Anchor Rod Placement 1

[SperlingPE]

The anchor rods for a PEMB project were placed in one of the following ways:
1. Concrete for the pad footing was placed, the anchor rods were pushed into the concrete, the concrete was consolidated.
2. Concrete for the pad footing was placed, the concrete was consolidated, the anchor rods were pushed into the concrete, the concrete was "consolidated" again.

There are tension loads on the anchor rods.
The PEMB suppliers indicates that four anchor rods were used on all the columns, but four anchor rods were not always needed to resist the loads.
My contention is...........
In the first scenario, while not ideal and not done as indicated on the plans, the concrete has formed around the anchor rods. Hopefully the anchor rods are fairly straight.
In the second scenario, it is unknown whether the concrete has formed around the anchor rods.
Comments welcome....

In the second scenario what are the options to ensure that I have anchor rods able to resist the applied loads?
This is what I have come up with.....
1. Tension test the anchor rods after the concrete has come up to strength. Can this be done as soon as 7 days after placement?
2. Cut the anchor rods off and request new base plates to install post installed anchors.
3. Remove and re-pour the footings.

 

[pmtpemb]

Option 2 would give piece of mind and its what i would do.

 

[dik]

I would run with the testing... at least you know that the fasteners are capable of sustaining a load. Testing should be delayed until the concrete has developed at least the specified strength... any delays are attributed to the contractor that did the 'hand sticking' of the anchor rods.

Dik

 

[thaidavid40]

I'd be somewhat leery of option 2, since any unconsolidated honeycombing could be lurking immediately next to your post-installed anchors, and you might never know it. I'd consider that a bad situation.
Dave

Thaidavid

 

[jimstructures]

Hand-sticking of anchor bolts is generally NOT a good idea.

Butler recommends that one puts the anchor bolts in a templet and locate that templet in the proper location, then place and properly vibrate the concrete.

Finally cure the concrete an appropriate amount of time.

Do NOT hand place the anchor bolts.

Jim