Jakarta – PT Bhirawa Steel, a subsidiary of PT Hutama Karya Infrastruktur (HKI) specializing in manufacturing reinforced concrete steel, has pioneered seismic performance testing of the high-quality BjTS 550 rebar product in Indonesia. The laboratory test of the BjTS 550 product was conducted on June 6, 2023, at the Structural Laboratory, Center for Infrastructure and Build Environment (CIBE) at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). PT Bhirawa Steel is the first rebar manufacturer in Indonesia to conduct seismic performance testing of the BjTS 550 rebar product.
BjTS 550 is a rebar product that can serve as an alternative, cost-efficient, high-quality material for earthquake-resistant construction. The BjTS 550 rebar is a superior ribbed steel product that has passed material testing, meeting the SNI 2052:2017 standards with satisfactory results. The material test shows that BjTS 550 has an elongation value of 14-17%, exceeding the SNI 2052:2017 standard requirement of 12-14%. With its high elongation value, BjTS 550 exhibits stronger strain capacity, making it suitable for use in earthquake-resistant building structures.
The BjTS 550 product from Bhirawa Steel has been used in various infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including power plants (PLTU), malls, apartments, hospitals, roads, and bridges. Notable projects include the Suralaya Cilegon PLTU Chimney, Tuban Jetty and Ancillary Production & Transportation Facilities, Westown View Surabaya Apartments, Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Padang-Sicincin and Binjai-Pangkalan Brandan sections of the Trans Sumatra Toll Road (JTTS), and the Tebing Tinggi – Kisaran Toll Road Project (Stage 1).
With its high quality, few steel manufacturers in Indonesia are able to produce BjTS 550. In addition to its superior quality, BjTS 550 offers other benefits such as good tensile strength, providing cost-efficiency. The cost-efficiency of using BjTS 550 has been proven in calculations conducted by consultants on the abutment and pier structures of the Tebing Tinggi – Kisaran Toll Road Project (Stage 1), Tebing Tinggi – Indrapura section. The calculations showed that using BjTS 550 would reduce the steel tonnage by 20-23% compared to the previously used standard rebar, BjTS 420. The significant reduction in rebar usage will impact the lowering of transportation costs and construction time. As a result, laboratory testing is expected to establish BjTS 550 as a quality standard for earthquake-resistant building structures.
“The increased tensile strength of the BjTS 550 structure results in fewer rebars needed in a structure, leading to cost savings of 10-15%. Not only does this result in cost-efficiency, but other domino benefits also arise from the reduced rebar usage,” said Bhirawa Steel President Director Arry Aryadi. Other benefits of using BjTS 550 include reducing concrete segregation, facilitating fabrication assembly, and improving concrete quality, as rebar made from scrap iron melting is not usable. With its numerous benefits, BjTS 550 is expected to become the standard for earthquake-resistant building materials in Indonesia.
As a producer of BjTS 550, PT Bhirawa Steel is actively marketing and educating project implementers across Indonesia to use BjTS 550 as an earthquake-resistant building material. Education and marketing efforts are targeted at project owners, planning consultants, and contractors involved with the quality and benefits of using high-quality rebar. The goal is for BjTS 550 to become the standard for high-quality, cost-efficient earthquake-resistant structural materials. The results of the recent laboratory tests are also expected to encourage the creation of regulations recommending BjTS 550 as a standard for earthquake-resistant building materials.
