Selecting the appropriate anchor is essential when working with aerated concrete to guarantee a stable and secure installation. Because of its lightweight and insulating qualities, aerated concrete is a common material for construction; however, because of its porous nature, certain fasteners are needed to hold it firmly in place.
There are several kinds of anchors made especially for aerated concrete, and each has a unique function. Knowing these options will help you choose the best one for your project, whether it’s mounting fixtures, securing structural elements, or hanging heavy objects.
This post will examine the various kinds of anchors that work well with aerated concrete, emphasizing their advantages and recommended uses. This will provide you the information you need to decide on your building or renovation projects wisely, assuring their longevity and safety.
| Type of Anchor | Description |
| Plastic Anchors | Lightweight and easy to install, suitable for light loads. |
| Metal Expansion Anchors | Provides strong holding power, ideal for heavy loads. |
| Chemical Anchors | Uses a resin to bond with the concrete, offering high strength for structural applications. |
| Specialized Anchors | Designed specifically for aerated concrete, ensuring secure fastening. |
- Types of anchors
- Mechanical anchors for cellular concrete
- Chemical anchors
- Pros
- Disadvantages
- Types of filling
- Video on the topic
- Fasteners for aerated concrete, aerated concrete block. Shear test
- Installation and testing of chemical anchor in aerated concrete
- anchor for aerated concrete
- Which fastener for aerated concrete is better?
- TESTING FASTENERS ON AERATE CONCRETE. WHICH FASTENER TO CHOOSE? WE BRING OUT DOWELS AND OTHER FASTENERS WITH A HORIZONTAL BAR!
- Fasteners for aerated concrete – nylon dowel and metal dowel (crocodile)
- Aerated concrete \ foam concrete does not hold fasteners. Homemade anchor. BUILDING FOR OURSELVES
- Well, finally! TOP anchor for aerated concrete!? #anchor #strong #aerated concrete #fastening #foam concrete
Types of anchors
Standard anchors, like dowel screws, are not appropriate because of the expansion element’s weak, uniform opening. Because aerated concrete crumbles readily under internal pressure and loads, the fastening of this kind of dowel may weaken, allowing the hung equipment—especially furniture—to fall.
Similarly, dowel nails driven in with a pneumatic gun have no expanding component and are only held in place by the strength of the material they are driven into.
As was previously mentioned, there are various densities of blocks. To see this clearly, look at the picture up above. Even though this is not the densest block—the strongest brand has a density of 1200 kg/m 3—option D600 appears to be stronger. These kinds of structures can be screwed with standard fasteners, knowing that they will hold firmly.
Counseling! This leads us to our first conclusion: ascertain the brand of the anchor before deciding on the kind for aerated concrete. It is best to be safe and choose one of the options we will discuss today if there is no data. They will, of course, cost more, but the difference is worthwhile.
Mechanical anchors for cellular concrete
Because the wedged spacer element of mechanical anchors for cellular concrete resembles this insect visually, they are frequently referred to as butterflies.
They have a plastic dowel or are composed of metal, like the one above.
The photo selection makes it clear that there is a wide range of mechanical anchors available; we haven’t even covered them all.
- Each of the presented models has a certain resistance to vertical and horizontal loads, which must be taken into account when selecting fasteners. You can try to get such information in the store by looking at the specification, but from experience we know that it is almost impossible to do this in Russian conditions. Therefore, having learned the weight of the suspended load, look for the necessary data on the Internet.
- All anchors for foam blocks are perfectly wedged inside these products. However, many of these designs can damage the supporting front part of the block when overtightened. For this reason, the manufacturer equips them with a special cuff, border or mark that allows you to limit tightening.
- All the models shown can be successfully used for any porous materials.
- Special models of anchors, called frame anchors, are used to fasten doors and window frames.
- If you need to install any lightweight structures, for example, fasteners for air ducts, pipes, various decorative steel elements, you can use anchor screws such as HUS-H.
These components are simple to install:
- First, a hole is drilled in the right place;
- A dowel is screwed or hammered into it, according to the type;
- A screw element (nut, screw, bolt) is screwed in.
