Adhesive Anchors for 150 HP Well Pump

[CrabbyT]

Anybody here ever spec'd (or know anyone who has spec'd) HILTI rods / adhesive for anchoring a well pump? Did it work out well? Any horror stories?

I've recommended cast-in-place sleeved anchors for this project, but the PM is dead set on using post-installed HILTI's for reasons that are difficult to explain and comprehend.

 

[dauwerda]

How large is your pump?

I see it done with small pumps all the time.

 

[CrabbyT]

It's a 150 HP vertical turbine pump. I spec HILTI rods for small pumps on a regular basis, but I'm out of my comfort zone on this one.

The pump vendor recommends cast-in-place sleeved anchors, and HILTI doesn't offer much assurance that HIT-HY 200 or RE 500 V3 would hold up over time.

 

[dauwerda]

Yeah, I'd definitely go with vendor/manufacturer recommendations on that one. They tend to know their product and know what it needs to perform well.

 

[HTURKAK]

I will strongly recommend the use of cast-in-place sleeved anchors . The common practice is, if the pump is greater than 50 HP, use preloaded cast-in-place sleeved anchors .



This subject has been discussed in several threads and one of them,

thread507-473362

 

[goutam_freelance]

As designer or installer of pumping system and other machinery I found that going for HILTI etc. involves interface with other agency not directly involved with project design. The bold load carrying capacity etc depend on their proprietary design and chemical compounds etc. This generally involves increase in cost without adding further value.
As far as load capacities are concerned they can cater to pumps much more than 150 HP capacity. They have published catalogue for this.

Engineers, think what we have done to the environment !

https://www.linkedin.com/in/goutam-das-59743b30/

 

[JedClampett]

but the PM is dead set on using post-installed HILTI's for reasons that are difficult to explain and comprehend.

Normally, I'm a cast in place engineer. But the reasons to use epoxied anchors are legitimate:
[ul]
[li]It's very hard to get a contractor to set the anchors precisely enough to lower the base plate on.[/li]
[li]Until the pump is placed, they're somewhat of a safety hazard (tripping, projecting, etc.).[/li]
[li]Back to the first bullet, if you're off by just a bit, say a 1/4 inch, it's difficult to adjust.[/li]
[/ul]
Hilti RE500 V3's are pretty good anchors. And with a base plate, the spacing is not a big issue, but edge distance to the pump can, is.
As a compromise, I always try, and almost never succeed, in pushing Deco anchors. They are cast in place, don't have a projecting piece and are strong. They're adjustable within reason. But admittedly, I've seen more than my share of epoxy anchors.

 

[1503-44]

Follow the mfgr recommendations. 150hp is out of range for Hilti bolts.
That will be the first thing they will use to void the warranty.

 

[Ingenuity]

Back in November 2020 I was called out to a project site where the existing base plate connection to a 50 ton rock crusher fractured - constructed in 2015. The base plate connection did NOT use pipe sleeves, so no bolt 'flee length' and no preload.

With the recent fracture I recommended that a min 12x bolt dia 'free' length was required with preload, but they did not listen and Hilti 105 ksi post-installed anchor rods were installed. They fractured after less than 4 weeks. This week I installed new post-installed anchor rods (same Hilti gr 105) but with 23" of free length and preload of 70% of yield.

Doing it right the first time would entail pre-installed anchor rods with pipe sleeves and preload. Read Harrison's book on this thread thread507-473362 and do NOT compromise to the contractor. The owner will thank you in 10+ years!

 

[1503-44]

Plus fixing anchor bolt problems is a MAJOR PIA.

 

[GC_Hopi]

Hilti or Simpson have a design guide for dynamic loads. I think they recommend limiting the utilization to 25 % or something really low. So yeah they have an out for dynamic failures.

 

[goutam_freelance]

I see 203.2 kN max capacity in tension, 216.9 kN max capacity in shear, per bolt. Model Hilti HDA-T, size M20.

Engineers, think what we have done to the environment !

https://www.linkedin.com/in/goutam-das-59743b30/

 

[ldeem]

You said it is a vertical turbine pump so I assume no or minimal axial load in the anchors?

I have seen pumps this size sitting on base plates with one or two bolts. I am not recommending that but the point is the loads between motor and pump are resolved in the equipment, if it is a vertical turbine pump that I am thinking of.

I'd first get a handle on static and dynamic anchor loads then consider the use of adhesive anchors. Secondly you could consider post installed undercut style anchor as a compromise between cast in place and adhesive.