1 Scope
NOTE This standard covers post-installed anchors set in a drilled hole in existing hardened concrete or masonry to attach structural and non-structural elements, together with the hole preparation, installation, torque verification, and special inspection that make those anchors perform as designed. (1.1)
NOTE The covered families are torque-controlled expansion anchors, displacement-controlled (drop-in) expansion anchors, undercut anchors, concrete screw anchors, and adhesive anchors with threaded-rod or reinforcing-bar inserts. (1.2)
NOTE A post-installed anchor differs fundamentally from a cast-in-place anchor in how it develops load: it is drilled into concrete that has already cured, so its capacity depends on a manufacturer-tested mechanical or bonded interaction with the surrounding concrete rather than on a head bearing against concrete placed around it. (1.3)
NOTE Because that interaction is product-specific, every covered anchor is governed by a current ICC-ES Evaluation Service Report (ESR) and the ACI qualification standard behind it; this standard specifies anchors by required ESR category, never by raw mechanical description alone. (1.4)
1.5Anchors shall be furnished only as complete proprietary systems holding a current ICC-ES Evaluation Report (or equivalent IAPMO-UES report) covering the project's base material, load type, and seismic category.
1.6Mixing components from different anchor systems - for example one manufacturer's adhesive with another's threaded rod cut to length - is prohibited; each anchor shall be installed as the assembly its ESR qualifies.
NOTE The following work is specified elsewhere and is excluded from this standard. (1.7)
- Cast-in-place headed bolts, hooked rods, J-bolts, and headed studs set before concrete placement - see Cast In Place Concrete.
- Reinforcing-bar splices, dowels, and lap-splice connections governed by ACI 318 Chapter 26 - see Concrete Reinforcement.
- Non-shrink grout bedding beneath base plates, even where used with a post-installed anchor assembly - see Non Shrink Grout.
- The masonry mortar or grout that forms the substrate - see Masonry Mortar And Grout.
- Brick masonry substrate selection and construction - see Brick Masonry.
- Steel base-plate fabrication and welding - see Metal Fabrications.
- Powder-actuated fasteners driven into concrete without a drilled hole.
2 Referenced Standards
2.1Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or unless the anchor's current ESR references a different edition.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
NOTE The anchor's ICC-ES Evaluation Report is the controlling document for all product-specific values - embedment, edge distance, spacing, torque, bond strength, and qualification category - and governs over generic values in this standard where the two differ. (2.3)
| Standard |
Title |
| ACI 318-19 |
Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary (Chapter 17, Anchoring to Concrete) |
| ACI 355.2-19 |
Qualification of Post-Installed Mechanical Anchors in Concrete and Commentary |
| ACI 355.4-20 |
Qualification of Post-Installed Adhesive Anchors in Concrete and Commentary |
| ICC-ES AC193 |
Acceptance Criteria for Mechanical Anchors in Concrete Elements |
| ICC-ES AC308 |
Acceptance Criteria for Post-Installed Adhesive Anchors in Concrete Elements |
| ASTM F1554-20 |
Anchor Bolts, Steel, 36, 55, and 105 ksi Yield Strength |
| ASTM A193/A193M-23 |
Alloy-Steel and Stainless Steel Bolting for High Temperature or High Pressure Service |
| ASTM A615/A615M-22 |
Deformed and Plain Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement |
| IBC 2021 |
International Building Code (Sections 1705.3, 1901.3, 1905) |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1926 |
Safety and Health Regulations for Construction |
3 Submittals
3.1 Action Submittals
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before any anchors are ordered or installed:
- Product data for each anchor system, including the complete catalog cut and the published installation instructions (MPII).
- Current ICC-ES (or IAPMO-UES) Evaluation Report for each system, with the applicable base-material, cracked-concrete, seismic, and sustained-load tables flagged.
- Anchor schedule correlating each anchor mark on the Structural Drawings to a specific system, diameter, embedment, edge distance, and ESR table.
