are load increases, seismic upgrades, repair of corrosion or impact damage, changes in use and correction of design or construction defects, all under an engineered design.
Should I use CarboDur strips or SikaWrap fabric?
The engineer decides. CarboDur strips are pre-cured plates bonded with Sikadur-30 for flexural strengthening of flat faces. SikaWrap fabrics are saturated on site and conform to columns, beams and irregular shapes for shear, confinement and seismic work. Rods serve near-surface-mounted slab, deck and masonry strengthening.
What is the difference between unidirectional and bi-directional SikaWrap fabric?
Unidirectional fabrics such as Hex 103C, 117C and 230C carry load along one fiber direction and are oriented by the design. Bi-directional fabrics such as Hex 113C and 115C carry load in two directions for slabs, walls and blast or impact upgrades. Fabric weights and design values differ, so match the grade in the specification.
What epoxy bonds Sika CarboDur strips and rods?
Sikadur-30 structural epoxy paste is the published adhesive for CarboDur laminate strips and a standard groove epoxy for rods. Rods may also be set in Sikadur-31, Sikadur-32 or Sika AnchorFix resin where the specification permits. SikaWrap fabrics use a saturating resin such as Sikadur 300, Hex 300 or 330 instead of paste.
What surface preparation does carbon fiber reinforcement need?
The substrate must be clean, sound and free of laitance, coatings, curing compounds, standing water and frost. Repair unevenness with an approved mortar, then confirm bond by pull-off testing at the engineer’s discretion. Sika datasheets call for at least 200 psi with failure in the concrete.
Can carbon fiber reinforcement be installed without an engineer?
No. Sika publishes SikaWrap and CarboDur systems for experienced professionals working from an engineered design that follows ACI 440. The design sets the product, layers, orientation, anchorage and protection; installation records are usually part of the project closeout.
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