When an anchor installer should stop and ask

Stop work on an M&E support if you strike reinforcement or a tension bar, find an unknown base material, lack the specified drill details or tools, or are asked to fit an anchor that differs from the specification. Raise the issue with the supervisor or specifier before continuing.

BS 8539:2012+A1:2021 Code of Practice for the Selection and Installation of Anchors in Concrete and Masonry

How does BS 8539 guide installers?

Learning points for correct anchor/fixing installation

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Understand how the anchor/fixing will fix into the substrate, is it cracked or non-cracked concrete, different substrates will affect the selection and installation of an anchor/fixing.
• Know the working principles of the anchor.
• Recognise the different anchor installation methods - is it a flush fix or a through-fix.
• Acknowledge how to correctly use all setting and installation tools e.g. torque wrench, torque specification and how to set the torque up correctly, impact driver, hammer, blow-out pump etc.
• Only use the setting tool required for that specific anchor
• Be aware of how to clean the hole before installing an anchor, if you don’t do that you will not get the bond required.
• Understand what to do if the installation goes wrong.
  
  

When should you stop an anchor/fixing installation?

• Rebar - If you strike a reinforcing bar whilst drilling
• Tension bars - If you strike tension bars whilst drilling
• If you come across an unknown base material
• If you do not have the required information such as drill diameter and depth to install the anchor
• If you do not have the relevant tools such as setting tools or torque wrenches etc
• If you are asked to install a non-specified anchor

Is there any further guidance from BS 8539?

Quite often installers learn on the job and stick to that method. After all, they have always installed anchors that way and they haven't failed. The issue is, that if a site failure occurs on-site and there is evidence to show that training hasn't been carried out to a standard (BS 8539) then there may be consequences. 

BS 8539 installer training underlines the importance of using setting tools correctly;

‘When the anchor is originally supplied to site, the installer should look at the setting tools (e.g., torque wrench, torque specification and set the torque up correctly). The drill diameter, drill depth, recommended torque value and load-bearing should also be taken into consideration.’ Any specific setting tool should be designed for that particular anchor.