Who this course is for
- Construction workers who assemble and fix reinforcing steel on concrete works
- Civils and building crews working on slabs, columns, beams and foundations
- General workers moving from labouring into a construction trade
- Employers who need steel fixers who can work to drawing and to SABS requirements
What you will be able to do after this course
- Identify the types of tools, equipment and personal protective equipment used in steel fixing
- Assemble and tie reinforcing cages using the correct materials and methods
- Follow the correct steel fixing sequence on a reinforcement job
- Apply the SABS requirements for the different types of tie
What the course covers
The course trains a learner to assemble and tie reinforcing cages using the correct materials and methods, and to fix reinforcing safely and efficiently.
Learners cover the types of tools, equipment and personal protective equipment used in steel fixing, reinforcing bar types, sizes and marking, reading reinforcement drawings and bar schedules, cutting and bending, cover and spacer placement, the steel fixing sequence, the SABS requirements for the different types of tie, and assembling and tying cages for slabs, columns and beams. The fixing work is assessed practically.
How you are assessed and what you receive
Assessment covers a written knowledge test and a practical, where the learner assembles and ties a reinforcing cage to drawing under supervision. On successful completion the learner is certificated against SAQA unit standard 116573, and the certificate can be downloaded from the Fundza portal as well as issued directly.
What this certificate is worth
Reinforcement that is tied wrong or placed at the wrong cover is a structural defect that is invisible once the concrete is poured, which is why contractors want fixers who have been trained rather than shown. The certificate is what a main contractor or engineer asks for on a reinforcement crew. Learners can download it from the Fundza portal at any time.
Duration, dates and fees
| Option | Duration | Fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full course | 2 days | R3,600 | First-time certification |
On-site delivery at your own operation is available and is usually the better option for a crew, because the practical work can be done on the reinforcement your own project is placing. For group bookings, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based.
Where and how the training runs
Training runs at the Fundza Training Institute centre in Mokopane, and on site at your own operation. On-site delivery is generally better for a civils crew, since the cages they tie in training can be the ones going into the works. For a group booking, tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.
The three concrete trades: how they differ
| Steel fixer (this course) | Shutter-hand and concrete-hand | |
|---|---|---|
| What it certifies | Assembling and tying reinforcing | Building formwork, or batching and mixing concrete |
| Unit standard | SAQA 116573 | SAQA 14226 and SAQA 12916 |
| Where it sits | After the formwork, before the pour | Before the steel, and at the pour |
| Duration | 2 days | 5 days and 2 days |
The three trades run in sequence on the same pour: shutter-hands build the formwork, steel fixers place the reinforcing, concrete-hands batch and place the concrete. Contractors often train crews across all three.
Where this course can take you
Steel fixing sits inside the concrete trades stack at Fundza. The natural companions are Shutter-hand and Concrete-Hand, and most fixers also hold Hand Tools, Power Tool and Working at Heights. Browse the full Construction Trainings range.
Enquire about this course
Tell us how many people need certifying and where they are based, and we will come back with dates and a quotation.