- Manufacturer's published installation torque, cure-time, and gel-time tables for the project temperature range.
- Substitution request, where an anchor other than the basis-of-design is proposed, demonstrating equal or greater ESR-listed capacity in every governing category.
3.1.2Anchor selections shall be recorded on the following datasheet so the submittal package, the special inspector, and the installer reference a single coordinated set of values.
☐ Anchor product data and MPII installation instructions
☐ Current ICC-ES / IAPMO-UES Evaluation Report (categories flagged)
☐ Anchor schedule keyed to structural drawing marks
☐ Torque / cure-time / gel-time tables for project temperatures
☐ Substitution request with ESR capacity comparison (if applicable)
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals before adhesive or overhead anchors are installed:
- Installer certification records for adhesive-anchor installers, per ACI 318 Section 26.7.1, where horizontal or upwardly inclined adhesive anchors resist sustained tension.
- Safety Data Sheets for each two-component adhesive cartridge, with ventilation provisions for confined-space installation coordinated with the project safety plan.
- Manufacturer field-service or pre-installation meeting report, where the basis-of-design manufacturer's representative attends the qualifying installation.
- Statement of Special Inspections excerpt identifying the anchors subject to continuous versus periodic inspection.
☐ Adhesive-anchor installer certification (ACI 318 26.7.1)
☐ Safety Data Sheets with confined-space ventilation provisions
☐ Manufacturer pre-installation meeting / field-service report
☐ Statement of Special Inspections excerpt (continuous vs. periodic)
4 Quality Assurance
4.1 Qualification Category
NOTE Each anchor shall hold a current ICC-ES or IAPMO-UES Evaluation Report establishing its capacity in the project's base material under ACI 355.2 (mechanical) or ACI 355.4 (adhesive). (4.1.1)
4.1.2Anchors in structures assigned to Seismic Design Category C through F shall be qualified for cracked concrete and for seismic loading (ACI 318 Section 17.10).
4.1.3Anchors resisting sustained tension shall be qualified for sustained load in the applicable ESR.
NOTE Many polyester and standard vinylester systems are not sustained-load listed; check the ESR before specifying these systems where sustained tension governs. (4.1.4)
4.1.5The Engineer of Record assigns the anchor design path - ductile steel element, anchor capacity governed by a 0.4 reduction on a non-ductile failure mode, or concrete breakout controlled by design - per ACI 318 Section 17.10.5 and 17.10.6.
NOTE This standard does not constrain the design-of-record decision on anchor design path; the Engineer of Record has sole authority to select the governing failure-mode approach. (4.1.6)
Uncracked concrete only (SDC A-B, no seismic)
Cracked concrete, non-seismic
Cracked concrete + seismic Category 1 (SDC C-F)
Cracked concrete + seismic + sustained tension
4.2 Installer Qualification
4.2.1Adhesive anchors installed horizontally or upwardly inclined and resisting sustained tension shall be installed only by personnel certified under an ACI/CRSI Adhesive Anchor Installer program, per ACI 318 Section 26.7.1.
4.2.2The certified installer's identification shall be available on site for the special inspector during installation of those anchors.
4.2.3Where the basis-of-design manufacturer offers a project-specific training session, the installing crew should complete it before production installation begins.
4.3 Special Inspection
NOTE Post-installed anchors shall receive special inspection per IBC 2021 Section 1705.3 and the project Statement of Special Inspections. (4.3.1)
NOTE Adhesive anchors resisting tension shall receive continuous special inspection per IBC 2021 Section 1705.3.3; specifying only periodic inspection for these anchors is a code violation. (4.3.2)
NOTE Mechanical anchors and adhesive anchors not resisting sustained tension may receive periodic special inspection where the Statement of Special Inspections so permits; specifying continuous inspection for ordinary mechanical anchors adds cost without code basis. (4.3.3)
4.3.4The special inspector shall verify anchor type, diameter, embedment, hole condition and cleaning, adhesive lot and expiration, installation torque, and conformance to the approved anchor schedule.
