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Bharat Steels

Tag: SAILTMTBar

How to Spot Fake TMT Bars: 5 Simple Checks Before You Buy

May 21, 2025
TMT Bars

TMT bars are one of the most critical components in constructing a house or any structure. These are the steel rods that give strength and support to your building. TMT does not mean Tender Machine Tender, but Thermo-mechanical Treatment, which means the bars are special, being made to be strong and flexible. 

The real trouble comes from lifetime revenues, which are fake TMTs in various markets. This can really weaken your construction. The use of fake or substandard TMT bars could bring the most dangerous results, such as cracks in your walls, poor stability, and even the building’s collapse. 

So, how do you know if the TMT bars you are buying are genuine? Don’t worry, there are simple ways to find out. In this blog, we are going to discuss 5 easy checks you can conduct to avoid fake TMT bars, hence ensuring safe construction.

1. Check for the ISI Mark

You should first look for the ISI Mark. The simplest and first step is to check the ISI mark, which indicates that the product is following Indian quality standards and is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Where to find it: It is generally printed or embossed on the surface of the bar.

What can it tell you: It means the bar has passed a rule with certain strength and quality tests.

Warning signs: An absence of an ISI mark, blurred, or not properly stamped, is a red flag. Some fake bars might even imitate the mark; again, comparing them with a known genuine bar would be good. Always double-check with your supplier.

2. Look for the Manufacturing Brand

Authentic TMT bars always have the name or logo of the manufacturer engraved on the bar.

Why This Matters: Well-known brands like SAIL, JSW, and Vizag have a solid reputation for maintaining their quality. They ensure consistency in marking their steel bars, and their bar products are therefore trusted by builders throughout India.

What to Check: Looking at the steel bar, you will see either the brand name, which should be easy to read and correctly spelled. If it is indistinct, inconsistent, or not present, then it stands a good chance of being a fake or from an unreliable source.

Pro Tip: Buy from trusted distributors like Bharat Steel Chennai, who only deal with top brands. This way, you know exactly what you are getting.

3. Measure the Weight and Dimensions

Different TMT bars possess standard weights and sizes, which vary according to diameter (8mm, 10mm, 12mm, etc.).

Requirements: Weigh with a simple weighing scale and measure with a measuring tape. Measure the length and thickness of the bar.

Where to find standards: You may look up a weight chart for different sizes on the Internet or ask any certified dealer like Bharat Steels for one. 

Acceptable range: There is a small degree of tolerance in such measurements (usually within 5%). However, if the bar falls below tolerance in weight or thickness, it might not offer your building the strength it deserves. 

Importance: Fake bars are often produced thinner to reduce costs, meaning less steel and less safety.

4. Bend Test

A bend test is a quick check for strength and flexibility. TMT bars should bend but not break or crack.

Procedure: Bend the bar manually or with a bending tool. 

Observation: A good-quality bar should show smooth bending and return to its original position. It should not snap or develop surface cracks. 

Failing Criteria: If the bar breaks or shows surface cracks, consider it a red flag. Do not use it; it can fail under critical stress.

5. Spark Test

The spark test is generally performed on steel using a grinder. It is useful in distinguishing between good-grade and fraudulent steel.

The principle: The continuous and bright spark pattern is produced while grinding TMT bars. 

What to be seen: Authentic TMT bars would generate bright white to yellow sparks; others with too much carbon or impurities would generate dull or uneven sparks. 

Safety tip: Perform only with proper tools and safety gear; otherwise, invite a technician or your supplier for a demonstration.

Reason: The spark test can pretty much tell you whether the mixture of steel is right. Bad-quality bars would not clear this simple test.

Conclusion

In final words, using genuine TMT bars is not just smart, it could save your life. It determines the safety of your building. Some simple checks, like looking for the ISI mark, checking for the brand name, measuring the bars, performing a bend test, and a spark test, can smooth out all costly mistakes and keep you safe. 

Don’t take chances on rogue or low-grade steel. For complete peace of mind, always buy from a trusted source like Bharat Steel Chennai, your reliable distributor of top-quality TMT bars, including SAIL, JSW, and Vizag.For a safer home or industrial structure, it’s all about using the right materials from the right supplier.


👉 Request a quote today and build with confidence.
Keep alert. Stay informed. Choose quality—always.

Blog, TMT Bars Buying TMT Bars, SAILTMTBar, TMT bars

How To Choose The Right Steel Grade?

October 22, 2021

Steel is one of the resources that every architect and steel dealers in Chennai require while doing their project. There are hundreds of steel alloys in the market, and each material is different depending on its physical, mechanical, and making properties. Carbon plays a vital role in steel making. This element increases steel’s hardness, strength, and resistance considerably and often uses elements like silicon, chromium, zinc, manganese, and many more to improve their properties. For example, the steel with high chromium content will give you stainless steel. It is an excellent option for making cookware and home appliances. So, even the simplest steel has variable and distinct properties. Since there are various kinds of steel, many manufacturers grade the steel according to its chemical composition and mechanical properties. Therefore, it is essential to choose the right composed steel to do the job. Hence, in this post, listed below are some factors on how to choose the right steel grade.

External factors:

The foremost factor in choosing the grade of the steel is the external factor. Environment plays a vital role in selecting the right steel product. It is because external factors have an impact on the performance quality exhibited by the steel. Physical factors like frequency, pH levels, and temperature are some factors that determine the operating rate of the steel. For example, if you take industrial warehouses, most of the process involves large machines, and high heat is emitted into the environment. These emissions can affect the functionality and utility of the steel surrounding the engine over time. Similarly, MS chequered plate are often affected by the high heat waves emitted by the furnace or other instruments. So, it is essential to choose the grade depending upon the operating environment.

Strength:

Steel users should always choose the steel depending on its tensile strength. It means the ability of the material to resist when it undergoes tension or stress. Hence, to check the tensile strength of the material, place the sample steel inside the machine. Apply the external force gradually to the product and measure its sustainability through the extensometer device. Tensile strength is determined until the sample can take in the pressure before its breakage.

Machinability:

It is one of the properties of steel that helps in choosing the right grade steel. Machinability refers to a metal that can be cut or shaped by providing an excellent finish. Steel manufacturing companies use different processes in manufacturing steel products like SAIL TMT bar, pipes, steel plates, and many more. To measure the machinability of steel, look at the time taken by the tool to make a cut or incision on the sample steel. This factor is essential in heavy machines like reinforced bars, corrugated roofing, and many more.

Hence, the maximum output to obtain from the steel relies on understanding its properties and its performance. Therefore, MS steel suppliers in Chennai will provide you with appropriate grade steel to meet your standards.

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