Aluminum Handrail into Conrete Slab.

[lkjh345]

Anyone have a good detail for embeding an aluminum handrail post into a poured concrete slab?

I have a poured (post-tensioned) concrete bacony slab that I need to secure an aluminum handrail post to. It been my understanding that its not a good idea to have aluminum in contact with concrete.

The connection must be to the top side of the slab (architect insists on this).

The architect suggests coating the aluminum post with bituminous coating, and inserting it into an oversized blockout hole in the concrete and grouting between the two. Not convinced this is the best detail available.

Anyone have a solution to this problem?

Thank You.

 

[Structures33]

It definitely needs to be coated. Here's my standard note for coating aluminum -

ALL ALUMINUM IN CONTACT WITH CONCRETE SHALL BE GIVEN A SOLVENT CLEANING, FOLLOWED BY A COATING OF ZINC CHROMATE PRIMER, FOLLOWED BY TWO COATS OF BITUMINOUS PAINT (SSPC-PAINT 12 CONTAINING NO ASBESTOS FIBERS)

As for a detail - depending on the use, you may be able to put it on a stainless steel base plate and use expansion anchors or a standard anchor bolt type connection.

 

[shin25]

Even, if you choose to make a block out and do it this way, still you have to positively connect the posts with the slab using bolts. Use of Adhesive type anchors are more appropriate for this kind of situation.