○ Continuous (required for adhesive anchors in tension)
● Periodic (mechanical anchors / non-sustained adhesive)
5 Environmental and Service Conditions
5.1 Base Material
NOTE The anchor system shall be qualified by ESR for the specific base material into which it is installed; capacity tables for normal-weight concrete, lightweight concrete, and masonry are separate and not interchangeable. (5.1.1)
NOTE Anchors in hollow CMU shall be adhesive anchors installed with screen tubes per the masonry ESR; expansion anchors shall not be used in the unfilled cells of hollow masonry. (5.1.2)
5.1.3The minimum concrete compressive strength assumed for design shall be stated on the Structural Drawings and shall not be taken below the f'c floor permitted by ACI 318 Chapter 17.
Normal-weight concrete
Lightweight concrete
Solid (grout-filled) CMU
Hollow CMU (screen tube required)
Clay brick masonry
25008000
Default: 4000 psi
5.2 Corrosion Exposure
NOTE The anchor material and coating shall be selected for the service exposure; carbon-steel zinc-plated anchors are limited to dry interior conditions and are inadequate in coastal, submerged, pool, or aggressive-chemistry environments. (5.2.1)
5.2.2Anchors in exterior, intermittently wetted, or splash exposures shall be hot-dip galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel as the exposure requires.
5.2.3Anchors in submerged, marine, pool, or chemically aggressive environments shall be Type 304 or Type 316 stainless steel as classified by the Engineer of Record.
Carbon steel, zinc-electroplated (dry interior only)
Carbon steel, hot-dip galvanized
Stainless steel Type 304
Stainless steel Type 316
5.3 Temperature and Moisture at Installation
NOTE Adhesive anchors shall be installed only within the ambient and base-material temperature range listed in the system's ESR, because gel time and cure time - and ultimately bond strength - depend on temperature. (5.3.1)
NOTE Concrete shall have reached the minimum age required by the adhesive ESR before adhesive anchors are installed, typically 21 days; installing into early-age concrete invalidates the capacity tables. (5.3.2)
NOTE Adhesive anchors shall not be installed in water-filled or water-saturated holes unless the ESR lists a wet- or saturated-hole category, because most systems lose 30 to 50 percent of bond capacity in wet holes. (5.3.3)
● Dry hole
○ Water-saturated (damp) hole - ESR wet category required
○ Water-filled / submerged hole - ESR flooded category required
14104
144070104
Default: 70 °F
6 Anchor Type and Selection
NOTE Anchor type shall be selected from a qualified system in the category required by the load, the substrate condition, and the installation orientation; the families below describe how each develops load and where each fits. (6.1)
6.2 Mechanical Anchors
NOTE Torque-controlled expansion (wedge) anchors develop load by a wedge or sleeve that expands against the hole wall as the nut is torqued; this is the workhorse structural anchor, available cracked-concrete and seismic Category 1 qualified in 3/8 in through 1-1/4 in diameters. (6.2.1)
6.2.2Torque-controlled expansion anchors shall be tightened to the installation torque listed in the ESR; over-torquing near an edge can split the concrete and under-torquing leaves the wedge unset.
NOTE Displacement-controlled (drop-in) anchors are set by driving an internal plug with a setting tool to full expansion; they are shear-dominant and qualified for uncracked concrete only. (6.2.3)
6.2.4Displacement-controlled (drop-in) anchors shall not be used where cracked-concrete or seismic qualification is required.
NOTE Undercut anchors develop a form-fit bearing interlock in a specially undercut hole, giving the highest ductility and the most reliable cracked-concrete and seismic performance of the mechanical families; they are typically special-order. (6.2.5)
NOTE Concrete screw anchors cut their own thread in a drilled hole and are removable; they suit light-to-medium loads and are available in cracked-concrete and seismic-qualified models. (6.2.6)
6.2.7The installed hole diameter and depth for concrete screw anchors shall match the ESR exactly.
