Most
GFRP-Rebars have been developed, to solve the corrosion problem with bridges
and other structures. But one
component of these rebars, the glass fibre, is
itself susceptible to corrosion in the highly alkaline environment of concrete.
The other component of the GFRP-rebar - the resin system - has to provide the
protection against diffusion and deterioration. To begin applications in the
past years different accelerated
durability tests have been developed and
performed. Design and test guidelines as well as first codes have been
established in different countries. Now an experience of nearly ten years shows
that some rebar systems are stable under certain conditions. In spite of all
the benefits the market growth for primary applications is smaller than
expected. There is still a lack of confidence in the new reinforcement
technique as a primary reinforcement for buildings and structures. If we do not
want to wait 50 years, confidence can only be established by conservative and
comprehensible test approaches with broad acceptance in science and by the
authorities. Two different approaches for durability are reviewed from the
point of view of safety and the transferability of the results. Basis of the
consideration is the international semi-probabilistic safety concept with
partial safety factors for load and material. For both approaches results are
presented and compared. Furthermore, a defined path from test results to design
value of the tensile strength is shown in this paper.