Placement of Anchor Bolts

[bbartlet]

I have a project where the contractor has been "floating" or "wet sticking" anchor bolts and wall dowel bars into the top of a concrete foundation. I know that ACI 7.5.1 does not allow this for dowel bars, but I have not been able to find anything regarding requirements for placing anchor bolts.

 

[hokie66]

I would think that placement of anchor bolts should be covered in the structural steel standards. Maybe AISC rather than ACI? But you can't rely on standards for everything...the project specifications should define acceptable practices.

 

[JAE]

It is a bad practice in any case.

 

[TXStructural]

The question is, do you want them to work and be in the correct position? If so, don't allow it. ACI 301-10 5.3.1.3 reads, in part "Position and secure in place expansion joint materials, anchors, and other embedded items."

 

[dik]

Thanks TXS... I clearly stipulate that anchor rods are to be set by means of a template. Wet sticking is not permitted; I suspect it has a real impact on the pullout strength of headed anchor rods.

Dik

 

[TXStructural]

One huge problem is that they are usually set in partially set concrete and even if set into fresh concrete, the surrounding concrete is not consolidated after placement (since doing so would move them.)

 

[bbartlet]

I appreciate everyone's responses.

We do have notes that cover this in our spec but the contractor is balking a little bit and says that what he is doing is "standard practice". He wanted to know if he could still "wet stick" and use a vibrator to consolidate, but I told him I didn't believe that "wet sticking" was even allowed by code. So I wanted to find an actual code that would back me up.

 

[hokie66]

You have this backwards. If your specifications cover it and prohibit it, then it is the contractor who needs to provide back up for his assertion that it is "standard practice". A favorite tactic of some contractors is to say, when they are caught, that what they are doing is "standard practice" or "industry standard". Don't fall for it.

 

[dik]

It's not standard practice, that I'm aware of... in fact, it's frowned upon...

Dik

 

[onealexis]

Try this line, 'it's standard practice for engineers to reject any work that doesn't meet our specifications so you're going to have to remove and replace'.

I've done it.

The look in response is priceless.

I say we start a campaign to make THAT standard practice.