Sleeve Anchors — Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: Do I level my door before installing sleeve anchors?

A: Sleeve anchors allow door frames to be placed in position, leveled and plumbed before the anchor is inserted into the door frame. There is no prior spotting of the hole. Simply drill the hole in the base material with the door frame in place, insert the sleeve anchor and tighten.

Q: What is the difference between shear and pullout on the sleeve anchor technical information chart?

A: There are two basic forces acting on a sleeve anchor that is embedded into concrete or masonry. One force will be trying to pull the anchor out of the concrete/masonry. The second force is a downward force trying to shear the fastener.

Q: Is it important that the hole in the base material be the same exact size as the sleeve anchor being installed?

A: Hole size is critical for applications using sleeve anchors. Holding values are derived from friction between the anchor and the wall of the hole in the base material. Matching the bit to the anchor is essential. Male anchor hole size is equal to the diameter of the anchor being used.

Q: How do I clean out the hole for a sleeve anchor? Is this important?

A: After drilling a hole, clean out any debris and dust remaining in the hole after drilling. This step is essential to ensure proper holding values. A wire brush, vacuum or compressed air work well when cleaning out the hole.

Q: Do I install sleeve anchors into the mortar joint or directly into a brick?

A: When installing sleeve anchors into brick base material, it is sometimes necessary to anchor to the mortar joint depending on where the holes in the fixture line up. Mortar can be an excellent base material to improve holding values but will depend on the quality and quantity of the mortar in the joint. Anchoring into brick only works in some applications.

Q: How do I know the length of the sleeve anchor I need to use in my application?

A: The length of the anchor should equal= minimum embedment + fixture + nut & washer. Sleeve anchors require no maximum hole depth. The depth of the hole in the base material should be at least the length of the sleeve anchor minus the thickness of the material being fastened. This will provide some extra depth to accomodate a minor amount of concrete cuttings which may not be able to be removed from the hole.

Q: How do I decide what part of a block wall to install a sleeve anchor into?

A: Before installing sleeve anchors for your application, it is necessary to consider where in the block the sleeve anchor will be positioned. Will the sleeve anchor be placed in (a) the mortar joint (b) the solid section of the block or (c) the hollow section of the concrete block? Some applications will allow each fastener to be placed in the same part of the block while other installations will require each anchor to be placed in different sections of the block. Each section has unique advantages and disadvantages. Fastening into the mortar joint can be an excellent option depending on the quality and quantity of the mortar used to set the block in place. The solid sections of block usually offer the best quality fastening. The will depend on the distance of the fastener to the unsupported edge of the cavity and the quality of the material the block is made from. The hollow section of the block is the least desirable section of the block in which to fasten but sometimes can't be avoided. When fastening into the hollow section of a block, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

Q: Do sleeve anchors come in different sizes and do I have a choice of head styles?

A: Sleeve anchors come in the widest range of sizes for applications that fall into this category. Anchors with diameters ranging from 1/4" to 5/16" are sufficient for most light duty applications while the 3/8" and 1/2" diameters are adequate for most medium duty applications. Sleeve anchors with diameters of 5/8" and 3/4" are usually considered heavy duty fasteners. An engineer should be consulted every time concrete anchors are used for heavy loads. This anchor is very versatile because there is a wide range of lengths available allowing materials of many different thicknesses to be attached to a base material. The sleeve anchor also comes in a variety of head styles.

Q: Can I hang a 32,000lb. deck to a block wall on my building with sleeve anchors?

A: In some applications, sleeve anchors can be used for heavy duty loads. It is not recommended to use sleeve anchors when fastening heavy loads to concrete block. The strength and integrity of the block will be limiting and will most likely fail with a load that is too heavy. Heavy duty, non vibratory, non shock loads require a through-bolted fastening technique or a concrete epoxy type fastener. Vibratory and shock loads would also require a through-bolted fastening system, a concrete epoxy type anchor or a cast-in place fastener. An engineer should always be consulted if your application requires any of these fastening techniques.

Q: Is it better to use a Tapcon® or a sleeve anchor when fastening furring strips to a block wall?

A: In many cases, choosing a fastener comes down to personal preference. It it important to consider what base material the furring strip or 2x4 will be attached to before installation. Both Tapcons and sleeve anchors work well in concrete, brick or block. Keep in mind that these fasteners can be anchored into the mortar joint so spacing will not pose a problem. However, the holding values of an anchor placed in a mortar joint are directly dependent upon the quality and quantity of the mortar itself (which will vary in every situation).

Q: Are the load values on the sleeve anchor load value charts the same as the codes in New York?

A: These load tables list values based upon results from the most recent testing and may not reflect those in current code reports. Where code jurisdictions apply, consult the current reports for applicable load values.

Q: How much of a sleeve on the sleeve anchor must be in contact with the concrete?

A: The sleeve on the sleeve anchor provides full 360° hole contact over large areas and reduces concrete stress. The sleeve anchor is held in place by the friction between the sleeve and the base material that the sleeve anchor is installed into.

Q: What materials does sleeve anchors come in?

A: Sleeve anchors are available in Zinc plated carbon steel and 304 and 316 stainless steel. However, not all sizes of sleeve anchors are available in both materials.

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