Number of anchors required

Anchors are qualified based on mounting condition into substrate tested and verified by calculations. Anchor manufacture may apply for component approval of the brand and type anchor tested.

Adding additional anchors to an existing Product Approved product

You must submit for a revision of your product to include the additional anchoring devices.

Component approval for anchors

The process for obtaining the component approval for anchors requires testing per ACI 355-2-07. See anchor checklist.

• A wood screw or sheet metal screw tested in wood under shear conditions can be substituted with a self taping concrete anchor of the same or greater root diameter, provided the engineer has listed said anchor in the approval document and said anchor has a current NOA or published literature for the anchor.

Anchor Spacing Calculations

The allowable load, based on the fastener's/anchor's safety factor, shall not be exceeded when calculating anchor spacing on submittals compared to the units tested.. This is the reason for requiring anchor calculations for most products. These calculations are not to be misinterpreted with rational analysis on anchors. The calculations are as verification to assure that the load tested has not transferred a load to an anchor that exceeds its rated value.

• The spacing of anchors of a tested unit cannot be altered when the approval documents are prepared. The maximum spacing allowed in the approval documents will be limited to the smallest spacing between anchors used in the test. Load verification of anchors shall be based on the largest anchor load transferred in the tested unit.

Comparative Analysis Procedure

The only comparative analysis allowed on fasteners/anchors is when the specimen is tested on CBS block.  Since this substrate has been determined to be the worst case application, comparative analysis is allowed to qualify approved anchors on concrete, metal, and wood.

Second, the fasteners/anchors submitted with comparative analysis shall not exceed the spacing at which the system was tested. This is due to the system's performance with the amount of fastening points on the original test.  Spacing the fastening points further apart shall be verified with a test.

Third, this procedure applies to products that are impact resistant, and non-impact resistant.

Comparative analysis cannot be performed to qualify larger fastener/anchor spacing for loads other than tested.

Pursuant to section 1715.5.2.2, 1715.5.4 and 2411.3.2.5 (5) fastener and anchor submitted with comparative analysis shall not exceed the spacing or the concentrated load at which the system was tested. This is due to system's performance with the amount of fastening point on the original test.