In our latest soundout episode our anchor expert Stevan discusses concrete screws, its uses, and why they are proving popular onsite.
Concrete screws are a type of interlocking anchor, they rely on the undercut principle. The thread cuts into the substrate with its flutes and the resulting resistance gives the anchor its performance.
One key reason is due to the speed of installation.
For example:
Where you would normally use a deformation-controlled anchor (otherwise known as a 'drop-in') an M10 x 30 would require a 12mm diameter hole to be drilled into the substrate, whereas the equivalent concrete screw just requires a 6mm pilot hole to be drilled resulting in a faster installation.
BS 8539 is clear; ‘installers must be trained on the anchor installation, they must be supervised and upon completion, the installation should be certified by the contractor’s supervisor’
If however, an ETA anchor has been used into a known substrate and installed and supervised by a competent individual then testing is not required.
It is critical when installing anchors that holes are drilled to the correct diameter and depth. Using a worn drill bit results in undersized holes, making installation difficult and increasing stresses in the anchor material potentially leading to a failure – inspect drill bits frequently and replace when worn.
Removing dust from the holes is another important factor to prevent the anchor from bottoming on the compacted dust.
Are you certain that your team of on-site installers can install an anchor correctly, in-line with BS 8539?
No?
The MIDFIX Academy is the only specialist training and technical resource to upskill and support installers and supervisors in the M&E sector.
The MIDFIX Academy offers:
The MIDFIX Academy plays a crucial role in reducing installation error and promoting BS 8539 best practice.