How do I set the cover for rebar sets?

Q. How can I set the cover for rebar sets? A default cover that applies to all concrete parts can be set through Options. Concrete part user-defined attributes can be used to set different default covers for different part types. You can also set different covers for selected parts by changing the user-defined attributes of the selected parts. Surfaces can be used to set covers for selected faces. This is explained in more detail below and in the following article:
Define the reinforcement cover thickness

1. Global default set through Options

The settings in options apply to all concrete parts. So the settings below will result in a cover of 25mm to all sides of any concrete part in the model.


The cover can be set differently for selected parts in the model by changing the concrete cover in the part. For example, a cover of 60mm is set for the top of the selected beam by changing the value for top cover in the Rebar Set tab of its User-defined attributes. Leaving the Bottom and Sides cover cells empty means the value set in Options will be applied to these parts.

2. Default by part type 

If you want to set different default values for different parts, you can do this by changing the cover values in the Rebar set tab for the part type and saving the attributes file with the name “standard”. This “standard” file can then be copied from the attributes folder of the model folder to, for example, a firm folder or model template.

Save settings for concrete beam

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Save settings for concrete columns

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These settings are saved in the “attributes” folder of the model folder in the files highlighted below.


You can open these files in a text editor and find the saved settings for cover as shown below.

concrete_beam_attributes.__CovThickTop 60.000000
concrete_beam_attributes.__CovThickBottom 40.000000
concrete_beam_attributes.__CovThickSides 30.000000

If you want one of the covers to use the default value in Options you must leave the value field for this setting blank in the part User-defined attributes dialog box. For example, with the settings below, the Sides cover will be whatever value is set for sides cover in Options


Empty cells are saved in the file with the special value -2147483648.000000



If any other value other than-2147483648.000000 is used in the attributes file, this value will override the Options settings.

3. Cover by face

If you need more than top, bottom and side covers, you can add covers by face using surfaces.