Get set for speed

Proper anchor selection and an installation plan will cut your total installed cost for adhesive or mechanical anchors

by Alan Price, PE

Although many advances have been made in anchoring technology, many commercial contractors still use “old world” installation methods. Inefficient installation practices can add up to 50 percent to the total cost of anchoring. Plus, a poorly installed anchor can lead to reduced performance and anchor failure. 

To make anchor installation more productive, consider these ideas:

Anchor selection
Total-Installed-Cost (T.I.C.), not upfront material costs, should drive anchor selection. Post-installed anchors usually have a lower T.I.C. than cast-in-place anchors.

With large-diameter anchors, an adhesive anchor can be more cost-effective than a mechanical anchor because it takes more work to drive a large mechanical anchor into a hole and to torque it than it does to inject an adhesive into a hole and insert a threaded rod.

Cast-in-place anchor bolts take more labor to install than post-installed anchors. Installers must spend considerable time laying out anchors; a post-installed anchor simply fits into a drilled hole at almost any location. 

Use the right tools
Proper tools help assure proper installation, reduce installation time and may reduce installer fatigue. 

With an adhesive anchor, the installer should use compressed air to blow out the hole to get a good bond between the anchor, adhesive and concrete.

Post-installed anchors require a drilled hole that has a fairly close tolerance. Replace worn bits to assure the proper hole size.

Divide jobs to multiply efficiency
When many anchors must be installed, consider dividing tasks among several workers. It takes far less time and money to have three workers doing distinct jobs. It goes much faster if one worker locates and drills the holes; another cleans and drives the anchor and a third places the fixture and sets the anchor than having each worker do all three jobs.

Read the directions
Most anchor failures occur because the manufacturer’s directions were not followed. Detailed instructions for most anchors can be found on the Internet and most anchors come with basic instructions. A little time devoted to reading directions can save time and money and improve user safety.

Learn more from the manufacturer
Most anchor manufacturers provide free installation training that can be gotten by calling the anchor manufacturer’s local branch or working through your distributor. Good in-the-field training will result in greater work efficiency and less chance of installation errors.

Alan Price is a professional engineer, anchoring expert and Northeast regional engineer at Powers Fasteners, Inc.

Published in the July/August 2004 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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