What is used to firmly hold the bars at the required clearance from forms during placement?

• A. Bar support
• B. Bar clamp
• C. Bar chair
• D. Bar spacer

Answer: (A)

Maintaining the proper concrete cover means holding the reinforcing bars at a precise distance from the formwork during placement. This is done with bar supports, which are placed on the forms to suspend the bars at the required height. By providing a stable seat, bar supports keep the bars in the correct position so the concrete can surround them to the specified clearance as it pours and cures. A bar chair is a common type of bar support, but the term bar support focuses on the function of holding the bars away from the forms. Other options serve different purposes: bar clamps grip bars temporarily; bar spacers control spacing between bars, not their distance from the form.