That is the entire process. But keep in mind that very heavy loads cannot be secured with mechanical anchors.
Chemical anchors
For these uses, chemical anchors are employed, which, upon installation, essentially fuse with the block.
With the exception of a different installation technique and the material’s characteristics, the working principle of such an anchor is not all that different from a mechanical one.
Pros
Such an anchor has a spacer element that fills the mounting hole, made of an adhesive composition. It can be fastened from the outside to an internal metal screw component. For any porous material, a comparable solution is also appropriate.
- The walls of the drilled sleeve do not experience pressure, and even, on the contrary, are strengthened by the adhesive composition. If you remember, in the photo with the torn out anchor, there was firmly adhered concrete around the glue.
- The mounting hole is completely sealed.
- Pleasant cost of the solution
Disadvantages
Among the drawbacks are:
- Quite a long curing time (up to 48 hours) before the moment when the fastener can be used.
- Inseparability of the connection – the glue together with the core hardens tightly. The only way to carefully remove the protruding part is to cut it off with a grinder and putty the hole.
Because of this final feature, we are only able to use this solution when hanging really heavy objects, like televisions and furniture. In addition, pieces of reinforcement can be submerged in them to form robust bonds with the base.
Types of filling
It is possible for the mass filling the mounting holes to have a different chemical makeup.
Typically, it is:
These mixtures are offered for sale as tubes or capsules.
The mixture’s composition determines a number of factors, some of which we will now discuss:
Fixing heavy items used in below-freezing temperatures is a great use for vinyl ester resins. They are actively used outdoors because they feel fantastic when installed in humid environments. They don’t contain styrene, which is thought to have negative effects on human health.
Because they can support the heaviest and largest objects—such as multiple protective screens and technological equipment for a variety of uses—epoxy resins are also highly popular among builders. First, the C20 brand of aerated concrete blocks are used to mount these anchors.
They are made up of two ingredients combined in a specific ratio, which causes them to actively harden.
- Epoxy chemical anchors can be mounted in high humidity conditions and even under water;
- Like other compounds, they do not create internal stress in the foam concrete structure;
- Suitable for both external and internal use due to the absence of styrene;
- The adhesion strength is sufficient even for the use of smooth fasteners.
- It has a very high fire resistance class – R120, which means that when exposed to an open flame, the composition will not change its basic physical properties for 120 minutes.
Crucial! Both indoor and outdoor use are appropriate for polyester compounds. They are among the fastest drying and pose no threat to human health.
The chemical composition of a chemical anchor determines its curing speed, which can range from 15 minutes to 48 hours, as well as environmental factors like temperature and humidity. You can find out the precise time for the subsequent installation of suspended structures by following the instructions provided on the packaging.
Choosing the appropriate kind of anchor is essential when working with aerated concrete to guarantee a dependable and safe attachment. Because aerated concrete is porous in nature as opposed to regular concrete, standard fasteners might not be able to provide enough holding power. Expanding anchors, chemical anchors, and threaded rods are among the specialty anchors made especially for this material. Because of their distinct qualities and installation techniques, each type can be used for a variety of loads and purposes. Knowing these choices enables you to select the most durable and safe solution for your project.
Selecting an appropriate anchor for aerated concrete is essential to guarantee stable and safe installations. Whether you’re choosing light fixtures, shelving, or structural components, it’s critical to choose a type that best suits the particular requirements of your project from the wide range of options available.
Having knowledge of the benefits and drawbacks of various anchor types—such as chemical, metal, or plastic—allows one to make an informed choice. With differing levels of durability and load-bearing capacity, each type has special advantages and is appropriate for a given set of uses.
For anchors in aerated concrete to function as well as possible, proper installation is essential. Strong and dependable repairs are guaranteed when manufacturer instructions are followed and the right tools are used. This improves safety in addition to extending the installation’s lifespan.
In aerated concrete applications, you can achieve secure and long-lasting results by taking into account the type of anchor, load requirements, and installation techniques. Your structures’ stability and integrity will benefit from taking the time to choose the best fastener and install it correctly.
