ACI Adhesive Anchor Inspector key terms

A post-installed anchor set in a drilled hole using a chemical bonding agent that cures to transfer load from the steel element into the concrete.

An anchoring product supplied as separate resin and hardener components that must be combined in the correct ratio, either by a mixing nozzle or hand mixing, before placement.

A disposable nozzle with internal helical elements that blends the two adhesive components as they are pumped through, delivering uniformly mixed material into the hole.

The initial volume of adhesive pumped out and thrown away until the extruded material shows uniform color and consistency, confirming complete mixing before use.

The interval after mixing during which the adhesive remains workable and the anchor can still be inserted and adjusted before the material begins to stiffen.

The period after mixing in which the adhesive can be placed in the hole and the anchor inserted, often limited by rising ambient or concrete temperature.

The minimum elapsed time after anchor insertion before the anchor may be loaded or torqued, determined by adhesive type and concrete temperature.

The point at which the adhesive has developed its specified design strength and the anchor may be subjected to full service loads, including sustained and seismic loads.

The sequence of brushing and blowing or vacuuming the drilled hole to remove dust and debris so the adhesive can bond directly to sound concrete.

A round wire or nylon brush sized to the hole diameter, used with a twisting motion to scrub dust from the hole wall before final blowing.

A hand-operated squeeze bulb or oil-free pump used to force air to the bottom of a cleaned hole and expel loose dust before adhesive injection.

The specified drill bit size for a given anchor, which controls adhesive annulus thickness and must match the product's published installation instructions.

The required drilled depth measured to the bottom of the hole, which must equal or exceed the specified embedment plus any allowance for debris.

The length of anchor actually bonded into concrete, measured from the concrete surface to the embedded end, excluding coatings or standoff.

A mark or stop on the anchor or drill bit used to verify that the specified embedment depth has been achieved during installation.

The carbide-tipped rotary hammer bit of the specified diameter used to drill the anchor hole, which must be in good condition and matched to the product.

The drilling tool used to produce anchor holes in concrete, operated in hammer mode with a bit of the specified diameter and depth.

The space between the anchor and the drilled hole wall that must be completely filled with adhesive for the bond to develop as designed.

The shear stress transferred across the adhesive-to-concrete interface along the embedded length, which governs the anchor's pullout capacity.

The maximum pullout load an adhesive anchor can resist before failure, determined by testing and reduced by applicable strength reduction factors.

A test load applied to a sample of installed anchors to verify installation quality, typically a fraction of the design capacity and held for a specified duration.

A field or laboratory test in which an axial tensile load is applied to an installed anchor to measure capacity or confirm adequate installation.

The rotational force applied to the anchor nut or head during installation, used to seat the anchor and verify that the adhesive has cured sufficiently.

A calibrated tool used to apply and verify the specified installation torque on the anchor, ensuring consistent seating and load transfer.

The threaded steel element embedded in the adhesive that transfers load from the attached member into the concrete.

A continuously threaded steel bar used as an anchor element, which must be clean, straight, and free of oil or scale before insertion.

The state of the drilled hole, including cleanliness, moisture, and temperature, which must match the conditions assumed by the adhesive product's approval.

A drilled hole containing free water or visible moisture, which may require a moisture-tolerant adhesive or special installation procedures.

The temperature of the concrete at the anchor location, which affects gel time, cure time, and the applicable strength of the adhesive.

The surrounding air temperature at the installation site, which influences adhesive mixing, working time, and curing along with concrete temperature.

The dispensing gun or pump used to inject mixed adhesive from the cartridge into the drilled hole from the bottom upward.

The factory-sealed container holding the adhesive components, which must be used with the correct mixing nozzle and within its shelf life.

The maximum storage period before an adhesive product's performance may degrade, after which the cartridge must not be used for anchor installation.

The distance from the center of an anchor to the nearest concrete edge, which affects the anchor's capacity and must meet the specified minimum.

The center-to-center distance between adjacent anchors, which must meet the minimum required to avoid overlapping stress zones in the concrete.

The manufacturer's published written procedures for drilling, cleaning, mixing, injecting, and curing the anchor, which the inspector must verify are followed.

Documentation of installation observations, including hole cleaning, embedment, adhesive lot, temperatures, and cure times, retained as evidence of compliance.