Adhesive Anchor Install Temps

[XR250]

Seems like the Acrylic based systems have a wider range of substrate install temps than the Epoxies do. I never knew this. Do any of you specify different systems in the Winter versus Summer? The Simpson rep informed me the lumber yards are supposed to educate the contractors on this and sell them the appropriate product. (this seems doubtful)
I asked a few contractors and they have never heard of this. Granted, in my area (central NC USA) winter is not that harsh so maybe it is not an actual issue.

 

[EngDM]

Yes. In our general notes I developped a schedule for typical use cases of adhesives, and their install temp limitations (contractor references this when adhesives aren't explicitly specified on our drawings, for instance doweling a sidewalk). There is also a note that the contractor personnel installing the anchors must receive documents showing they are trained in the install of these anchors and aren't just wild westing it. This is usually via a rep coming to site, a one and done type thing.

If we are specifying post-installed adhesives there is a chart for install temps you can find for the various manufacturers. Given that our winters go to -40C and beyond here, in the winter we typically specify Hilti Hit-ICE.

Other option is to heat the area during the cure period if they insist on using a more readily available adhesive.

I've never specified anything different for high temps tho.

 

[Enable]

As a contractor I used to switch between Hilti HY-200 and HIT-ICE depending on the substrate temps. It's probably more well known in Canada due to our range of temps. Cure time chart below for the two options (where they dead end is beyond usable range).


Hot temps are not a big concern for us since the usual hilti products are adequate until 40C.

 

[ANE91]

This is usually via a rep coming to site, a one and done type thing.

I used to be one of those reps! I would see contractors heating up epoxy sleeves with their car heaters. Good times.

W.r.t. epoxy, there are way too many things that can go wrong, inadequate substrate temps being one. It shouldn’t be that hard; the instructions are in pictograms. I never spec it anymore unless I know/trust the contractor.

 

[EngDM]

Hot temps are not a big concern for us since the usual hilti products are adequate until 40C.

I've always wondered if adhesive anchors are just not appropriate for outdoor concrete use. Some of those slabs get HOT in the summer sun, way higher than air temps.

 

[XR250]

Simpson AT is good up to 320 deg. Not sure any slab is getting that hot.

 

[EngDM]

Simpson AT is good up to 320 deg. Not sure any slab is getting that hot.

Where do you see that? AT-XP and AT-3G show installation temps of 100F and 104F respectively. Sure their operating temps go to 180F-320F, but even the 180F I could see getting hit on a blistering day.

 

[XR250]

Maybe the top 1" would get that hot but it will be dumping heat into the ground pretty fast. I suppose if the installers shoes start melting, that would be a clue to do something different

 

[Enable]

I've always wondered if adhesive anchors are just not appropriate for outdoor concrete use. Some of those slabs get HOT in the summer sun, way higher than air temps.

Having worked on exterior slabs in dead of summer for many years I would say that this is not a concern. As XR250 mentioned, there is significant thermal mass to the slabs that mitigate the effects you're concerned about (at least in Ontario / Canada. May be a thing in Arizona though?).

Hilti publishes footnotes that allow you to modify the tabulated values based on short / long term temps. They are pretty accommodating in the upward direction.