The Deutsche Institut Für Bautechnik (DIBt) has now issued the first partial approval for the permanent use of a reinforcing bar made of glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) – for the straight Schöck ComBAR bar with a nominal diameter of 16 mm. This special reinforcement possesses similar bonding characteristics to steel and can be used permanently in a supporting function under load. However, as opposed to reinforcing steel, the Schöck product is resistant to chemicals, magnetism and electrical current. All of the structural part manufacturer’s bar diameters exhibit a tensile strength of over 1000 N/mm2 and a very low thermal conductivity.