© Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)
45 • Institute for Work & Health (IWH)
Calculating Load Weights Using Length (Use Table 1.1 in M035)
Example 1:
Calculate the weight in kilograms of a bundle of rebar. The bundle contains fifteen bars
with a diameter of 1¼ ". The bars are 12' 4" long.
Step 1: Convert 12' 4" to decimal feet.
Note: To convert inches to feet, divide inches by 12.
4" ÷ 12 = 0.333'
12' 4" = 12.333'
Step 2: Locate the unit weight in Table 1.1 Approximate Weight per Foot of Length of
round Steel Bars and Rods.
1 ¼" = 4.17 lbs per foot of length
Step 3: Calculate the weight.
Weight = # of bars × length × unit weight (lbs/foot)
= 15 × 12.333' × 4.17 lbs/ft = 771.42915 lbs
Step 4: Convert the weight to kilograms.
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
Note: To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2
To convert kilograms to pounds, multiply by 2.2
771.42915 lbs ÷ 2.2 lbs/kg = 351 kg
