Drill-in anchors (chemical or mechanical) are sometimes used where cast-in bolts have been placed in the wrong positions, or when changes to the design are required after the concrete has been cast.
If the anchorages have not been installed correctly, the structural component connected to the anchorage system may become unstable and collapse before the building construction is completed.
Safety issues
Risk associated with chemical anchors include:
- not adhering to the manufacturer’s specifications or recommendations when installing the chemical anchors
- mixing different brands of chemical anchors or using anchors or anchor sizes not specified by the designer
- not following the safe work method or the design engineer’s instructions during the erection procedure
- carrying out changes in the field without consulting the design engineer
- detaching support of the column from the crane, or other temporary supports, prior to installing permanent braces, or connecting to other building components required for structural stability.
Risk control measures
The erection procedure must comply with the safe work method and/or engineer’s instructions. If changes to the design are necessary, they must be referred to the designer for approval prior to implementation.
The use of chemical and mechanical anchors must comply with the manufacturer’s instructions which cover:
- the drilled-hole size and depth
- installation procedure
- cure time.
The cure time is temperature sensitive and therefore substrate temperature, not air temperature, must be considered. Inclement weather and moisture must be avoided when installing the bolts.
Verify that chemical anchors are satisfactorily set/cured such as by torque test before allowing the column to take any structural loads.
Do not mix different brands of anchors.
When using adhesives, follow the appropriate Safety Data Sheet.
Additional information
AS 3828: Guidelines for the erection of building steelwork - Available from our Library