6.3 Adhesive Anchors
NOTE Adhesive anchors bond a threaded rod or reinforcing bar into a drilled hole with a two-component structural adhesive; they deliver the highest sustained-load and cracked-concrete capacity but are the most sensitive to hole cleaning and installation discipline. (6.3.1)
NOTE Epoxy adhesive systems provide the highest sustained-load, cracked-concrete, and elevated-temperature performance and are the default where sustained tension or overhead installation governs. (6.3.2)
NOTE Hybrid vinylester and polyester systems cure faster than epoxy and are cracked-concrete and seismic qualified for many conditions. (6.3.3)
6.3.4Hybrid vinylester and polyester adhesive systems shall not be used in sustained-tension or overhead applications unless the specific system is ESR-listed for that condition.
6.3.5Adhesive anchors with reinforcing-bar inserts (ASTM A615 Grade 60 or 75 bar) serve dowel extensions, slab-on-grade connections, and concrete repair, and shall be sized and embedded per the adhesive ESR rebar tables.
6.3.6Masonry adhesive anchors in hollow CMU shall be installed with the screen tubes specified in the masonry ESR so the adhesive forms a keyed bond in the cell rather than running into the void.
Torque-controlled expansion (wedge) anchor
Displacement-controlled (drop-in) anchor
Undercut anchor
Concrete screw anchor
Adhesive anchor - epoxy, threaded rod
Adhesive anchor - hybrid vinylester/polyester, threaded rod
Adhesive anchor - epoxy, reinforcing-bar insert
Masonry adhesive anchor with screen tube
ASTM F1554 Grade 36 carbon steel
ASTM F1554 Grade 55 carbon steel
ASTM F1554 Grade 105 high-strength
ASTM A193 B7 alloy steel
ASTM A193 B8 / B8M stainless
ASTM A615 Grade 60 reinforcing bar
ASTM A615 Grade 75 reinforcing bar
7 Anchor Geometry
NOTE Anchor diameter, embedment, edge distance, and spacing shall match the values on the Structural Drawings and the governing ESR table; the datasheet fields below capture the schedule values and are deferred to the drawings where the Engineer of Record sets them per location. (7.1)
7.2 Diameter and Embedment
NOTE Effective embedment depth (hef) shall be measured and verified during installation; the installer shall mark or use a depth-stop drill so the hole reaches the embedment the schedule requires. (7.2.1)
7.2.2Embedment shall not be reduced to clear reinforcing or obstructions without the Engineer of Record's written direction, because anchor capacity is roughly proportional to embedment.
3/8 in
1/2 in
5/8 in
3/4 in
7/8 in
1 in
1-1/4 in
1-1/2 in
Per drawings — anchor schedule
7.3 Edge Distance and Spacing
NOTE Minimum edge distance and minimum spacing shall meet the values in the ESR; reduced edge distance triggers concrete-breakout capacity reductions per ACI 318 Section 17.6 that may require a larger diameter, deeper embedment, or supplementary reinforcement. (7.3.1)
NOTE Where full unconfined tension capacity is required without edge reduction, the critical edge distance (cac) of the ESR shall be provided. (7.3.2)
7.3.3Anchor locations, edge distances, and spacings are set by the structural design and shall be taken from the drawings.
Per drawings — anchor schedule
Per drawings — anchor schedule
○ Tension
○ Shear
● Combined tension and shear (interaction)
8 Installation
8.1 Hole Drilling
NOTE Holes shall be drilled with the bit type and diameter the ESR specifies for the anchor; carbide hammer-drill bits and core-drilled holes have different bond and expansion behavior and are not interchangeable without ESR coverage. (8.1.1)
8.1.2Hole diameter shall fall within the tolerance the ESR allows - typically a tight match to the bit nominal for adhesive anchors and a small over-size for mechanical anchors.
8.1.3Drilling shall not cut through embedded reinforcing.
8.1.4Where reinforcing is encountered during drilling, the installer shall stop and either relocate within the tolerance the Engineer of Record permits or obtain the Engineer of Record's direction before proceeding.
