Can Someone School Me on Concrete Fasteners

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Been working too many weeks of 12 hour days and trying to work two farms. Not enough me...

I need to add fasteners to an existing concrete slab. The slab is industrial in type for heavy equipment. Greater than 4,000PSI concrete.

Hilti seems to be what is being pushed but they do not have deep penetration. Is there another type which would be preferable? Think possible tornadoes or other things.

One of the items to fasten down is a tornado shelter. Others are just to add more fasteners to the walls and add a new interior wall.

Thanks in advance!

[David]

https://www.strongtie.com/anchoringsystemsforconcreteandmasonry/landing

[vash]

nothing wrong with Hilti.

the catalog is pretty extensive. we typically shy away from them because we have to shop domestic.

how thick is the slab? if thick enough, use a threaded rod and epoxy?

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Thank you! Sounds like threaded rod and epoxy. Fastenal.

At the main point of attachment, 12 inches plus 24 inch beam, I can see these. I believe the secondary attachment points are at a five inch thickness and I hope the beams are per drawing so another 18 inches below that.

[javadog]

Hilti is good, can't imagine you have a scenario that they can't offer a fastener for... McMaster Carr has a great website that you can sort through in pretty short order to find a specific product. They may not offer the Hilti brand but other suppliers are fine for what you need.

JR

[URY914]

Hilti is great if someone else is paying for it. There are less expensive ones out there.

[stevej37]

I just finished an indoor concrete project using Red Head wedge anchors. Not sure if this is something that you need?
My experience was..works great in newer concrete. Older..not so much. Hard to get the anchors to bite into older concrete..it wants to crumble away before the sleeve can bite in.


Just re-read your post...prob not looking for these.

[dad911]

For what it's worth, to add additional or replace anchors in sill plates,(single family homes) architects/engineers I use typically spec red-head wedge anchors, or epoxy anchors.

Edit: Tornado shelter - I would pay an engineer to design anchor system.

[rusnak]

Do you need to pass building inspection, pull test, etc?

We use a 60 lb air jack that we call the "widomaker" and 4 ft long bar with Red Head concrete anchors.

[look 171]

I agree with Dad911. Tornado? Yikes. I have no experience with that type of destruction, but it sounds like a Tornado will rip the anchor right out of the slab?

[vash]

ohyea. eng will need to tell you spacing, and stuff.

yikes. dont know how i missed the tornado part.

[A930Rocket]

Anchoring the sill plate is only one part of the solution. You need to make sure your entire house is wrapped in osb or plywood and nailed properly. Then secure all roof trusses or rafters. It starts from the footer and extends to the ridge

Otherwise your roof will just fly off or your house will blow away and you'll be left with the sill plate bolted to the slab.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Thanks guys!

Reading too deep into it. I have the engineering specs, due diligence as I am not all that comfortable with what I was given. Home is put together with 3/4 plywood, 5/8 OSB, 2X6, strapping, etc. I do not like the engineered joists but they are 16 or fewer inches apart and strapped. It just seemed to me I wanted a better connection to the slab. garage is 1700sqft and holds my tractor and equipment.

I wanted to double down on the connection to the slab. Like the rod and epoxy. Put in 20 last night. Will tighten tonight, add some more.

Shelter done by "professionals" but, again, I am NOT trusting what I see. Does not feel correct, if you know what I mean. I am re-thinking my path using the FEMA tornado shelter plans. Most of these pre-fab units do not seem to meet the minimum standards. May end up with one of those in-ground scary units...

While I am not in a "tornado alley" you just never know!

[javadog]

I don't know how you came to the conclusion that you are not in tornado alley...

Having said that, the risk of getting blown away in a tornado is fairly low.

It seems you are wondering about a couple different things in your original post.

If you are increasing the number of connections from your garage sill plates to the slab, you can quit now. If a tornado of sufficient strength hits your garage, you will have successfully kept your sill plates attached to the slab but everything else will be in Kansas. Not much point in that. The weak point is the connection of the individual studs to the sill plate.

If you want a good shelter, install an underground shelter. If you have already purchased an above-ground shelter, that can be anchored to the ground successfully and reinforced, if needed.

JR

[wdfifteen]

I've seen the aftermath of a couple of tornadoes. I don't recall ever seeing the sill plates pulled up. The studs to the plate and roof to the studs joints are more critical.
I have a steel shipping container for storage. It cost me $2500 delivered. I'll bet it would make a heck of a tornado shelter if it was anchored down.

[gr8fl4porsche]

This was the house next to my Dad's place 6 years ago.

I don't think the sill plates needed any repairs.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I've seen the aftermath of a couple of tornadoes. I don't recall ever seeing the sill plates pulled up. The studs to the plate and roof to the studs joints are more critical.
I have a steel shipping container for storage. It cost me $2500 delivered. I'll bet it would make a heck of a tornado shelter if it was anchored down.

Anchored is the key there.

Coupla few years back we had a band roll through DFW airport.

Tossed around shipping containers like rag dolls.

https://youtu.be/X7CC6AXEcRI

[rusnak]

Upon further review of the tornado videos, I have another recommendation: Move. Anywhere else.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

By not in I mean their occurrence in my part of the country is not that common, they tend to move to the north of there. Several older homes around.

I saw aftermaths when I lived in Waco. Had one which removed the roadbed from the ground, slabs, everything. No structures survived. No way to prepare for that one short of building underground. Sometimes it is just your time to go.

No purchase yet, but contemplating what is best and best install.


All areas have something, be it earthquakes or hurricanes or tornados. Something. I am tired of the first two, the third one has yet to really try and take my head off.

[Bill Douglas]

Around here we use dynabolts for that sort of thing. It sounds like what is mentioned in earlier reply. They tighten on the concrete as you bolt the building's framing down.