ANCHORS TESTING

STANDARDS
How to test post-installed anchors onsite according
to the international standard

Taoufik Khelloufi
Technical Marketing Manager
Hilti Emirates LLC.
AGENDA

1 Purpose of anchors on-site testing

2 Different challenges of anchors on-site testing

3 Recommendations of British standard BS8539

- British Standard BS8539 Annex B.2.3.2
- British Standard BS8539 Annex B.2.3.1
- British Standard BS8539 9.3 & Annex B.3

4 Anchors on-site testing evaluation report

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 2

ANCHORS ARE TESTED ON-SITE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS
Basics for Purpose of Type of
on-site test on-site test on-site test

Base Anchor Destructive

material type [ Pull-out ]
simplified 1) or
Masonry DETERMINE statistical 2) evaluation
Chemical
standard
RESISTANCE Non-destructive
Masonry [ Proof-load ]
Mechanical
non-standard simplified evaluation

Concrete
Plastic VERIFY
standard Non-destructive
[ Test-load ]
Concrete SETTING
assessment
non-standard QUALITY

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 3

THE TESTING OF ANCHORS ON-SITE USUALLY FACES
SEVERAL CHALLENGES

How many specimen should What is the load to be How long the load should be
be tested ? applied on the anchor ? applied on the anchor ?

This criteria will vary based on:
- The base material
- The type of the post-installed
anchor
- The purpose of the test.
This criteria will vary based on:
- The safety factors
- The purpose of the test
This criteria will vary based on:
- The base material
- The type of the post-installed
anchor
- The purpose of the test

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 4

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 COVERS ALL THE ANCHORING
TESTING SCENARIOS
Base material Purpose Typology Chemical anchor Mech. anchor Plastic ETICS

Destructive
[Pull-out] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.2
Resistance
determination
Masonry Non-destructive
standard [Proof-load] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.1

Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

Destructive
[Pull-out] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.2
Masonry Resistance
non-standard determination
Non-destructive
&
[Proof-load] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.1
Concrete
non-standard Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

On-site tests to determine resistance in standard concrete

Resistance
determination
not needed and not recommended to be carried out
Concrete (data available in ETA / FTM)
standard

Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 5

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 ANNEX B.2.3.2 FOR
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS
• Number of test specimens: nTest = 5 to 15
• Characteristic resistance:

NRk1 = NRu,m ∙ (1- K(n) ∙ v(n)) • Ω

NRu,m Mean value of the ultimate load of the n tests
K(n) Tolerance factor based on a confidence level of 90%
v(n) Standard deviation of the ultimate load v(n) ≤ 30%
Ω Adjustment factor based on conditions pertaining to the application

• Design resistance:
NR,all = NRk / ν
ν = 2.5 factor recommended in BS 8539 for static and quasi static actions
for anchors other than those of plastic
ν = 5.0 factor recommended in BS 8539 for plastic anchors

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 6

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 ANNEX B.2.3.1

Base material Purpose Typology Chemical anchor Mech. anchor Plastic ETICS

Destructive
[Pull-out] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.2
Resistance
determination
Masonry Non-destructive
standard [Proof-load] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.1

Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

Destructive
[Pull-out] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.2
Masonry Resistance
non-standard determination Non-destructive
&
[Proof-load] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.1
Concrete
non-standard Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

On-site tests to determine resistance in standard concrete

Resistance
determination
not needed and not recommended to be carried out
Concrete (data available in ETA / FTM)
standard

Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 7

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 ANNEX B.2.3.1 FOR NON
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS
Number of test specimens: nTest = 5 to 15
Test procedure
Apply the test load to 5 fastenings: Ntest = NSk • test
NTest Load for the “preliminary test” (to be applied on the jobsite)
NSk Characteristic value of tensile action
test Factor depending on the application and the typology of the fastening

Application Fastening type νtest

General Plastic anchors 5

Other fastenings 3

Temporary fastenings, e.g. Plastic anchors 3

scaffolds…
Other fastenings 2

 At the end of the test, the load should be maintained on the anchor for 1 minute.

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 8

BRITISH STANDARD (BS) 8539 ANNEX B.2.3.1 FOR NON
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

If the test load is achieved in all 5 tests, it can be assumed:

Characteristic value of action = design resistance:

NSk = NR,all

NSk Characteristic value of tensile action

NR,all Design resistance

If measurement of displacement is required, check also: NR,all ≤ N1st,m

N1st,m Load at first movement (lowest load at first movement)
e.g. load at 1st,m = 0.1mm (to be determined by the specifier)

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 9

BRITISH STANDARD (BS) 8539 ANNEX B.2.3.1 FOR NON
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS
If 1 test fails, the client has the following options

1. Select a different type of fastener – with a higher expected resistance

2. Use the same type of fastener, but with a larger diameter

3. Use the same type of fastener, but set at greater depth

4. Continue the test and determine the resistance.

This option is available in case the following two conditions are fulfilled
1. Only 1 fastener fails the test load
2. Failure load ≥ 80% of the test load

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 10

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 9.3 & ANNEX B.3
Base material Purpose Typology Chemical anchor Mech. anchor Plastic ETICS

Destructive
[Pull-out] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.2
Resistance
determination
Masonry Non-destructive
standard [Proof-load] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.1

Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

Destructive
[Pull-out] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.2
Masonry Resistance
non-standard determination Non-destructive
&
[Proof-load] BS 8539 Annex B.2.3.1
Concrete
non-standard Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

On-site tests to determine resistance in standard concrete

Resistance
determination
not needed and not recommended to be carried out
Concrete (data available in ETA / FTM)
standard

Non-destructive
Quality verification
[Test-load] BS 8539 9.3 and Annex B.3

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 11

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 9.3 & ANNEX B.3 TO VALIDATE
THE INSTALLATION QUALITY
Option 1:
nTest ≥ 2,5% of all fastenings but ≥ 3 pcs.
Load = 1.50 x characteristic value of action load Sk: Characteristic value of action
FP: Proof load (to be applied on the jobsite)
FP = 1.5 x Sk
Option 2:
nTest ≥ 5% of all fastenings but ≥ 3 pcs.
Sk: Characteristic value of action
Load = 1.25 x characteristic value of action load FP: Proof load (to be applied on the jobsite)
FP = 1.25 x Sk

 At the end of the test, the load should be maintained on the anchor for 1 minute.

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 12

BRITISH STANDARD BS8539 9.3 & ANNEX B.3 TO VALIDATE
THE INSTALLATION QUALITY

Actions to be considered in case of failure during the tests:

Keep a record of the failures on the test record form
The consultant/project manager must decide what the consequences are to be:
• 1 fastener fails in a specific area
(after investigation of failure and discussion with the client):
 Double the number of tested fasteners.
• More then 1 fastener fails the test in a specific area
(after investigation of failure and discussion with the client):
 All fasteners have to be tested
 The specification has to be reconsidered

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 13

AN EVALUATION REPORT SHOULD BE REQUIRED AFTER
EACH ANCHOR ON-SITE TESTING
Minimum number of test we need
to conduct according to the
standard

Calculated characteristic
resistance, design resistance and
displacement according the the
standard safety factors.

Anchors On-site Testing Standard | May 2017 14

THANK YOU