Rotary hammer with carbide bit
Hammer drill with carbide bit
Core drill (diamond) - only if ESR-qualified
8.2 Hole Cleaning
NOTE Holes for adhesive anchors shall be cleaned by the full brush-and-blow cycle the ESR prescribes - typically compressed-air blow, wire-brush, and repeat - because inadequate hole cleaning is the leading field cause of adhesive-anchor failure. (8.2.1)
NOTE The number of air, brush, and air cycles shall follow the system's MPII exactly; the cleaning sequence is part of the qualification, not a field option. (8.2.2)
8.2.3Compressed air used to clean holes shall be oil-free.
8.2.4Holes for mechanical anchors shall be blown clear of drilling dust before the anchor is set so the expansion mechanism seats against sound concrete.
Manual brush and oil-free compressed air, full ESR cycle count
Manufacturer hollow-drill-bit automatic dust extraction
Vacuum + brush per ESR
8.3 Adhesive Injection and Curing
NOTE Adhesive shall be dispensed only after the dispensing-tip waste bead confirms uniform two-component mixing, and the hole shall be filled from the bottom up to avoid trapping air. (8.3.1)
8.3.2Overhead and horizontal adhesive anchors shall use the piston plugs and retaining caps the ESR requires to keep adhesive in the hole until the rod is inserted.
8.3.3The rod or bar shall be inserted with a slow twisting motion to the marked embedment and left undisturbed until the adhesive has reached the loading cure time in the ESR temperature table.
8.3.4Anchors shall not be loaded, torqued, or disturbed before the full cure time for the installation temperature has elapsed.
8.4 Torque Verification
8.4.1Torque-controlled expansion anchors shall be set to the ESR installation torque with a calibrated torque wrench.
8.4.2The special inspector shall witness or verify the installation torque on the inspection sample.
8.4.3Anchors that spin, fail to develop torque, or split the concrete shall be rejected, removed or abandoned per the Engineer of Record's direction, and replaced at a relocated position.
9 Field Quality Control
9.1 Proof Loading
NOTE Where the Engineer of Record or the building official requires proof-load testing of post-installed anchors, the test load, the acceptance criterion, and the sample frequency shall be as directed and shall not exceed a load that yields or damages a production anchor. (9.1.1)
9.1.2Proof-load testing shall be performed with calibrated equipment, and results shall be recorded and submitted to the special inspector.
● Not required (special inspection only)
○ Required - tension proof load per EOR direction
○ Required - torque test per EOR direction
9.2Anchors found nonconforming during inspection or testing shall be removed or abandoned and replaced as the Engineer of Record directs; abandoned holes shall be filled flush with the same qualified adhesive or an approved patching material.
10 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
NOTE Adhesive cartridges shall be delivered in unopened, labeled packaging showing the lot number and expiration date, and shall be rejected if the shelf life has expired. (10.1)
10.2Adhesive cartridges shall be stored within the temperature range printed on the cartridge label; storage outside that range can shorten shelf life and alter cure behavior.
10.3Mechanical anchors and threaded rod shall be stored off the ground and protected so that coatings and threads are not damaged before installation.
10.4Expired or damaged adhesive shall not be used; partially used cartridges shall be reused only within the open-cartridge window the manufacturer permits.
11 Warranty
11.1The Contractor shall warrant that post-installed anchors are furnished and installed in conformance with the approved submittals, the anchor ESR, and this standard, and shall correct anchors found nonconforming within the project correction period.
11.2The anchor manufacturer's standard published warranty for the adhesive and hardware shall be transmitted to the Owner at closeout.
12 Spare Parts
NOTE Where the Owner's maintenance program anticipates future attachments to the same substrate, the Contractor should furnish a record of the anchor systems, diameters, and ESR numbers used so compatible anchors can be specified later. (12.1)
12.2Unused, unexpired adhesive cartridges and surplus anchors that the Contract designates as Owner property shall be turned over at closeout with their packaging and lot documentation intact.